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by Sr. Carolyn Miguel, OSB

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Praying With Julian of Norwich

Day 5: Julian’s Teaching: How to Pray

Julian also talks about how to pray. When it comes to problems in prayer there is probably nothing new under the sun. People in the 14th century struggled in their prayer life just as we do today. But in one of her "showings" Julian is reassured by God about her prayer life.

"But still many times our trust is not full, because we are not sure that God hears us as we think He does, because of our unworthiness and because we feel absolutely nothing, for we are frequently as barren and dry after our prayers as we were before them. And this folly in our feelings is the cause of our weakness. I have felt this way myself." ch. 41

This is rather reassuring isn’t it? Here is a woman renowned for her prayer life and her relationship with God both during her lifetime and ever since who says that she has also struggled with prayer. But the message she receives from the Lord lets her know how important it is to persevere.

"Our Lord is most glad and delighted with our prayer. He looks for it and wills to have it, for with his grace he makes himself as like us in condition as we are in nature. This is his blessed will for he says: pray inwardly though it gives you no satisfaction. For the prayer is profitable though you feel nothing, though you see nothing. In dryness and in barrenness, in sickness and in feebleness - then is your prayer most pleasing to me, though you think it gives you but little satisfaction. And so it is with all your believing prayers, in my sight." ch. 41

Exercise: 

-Try doing lectio divina on these passages the same way you did in day 4. 

-Also spend some time reflecting on your prayer life. Does Julian’s prayer life reflect your own? Have you struggled with dryness and barrenness? What would Julian suggest for coping with these problems?