11. p. 45.
who find ourselves unlovable, or who think our lives are depressingly fallible and futile.
A generation which has learnt from psychology the dangers inherent in guilt-feelings and tries to avoid them by writing off the concepts of sin and moral responsibility, needs to hear Julian. Her approach is saner. She fully recognizes the horror of sin (though in her view it has no being in itself), but she also knows that it is 'behovely'," for it will bring us nearer to God if we will let it. She is concerned not with guilt-feelings but with penitence.
And penitence is the recognition of God's loving mercy, and total reliance upon it. 'Our failing is fearful, our falling is full of shame... but the sweet eye of pity and love never looks away from us, nor does the working of mercy ever cease.'" This is a great comfort to those so often oppressed by their constant falls and sin.
Man's Glorious Hope All these things and more came to Lady Julian in the contemplation of God's love focused in the Passion of Christ. She was shown there the wonderful purposes of God. She writes them down so that we might share her confidence and hope. It is a message which speaks vividly to an often frightened and bewildered generation. 'When we can find no rest, he works continually to bring us to peace that shall never end... and our Lord takes our strivings and sends them up to heaven where they are made more delectable than heart can think, or tongue can tell...
11. p. 45.
12. p. 70.