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Julian of Norwich's Christ as Mother

Julian of Norwich includes various unusual descriptions of Christ, including the description of Christ as the believer's mother. Instead of producing milk to nourish a child, Christ gives His blood. As she writes in Chapter LX,

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"The mother may give her child suck of her milk, but our precious Mother, Jesus, He may feed us with Himself, and does it, courteously and tenderly, with the Blessed Sacrament that is precious food of my life; and with all the sweet Sacraments He sustains us mercifully and graciously."

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Instead of the traditional view of Christ as the believer's co-heir (Rm. 8:17) or as the Church's Bridegroom (Mrk. 2:18-20; Rev. 19:7), Julian poses that Christ Himself nourishes the Christian soul with His blood. This echoes Christ telling His followers that they must eat His flesh and drink His blood in order to have true communion with Him (Jn. 6:53-56).

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While Julian of Norwich's comparison is a bit odd to the modern reader, it is not entirely inaccurate in accordance with scripture. This is one defining depiction of Christ in 14th century English Literature.

Christ as Mother: Inner_about

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