Other than what is contained in her singular work, Showings of Divine Love, we know almost nothing of the personal life of Julian. We do, however, know something about her background, as a recluse, or anchoress, and the social, cultural, and political life of late-fourteenth-century England. Although nothing of it is mentioned in her Showings, the times in which Julian lived were fraught with political, social, and economic upheavals in both Church and state. There are, indeed, many parallels to the present age. This, in part, helps to explain why Julian speaks so loudly to today after six hundred years of silence. On the thirteenth of May, 1373, Julian received a series of sixteen visions centered on the person and sufferings of Jesus and on the Trinity. A short time later, she wrote an account of them in twenty-five chapters (known as the "Short Text"). Twenty years later, after much prayer and reflection, she wrote another account consisting of eighty-six chapters (called the "Long Text"). During this important interim, Julian the visionary became Julian the theologian. Julian's visions correspond to the classic understanding of such phenomena. Some visions were spiritual locutions. In this experience, God spoke directly to her heart in such a way as to communicate with absolute, unquestioned clarity the desired message. Actual words were probably not used but the visionary was left with no doubt as to the authenticity or the meaning of the message. Other visions were visual or experienced as coming through the corporeal senses. These resulted from the direct action of God on the imagination. Still others were spiritual visions, not easily expressed and usually concerned with the deeper mysteries of God, such as the Trinity. Many of Julian's visions were combinations of all three types. This book is not a translation or a paraphrase of Julian's Showings of Divine Love. Rather, it is a commentary intended to provide information, reflections, and some further theological understanding that may enhance the modern Christian's reading of Julian's book. It may be read independently, prior to reading Julian's book, or together with it, chapter by chapter.

Julian of Norwich (1342 - c. 1416) is considered by many to be one of the greatest English mystics. In 1373, she received a series of sixteen visions centered on the person and sufferings of Jesus and on the Trinity. A short time later, she wrote a short account of them, and much later, after much prayer and reflection, she wrote eighty-six-chapters. This book is not a translation or a paraphrase of Julian's Showings of Divine Love. Rather, it is a commentary intended to provide information, reflections, and further theological understanding that may enhance the modern Christian's reading of Julian's book. It may be read independently, prior to reading her book, or together with it, chapter by chapter. All Manner of Things will aid focused devotion and provide profound inspiration along the path of prayer and meditation.

Using the 14th century spiritual classic The Cloud of Unknowing as both a jumping-off place and a sustained point of reference, Meninger, a Trappist monk and retreat master, does a powerful, even stunning job of explaining contemplative prayer and making it approachable for any seeker.

Ever since it first appeared in the 15th century, "The Imitation of Christ" by Thomas a Kempis has been one of the most widely read books in world literature. With the renewal of the Church in the 1960s, however, it went into complete eclipse. Its spirituality, it was felt, was no longer compatible with the religious and lay people of the day. The author argues that, despite its many limitations, the "Imitation" has a timeless message and insights that are still valid as meaningful expressions of Christian ideals. This book is a contemporary adaptation of the "Imitation", similar to Meninger's succesful adaptation of the mediaeval classic "The Cloud of Unknowing". He has kept the essential elements of the "Imitation's" spirituality, while modifying or opposing those time-bound aspects that have been responsible for its modern rejection.