Al Shall Be Wele: Chapter 24, "Lo, how I lovid the"

"Lo, how I lovid the"

Chapter 24 of Julian's Revelations is a lovely chapter, worth sharing in full. 

Julian sees Jesus look into his wounded side. And in one of her more mystical insights, she sees within that wound all of humanity held in peace and love. 

Within the wound Julian also sees Jesus' heart, cut in two. This is one of the earliest descriptions of the Sacred Heart within the tradition. 

And finally, said multiple times in this chapter, is how Jesus wants Julian to understand his wound: "Lo, how I loved you":

Than with a glad chere our Lord loked into His syde and beheld, enjoyand; and with His swete lokyng He led forth the understondyng of His creture be the same wound into Hys syde withinne. And than He shewid a faire, delectabil place and large enow for al mankynd that shal be save to resten in pece and in love. And therwith He browte to mende His dereworthy blode and pretious water which He lete poure al oute for love. And with the swete beholdyng He shewid His blisful herte even cloven on two. And with this swete enjoyyng He shewid onto myn understondyng, in party, the blissid Godhede, steryng than the pure soule for to understonde, as it may be said; that is to mene, the endles love that was without begynnyng, and is, and shal be ever.

And with this our gode Lord seyd full blisfully, Lo, how that I lovid the; as if He had seid, "My derling, behold and se thy Lord, thy God that is thy maker and thyn endles joy; se what likyng and bliss I have in thy salvation, and for my love enjoy now with me." And also, for more understondyng, this blissid word was seyd: Lo, how I lovid the. Behold and se that I lovid the so mekyl ere I deyd for the that I wold dey for the, and now I have deyd for the, and suffrid wilfu/y that I may. And now is al my bitter peyne and al my hard travel turnyd to endles joy and bliss to me and to the. How should it now be that thou should onythyng pray me that lekyth me, but if I shuld fut gladly grant it the? For my lekyng is thy holynes and thyn end/es joy and bliss with me.

This is the understondyng simply as I can sey of this blissid word, Lo, how I lovid the. This shewid our gode Lord for to make us glad and mery.

Translation:

Then, with a glad countenance, our Lord looked into His side and beheld, rejoicing; and with His sweet gaze He led the understanding of His creature by the same wound into His side within. And then He showed a fair, delightful place, large enough for all humanity that shall be saved to rest in peace and in love. And with that He brought to mind His worthy blood and precious water which He let pour all out for love. And with the sweet beholding He showed His blissful heart even cleft in two. And with this sweet rejoicing He showed unto my understanding, in part, the blessed Godhead, stirring then the pure soul to understand, as it may be said; that is to mean, the endless love that was without beginning, and is, and shall be ever.

And with this our good Lord said full blissfully, “Lo, how I loved you”; as if He had said, “My darling, behold and see your Lord, your God that is your maker and your endless joy; see what liking and bliss I have in your salvation, and for my love rejoice now with me.” And also, for more understanding, this blessed word was said: “Lo, how I loved you.” Behold and see that I loved you so much before I died for you that I would have died for you, and now I have died for you, and suffered willingly all that I may. And now is all my bitter pain and all my hard travail turned to endless joy and bliss to me and to you. How could it be that you should ask me for anything that pleases me, and I would not gladly grant it to you? For my pleasure is your holiness and your endless joy and bliss with me.

This is the understanding simply as I can say of this blessed word, “Lo, how I loved you.” This showed our good Lord to make us glad and happy.

The vision that really strikes me, as I said above, is how Julian describes the Wound as a fair and delightful place, large enough for all of humanity to rest in peace and love.