When He Was in Pain, We Were in Pain
The sermon explores the relationship between love, pain, and the compassion of Saint Mary, highlighting the depth of her love for Christ and the pain it caused her.
Julian of Norwich preaches about the deep love and compassion of Saint Mary towards Christ, emphasizing how her great love for Him caused her immense pain. She describes the interconnected suffering between Christ and His disciples, highlighting that when He was in pain, they too shared in His suffering. Julian also reflects on how all creatures, even the elements of nature, experienced sorrow during Christ's crucifixion, illustrating the profound impact of His sacrifice on all creation.
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HERE I saw a part of the compassion of our Lady, Saint Mary: for Christ and she were so oned in love that the greatness of her loving was cause of the greatness of her pain. For in this [Shewing] I saw a Substance of Nature's70 Love, continued by Grace, that creatures have to Him: which Kind Love was most fully shewed in His sweet Mother, and overpassing; for so much as she loved Him more than all other, her pains passed all other. For ever the higher, the mightier, the sweeter that the love be, the more sorrow it is to the lover to see that body in pain that is loved.
And all His disciples and all His true lovers suffered pains more than their own bodily dying. For I am sure by mine own feeling that the least of them loved Him so far above himself that it passeth all that I can say. Here saw I a great oneing betwixt Christ and us, to mine understanding: for when He was in pain, we were in pain. 40 And all creatures that might suffer pain, suffered with Him: that is to say, all creatures that God hath made to our service. The firmament, the earth, failed for sorrow in their Nature in the time of Christ's dying.
For it belongeth naturally to their property to know Him for their God, in whom all their virtue standeth: when He failed, then behoved it needs to them, because of kindness [between them], to fail with Him, as much as they might, for sorrow of His pains. And thus they that were His friends suffered pain for love. And, generally, all: that is to say, they that knew Him not suffered for failing of all manner of comfort save the mighty, privy keeping of God. I speak of two manner of folk, as they may be understood by two persons: the one was Pilate, the other was Saint Dionyse71 of France, which was [at] that time a Paynim.
For when he saw wondrous and marvellous sorrows and dreads that befell in that time, he said: Either the world is now at an end, or He that is Maker of Kind suffereth. Wherefore he did write on an altar: THIS IS THE ALTAR OF UNKNOWN GOD. God that of His goodness maketh the planets and the elements to work of Kind to the blessed man and the cursed, in that time made withdrawing72 of it from both; wherefore it was that they that knew Him not were in sorrow that time. Thus was our Lord Jesus made-naught for us; and all we stand in this manner made-naught with Him, and shall do till we come to His bliss: as I shall tell after.
Sermon Outline
- The Compassion of Saint Mary
- Saint Mary's love for Christ caused her great pain
- The greater the love, the greater the pain
Key Quotes
“For in this [Shewing] I saw a Substance of Nature's70 Love, continued by Grace, that creatures have to Him: which Kind Love was most fully shewed in His sweet Mother, and overpassing;” — Julian of Norwich
“For ever the higher, the mightier, the sweeter that the love be, the more sorrow it is to the lover to see that body in pain that is loved.” — Julian of Norwich
“And all His disciples and all His true lovers suffered pains more than their own bodily dying.” — Julian of Norwich
Application Points
- We are called to love Christ with a depth of love that causes us pain when we see Him in pain.
- Our relationship with Christ is one of being made-naught with Him, and we shall remain in this state until we come to His bliss.
- We must recognize the true God and not be affected by the sorrows and dreads of the world.