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Ven. Anne
Catherine Emmerich
An Augustinian nun,
stigmatic, and ecstatic, born 8 September, 1774, at Flamsche, near
Coesfeld, in the Diocese of Munster, Westphalia, Germany; died at
Dulmen, 9 February, 1824. Her parents, both peasants, were very poor
and pious. At twelve she was bound out to a farmer, and later was a
seamstress for several years. Very delicate all the time, she was sent
to study music, but finding the organist's family very poor she gave
them the little she had saved to enter a convent, and actually waited
on them as a servant for several years. Moreover, she was at times so
pressed for something to eat that her mother brought her bread at
intervals, parts of which went to her master's family. In her
twenty-eighth year (1802) she entered the Augustinian convent at
Agnetenberg, Dulmen. Here she was content to be regarded as the lowest
in the house. Her zeal, however, disturbed the tepid sisters, who were
puzzled and annoyed at her strange powers and her weak health, and
notwithstanding her ecstasies in church, cell, or at work, treated her
with some antipathy. Despite her excessive frailty, she discharged her
duties cheerfully and faithfully. When Jerome Bonaparte closed the
convent in 1812 she was compelled to find refuge in a poor widow's
house. In 1813 she became bedridden. She foresaw the downfall of
Napoleon twelve years in advance, and counselled in a mysterious way
the successor of St. Peter. Even in her childhood the supernatural was
so ordinary to her that in her innocent ignorance she thought all
other children enjoyed the same favours that she did, i.e. to converse
familiarly with the Child Jesus, etc. She displayed a marvellous
knowledge when the sick and poor came to the "bright little sister"
seeking aid; she knew their diseases and prescribed remedies that did
not fail. By nature she was quick and lively and easily moved to great
sympathy by the sight of the sufferings of others. This feeling passed
into her spiritual being with the result that she prayed and suffered
much for the souls of Purgatory whom she often saw, and for the
salvation of sinners whose miseries were known to her even when far
away. Soon after she was confined to bed (1813) the stigmata came
externally, even to the marks of the thorns. All this she
unsuccessfully tried to conceal as she had concealed the crosses
impressed upon her breast.
Then followed what she dreaded on account of its publicity, an
Episcopal commission to inquire into her life, and the reality of
these wonderful signs. The examination was very strict, as the utmost
care was necessary to furnish no pretext for ridicule and insult on
the part of the enemies of the Church. The vicar- general, the famous
Overberg, and three physicians conducted the investigation with
scrupulous care and became convinced of the sanctity of the "pious
Beguine", as she was called, and the genuineness of the stigmata. At
the end of 1818 God granted her earnest prayer to be relieved of the
stigmata, and the wounds in her hands and feet closed, but the others
remained, and on Good Friday were all wont to reopen. In 1819 the
government sent a committee of investigation which discharged its
commission most brutally. Sick unto death as she was, she was forcibly
removed to a large room in another house and kept under the strictest
surveillance day and night for three weeks, away from all her friends
except her confessor. She was insulted, threatened, and even
flattered, but in vain. The commission departed without finding
anything suspicious, and remained silent until its president, taunted
about his reticence, declared that there was fraud, to which the
obvious reply was: In what respect? and why delay in publishing it?
About this time Klemens Brentano, the famous poet, was induced to
visit her; to his great amazement she recognized him, and told him he
had been pointed out to her as the man who was to enable her to fulfil
God's command, namely, to write down for the good of innumerable souls
the revelations made to her. He took down briefly in writing the main
points, and, as she spoke the Westphalian dialect, he immediately
rewrote them in ordinary German. He would read what he wrote to her,
and change and efface until she gave her complete approval. Like so
many others, he was won by her evident purity, her exceeding humility
and patience under sufferings indescribable. With Overberg, Sailer of
Ratisbon, Clement Augustus of Cologne, Stollberg, Louisa Hensel, etc.
he reverenced her as a chosen bride of Christ.
