Collection: St. Julian of Norwich

ARTIST: Br. Mickey McGrath, OSFS

ARTWORK NARRATIVE:

Julian was an anchoress, a medieval woman who lived in a cell attached to a church wall. She spent her life in seclusion, praying, and offering spiritual guidance to visitors who came to her window. Julian was also a mystic and theologian, and is known for her book Revelations of Divine Love, which was the first book written in English by a woman.

She was, however, allowed to have a cat to keep vermin at bay. It is believed that she developed a close relationship with her cat, and she is known as both the patron saint of contemplatives and of cats. It is said that Julian and her cat anchored the Light during one of the darkest periods of history.

The Anglican Church keeps her feast as May 8.