Revelations of Divine Love

Julian's graphic vision of Jesus’s death continues with his parched body hanging “in the air, as a cloth is hung to dry” (66). Julian is filled with horror at these sights—so much so that she regrets ever having asked God for the three wounds—but also with pity. Julian feels that her love for Jesus at this moment surpasses her love for herself, and that “there was no pain that could be suffered comparable to the sorrow [she] felt to see him in pain” (67).

Julian continues the theme of pity and compassion at Christ's death. All of creation seems to share in Jesus’s Passion, as shown in the earthquake and solar eclipse that according to the Gospels occurred at the time of his death.

In particular, Julian focuses on the compassion of the Virgin Mary, for “Christ and she were so united in love that the greatness of her love for him caused the intensity of her pain” (67). Even “people who did not know him were sorrowful at that time” (68). Such compassion has the effect of uniting Jesus with all people and all creation.

In contemplating the crucifix, Julian realizes she is looking at the source of her salvation, Jesus, whom she refers to as “[her] heaven” (69). She sees that her earlier regret for having asked God to share in the Passion of Jesus reflects a split between the outward and inward, fleshly and spiritual, parts of human nature. In the elect, the inward part is master and ruler of the outward and is set to be united forever with Jesus. 

Julian continues to muse on Christ's Passion. The fact that Jesus was united to God gave him a greater strength to suffer than any man could: “[H]e who is highest and most majestic was brought lowest and most utterly despised” (70). In suffering, Jesus saw the sorrow and desolation of all human beings, and his suffering was increased upon seeing the sorrow of his mother Mary. Jesus chose this pain “willingly and eagerly, and suffered it meekly and was well-pleased to do so” (70). The sufferings of Jesus surpass any pain that human beings can suffer, and he continues to suffer on our behalf in heaven. Through Christ's Passion human pain will be turned into “supreme and everlasting joys” (71). 

Julian speaks of the necessity of contemplating the suffering of Christ on the cross. While looking at the crucifix, she suddenly sees Jesus’s expression change, causing her to feel happy. She understands that we on earth are constantly dying with Jesus on the cross; but if we remain with him, trusting in his grace, his countenance will change, and we shall in an instant be with him in heaven. There we will enjoy a “exalted, endless knowledge of God” (72) which we never could have had without our suffering. The more suffering we endure on earth, the greater will be our glory in heaven.