The Showings of Divine Love is a book of Christian mystical devotions written by Julian of Norwich. It is believed to be the first published book in the English language to be written by a woman. At the age of thirty 13 May 1373 Julian was struck with a serious illness. As she prayed and prepared for death she received a series of sixteen visions on the Passion of Christ and the Virgin Mary. Saved from the brink of death Julian of Norwich dedicated her life to solitary prayer and the contemplation.