Marjory Kempe

A contemporary of Julian was Marjory Kempe. She was born into the prosperous East-Anglian town of Kings Lynn, which is about fifty miles to the north of Norwich. Her father had been mayor of the town several times. She married young and when she was about twenty, after the birth of her first child, she became seriously ill and she despaired of her life. Memories of the godlessness of her past life haunted her and in her despair she began to pray earnestly. The fear of hell was very real in the late Middle Ages. At this moment she had a comforting vision of the Lord. The extract I shall add here gives a flavour of the English used at this period.

Then on a time as she lay alone and her keepers were from her, our merciful Lord Christ Jesu, ever to be trusted (worshiped be his name) never forsaking his servant in time of need, appeared to his creature, which had forsaken him, in likeness of a man, most seemly, most beauteous, and most amiable that ever might be seen with man's eye, clad in a mantle of purple silk, sitting upon her bed's side, looking upon her with so blessed a cheer that she was strengthened in all her spirits, said to her these words: "Daughter, why hast thou forsaken me, and I forsook never thee?" And anon as he had said these words she saw verily how the air opened bright as any levin (lightning), and he sty up into the air, not right hastily and quickly, but fair and easily that she might well behold him in the air till it was closed again. And anon the creature was stabled (calmed) in her wits and in her reason as well as ever she was before, and prayed her husband as soon as he came to her that she might have the keys of the buttery to take her meat and drink as she had done before.

Although she went on to bear her husband another thirteen children she led a life of amazing spiritual activity.She seemed to have travelled over much of Northern Europe. She also met Julian of Norwich in her cell in Norwich and they discussed the validity of her visions. Julian wisely said that since the outcome of her visions was "charity" they should be accepted.

One odd fact that surprises modern readers is her continual lament that she was no longer virginal. In the end she persuaded her long-suffering husband to enter a compact of voluntary celibacy for the rest of their lives.

It is an interesting fact that for the first fifteen hundred years of the history of the church celibacy and virginity were highly prized and the married were virtually second-class spiritual citizens. Since Luther, this perception has been totally reversed.

As one reads her autobiography one is amazed at her faith and her boldness. She would rebuke sin and ungodliness wherever she went. In fact, many of her contemporaries considered her a bit mad.

There is a very interesting and readable edition of her work in modern English published by Norton Critical Editions. UK Amazon sells second-hand copies for just over £5.

The original MS was lost for centuries and was only discovered in 1934.