In a recent chapter talk, our Prior, Fr. Dominic, reminded us that our sinfulness is often the "fire alarm that wakes us up to the possibility of true repentance." He then offered us these words of Julian of Norwich:
He allows some of us
to fall more severely and distressingly than before—at least that is how we see
it. And then it seems to us, who are not always wise, that all we set our hands
to is lost. But it is not so. We need to fall, and we need to see that we have
done so. For, if we never fall we should not know how weak and pitiable we are
in ourselves. Nor should we fully know the wonderful love of our Maker. In Heaven we shall see truly and
everlastingly that we have grievously sinned in this life; notwithstanding we
shall see that this in no way diminished his love, nor made us less precious in
his sight. The testing experience of falling will lead us to a deep and
wonderful knowledge of the constancy of God’s love, which neither can nor will
be broken because of sin. To understand this is of great profit.
Photo of grisaille glass in Abbey church by Brother Daniel.