Spiritual practices inspired by Julian of Norwich

In the November/December 2007 issue of Today's Parish Minister, Colleen Griffith wrote a splendid piece on how to discover love this Advent. She describes how Julian of Norwich attuned herself to recognizing God's love for all humanity. Here are two spiritual practices for Advent from Colleen which are inspired by St. Julian.

• Take a few moments to enter silence. Allow your own depths of spirit to be opened to drink in God’s love. Stay with your heart’s stirring. Write your own psalm in response.

• Julian makes many references to God’s maternal love. Spend some time in prayer with Scriptures that reference the maternal love of God. Choose, for example, Psalm 131 or Isaiah 46:3-4 or Isaiah 49:15.