From the Pen of Rev Steve
Recent copies of the minister's letters from Rev Steve.
These are reproduced from the monthly Newsletter.
February 2025: I have been partaking in a retreat at Ammerdown
During this last week I have been partaking in a retreat at Ammerdown conference centre just below Bath. I was present in my capacity as probationers’ secretary for the District, and the event was provided primarily for ministers just starting out in their vocations. The topic for the period away was the Anchorite Julian of Norwich who lived between the 14th and 15th centuries, not surprisingly in Norwich. We might describe her as a hermit as she was somewhat cocooned away from the world, but the term Anchorite would be a truer description, meaning a religious recluse.
Some of the historical knowledge about Julian is sketchy, but she is believed to be someone of standing and means who fell on tragic times. It is thought that she was married and had a baby, but sadly lost them both, probably to one of the many plagues or diseases that ravaged the populations in that era. Julian herself was close to death, as she was given the last rights by the priest who laid a cross upon her prostrate body and was told to focus on that as she entered eternity. Miraculously she was saved, and as a consequence she committed her life to that of prayer and devotion to God.
The path that Julian chose or was called to was to commit herself for the rest of her life to this vocation and the location was her “cell” that measured 2m by 2m. Approval was granted by the bishop for this vocation, and he led the procession and prayers, indicating that she was dead to the world before the entrance was sealed. The only comforts that she had was a maid to provide food, and other duties through one of the windows in the wall, and she also had a cat for company. It was whilst in this prayerful state that she had a series of revelations or visions about God and Jesus. These were then reflected on over the coming years and recorded in her written account. These manuscripts were only rediscovered in the 19th century when they were made into a book, and have been studied ever since, proving especially fruitful during the Covid lockdown of recent years.
Whilst in many ways she was cocooned from the world, there were three windows. One to observe and partake in the mass or church service; one that afforded her a window into God and her soul; and one window that was out onto the street. This was utilised so that people could be guided by Julian, almost like a spiritual director of today. Her quotes are plentiful from her text but perhaps the most famous is about a hazelnut in the palm of her hand where she concludes, “In this little thing I saw three properties. The first is that God made it. The second that God loves it. And the third, that God keeps it.”
It is good to study these historical figures who lived in a different era to us and how they perceived matters. Her dedication to her calling was exemplary, but I found myself increasingly wanting to take Julian out of her cell and visit the world, both the beauty and the terror of it, that it might shape her prayer life going forward. However conversely I think it would be enlightening to spend even a short few days within her cell and offer that time to God. Needless to say that the retreat offered much food for thought
Blessings to you all,
whether you are a doer, a prayer, or both.
Steve
Some of the historical knowledge about Julian is sketchy, but she is believed to be someone of standing and means who fell on tragic times. It is thought that she was married and had a baby, but sadly lost them both, probably to one of the many plagues or diseases that ravaged the populations in that era. Julian herself was close to death, as she was given the last rights by the priest who laid a cross upon her prostrate body and was told to focus on that as she entered eternity. Miraculously she was saved, and as a consequence she committed her life to that of prayer and devotion to God.
The path that Julian chose or was called to was to commit herself for the rest of her life to this vocation and the location was her “cell” that measured 2m by 2m. Approval was granted by the bishop for this vocation, and he led the procession and prayers, indicating that she was dead to the world before the entrance was sealed. The only comforts that she had was a maid to provide food, and other duties through one of the windows in the wall, and she also had a cat for company. It was whilst in this prayerful state that she had a series of revelations or visions about God and Jesus. These were then reflected on over the coming years and recorded in her written account. These manuscripts were only rediscovered in the 19th century when they were made into a book, and have been studied ever since, proving especially fruitful during the Covid lockdown of recent years.
Whilst in many ways she was cocooned from the world, there were three windows. One to observe and partake in the mass or church service; one that afforded her a window into God and her soul; and one window that was out onto the street. This was utilised so that people could be guided by Julian, almost like a spiritual director of today. Her quotes are plentiful from her text but perhaps the most famous is about a hazelnut in the palm of her hand where she concludes, “In this little thing I saw three properties. The first is that God made it. The second that God loves it. And the third, that God keeps it.”
It is good to study these historical figures who lived in a different era to us and how they perceived matters. Her dedication to her calling was exemplary, but I found myself increasingly wanting to take Julian out of her cell and visit the world, both the beauty and the terror of it, that it might shape her prayer life going forward. However conversely I think it would be enlightening to spend even a short few days within her cell and offer that time to God. Needless to say that the retreat offered much food for thought
Blessings to you all,
whether you are a doer, a prayer, or both.
Steve
From the Pen of Rev Steve
it offered much food for thought. ...