Revelations of Divine Love

In the second showing, Julian sees Christ's face discolored with ghastly dried blood. She wonders how the “fair, bright, blessed Lord” (56) could possibly appear so disfigured. She concludes that the “vile, black, mortal covering” (56) which he took on in his Passion is the image of our wretched, sinful nature. She compares this to the holy vernicle—the cloth believed to have been given by St. Veronica to Christ to wipe his face during his Passion, and which retained an image of his face. It too is discolored and “far from fair” (56) but bears a faithful image of the suffering Lord. Julian stresses that Jesus was the “fairest of men” (56) before he was disfigured by the Passion.

Julian draws from this revelation the lesson that God wants us to keep searching for him, always trusting, cheerful, and diligent. For although he “works secretly” (57), he will appear suddenly and reward those that love him. 

The third showing treats God's omnipotence. Julian has a direct mental vision of God and sees that he does everything, is in everything, and orders all things in his providence. God has ordered everything, even things which seem to us to be due to chance or luck: “I was obliged to accept that everything which is done is well done, because our Lord God does everything” (58).