In 1833 appeared the first-fruits of Brentano's toil, "The Dolorous
Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to the Meditations of Anne
Catherine Emmerich" (Sulzbach). Brentano prepared for publication "The
Life of The Blessed Virgin Mary", but this appeared at Munich only in
1852. From the MS. of Brentano Father Schmoeger published in three
volumes "The Life of Our Lord" (Ratisbon, 1858-80), and in 1881 a
large illustrated edition of the same. The latter also wrote her life
in two volumes (Freiburg, 867-70, new edition, 1884). Her visions go
into details, often slight, which give them a vividness that strongly
holds the reader's interest as one graphic scene follows another in
rapid succession as if visible to the physical eye. Other mystics are
more concerned with ideas, she with events; others stop to meditate
aloud and to guide the reader's thoughts, she lets the facts speak for
themselves with the simplicity, brevity, and security of a Gospel
narrative. Her treatment of that difficult subject, the twofold nature
of Christ, is admirable. His humanity stands out clear and distinct,
but through it shines always a gleam of the Divine. The rapid and
silent spread of her works through Germany, France, Italy, and
elsewhere speaks well for their merit. Strangely enough they produced
no controversy. Dom Guéranger extolls their merits in the highest
terms (Le Monde, 15 April, 1860).
Sister Emmerich lived during one of the saddest and least glorious
periods of the Church's history, when revolution triumphed, impiety
flourished, and several of the fairest provinces of its domain were
overrun by infidels and cast into such ruinous condition that the
Faith seemed about to be completely extinguished. Her mission in part
seems to have been by her prayers and sufferings to aid in restoring
Church discipline, especially in Westphalia, and at the same time to
strengthen at least the little ones of the flock in their belief.
Besides all this she saved many souls and recalled to the Christian
world that the supernatural is around about it to a degree sometimes
forgotten. A rumour that the body was stolen caused her grave to be
opened six weeks after her death. The body was found fresh, without
any sign of corruption. In 1892 the process of her beatification was
introduced by the Bishop of Münster.
WEGENER, tr. McGOWAN, Sister Anne Katherine Emmerich (New York, 1907);
DeCAZALES, Life of A. C. Emmerich prefixed to the 2d ed. of The
Dolorous Passion of Our Lord (London, 1907); URBANY in Kirchenlexikon,
s.v.; MIGNE, Dict. de mystique chrétienne (Paris, 1858).
E.P. GRAHAM
Transcribed by Michael T. Barrett
Dedicated to the Poor Souls in Purgatory
From the Catholic Encyclopedia, copyright ©
1913 by the Encyclopedia Press, Inc.
(These prophecies were made by 1820 by Anna Katarina Emmerick (Anne
Emerich), a stigmatized Augustinian nun who bore the wounds of Christ
on her body and who lived many years solely on the Holy Communion
until she died. She was given many visions of our Blessed Lord and
Lady including their earthly lives, printed into books. Her life and
the following prophecies were recorded in The Life of Anne Catherine
Emmerich by Rev. Carl Schmoeger, C.SS.R., published in English in 1870
and reprinted in 1968 by Maria Regina Guild, LA, California. )
THE GREAT APOSTASY IN THE PRESENT CHURCH - THE AGING POPE: "Among the
strangest things that I saw, were long processions of bishops. Their
thoughts and utterances were made known to me through images issuing
from their mouths. Their faults towards religion were shown by
external deformities ... I saw what I believe to be nearly all the
bishops of the world, but only a small number were perfectly sound. I
also saw the Holy Father - God-fearing and prayerful. Nothing left to
be desired in his appearance, but he was weakened by old age and by
much suffering. His head was lolling from side to side, and it dropped
onto his chest as if he was falling asleep ...Then I saw that
everything pertaining to Protestantism was gradually gaining the
upperhand, and the Catholic religion fell into complete decadence.
Most priests were lured by the glittering but false knowledge of young
school-teachers, and they all contributed to the work of destruction.
In those days, Faith will fall very low, and it will be preserved in
some places only, in a few cottages and in a few families which God
has protected from disasters and wars. "
POPE JOHN PAUL II LEAVING ROME, THE CHURCH IN
EXILE:
"... As we came nearer, however, the fire abated and we saw the
blackened building. We went through a number of magnificent rooms, and
we finally reached the Pope. He was sitting in the dark and slept in a
large arm chair. He was very ill and weak; he could no longer walk.
The ecclesiastics in the inner circle looked insincere and lacking in
zeal; I did not like them. I told the Pope of the bishops who are to
be appointed soon. I told him also that he must not leave Rome. If he
did so, it would be chaos. He thought that the evil was inevitable and
he should leave in order to save many things beside himself. He was
very much inclined to leave Rome, and he was insistently urged to do
so. "
THE ENEMIES OF THE CHURCH INVADING ITALY AND
ROME:
"I also saw the various regions of the earth. My Guide (Jesus) named
Europe and pointing to a small and sandy region, He uttered these
words: " Here is Prussia (East Germany), the enemy." Then He showed me
another place, to the north, and He said: "This is Moskva, the land of
Moscow, bringing many evils.'"
THE FALSE ECUMENICAL, HERETICAL CHURCH
ESTABLISHED IN ROME:
"I saw also the relationship between two popes ... I saw how baleful
would be the consequences of this false church. I saw it increase in
size; heretics of every kind came into the city of Rome. The local
clergy grew lukewarm, and I saw a great darkness...
"I had another vision of the great tribulation. It seems to me that a
concession was demanded from the clergy which could not be granted. I
saw many older priests, especially one, who wept bitterly. A few
younger ones were also weeping. But others, and the lukewarm among
them, readily did what was demanded. It was as if people were
splitting into two camps.
"I saw that many pastors allowed themselves to be taken up with ideas
that were dangerous to the Church. They were building a great,
strange, and extravagant Church. Everyone was to be admitted in it in
order to be united and have equal rights: Evangelicals, Catholics,
sects of every description. Such was to be the new Church ... But God
had other designs. "
"I saw again the strange big church that was being built there in
Rome. There was nothing holy in it. I saw this just as I saw a
movement led by Ecclesiastics to which contributed angels, saints, and
other Christians. But there in the strange big church all the work was
being done mechanically according to set rules and formulae.
Everything was being done according to human reason ...I saw all sorts
of people, things, doctrines, and opinions. There was something proud,
presumptuous, and violent about it, and they seemed very successful. I
di not see a single Angel nor a single saint helping in the work. But
far away in the background, I saw the seat of the cruel people armed
with spears, and I saw a laughing figure which said: " Do build it as
solid as you can; we will pull it to the ground."
"I saw again the new and odd-looking church which they were trying to
build. There was nothing holy about it ... People were kneading bread
in the crypt below ... but it would not rise, nor did they receive the
body of our Lord, but only bread. Those who were in error, through no
fault of their own, and who piously and ardently longed for the Body
of Jesus were spiritually consoled, but not by their communion. Then
my Guide (Jesus) said: "This is Babel."
"I saw deplorable things: they were gambling, drinking, and talking in
church; they were also courting women. All sorts of abominations were
perpetrated there. Priests allowed everything and said Mass with much
irreverence. I saw that few of them were still godly... All these
things caused me much distress. "
DEVOUT CATHOLICS AND CLERGY BEING OPPRESSED:
"Then I saw an apparition of the Mother of God, and she said that the
tribulation would be very great. She added that people must pray
fervently with outstretched arms, be it only long enough to say three
Our Fathers. This was the way her Son prayed for them on the Cross.
They must rise at twelve at night, and pray in this manner; and they
must keep coming to the Church. They must pray above all for the
Church of Darkness to leave Rome... These were all good and devout
people, and they did not know where help and guidance should be
sought. There were no traitors and enemies among them, yet they were
afraid of one another... "
"I saw more martyrs, not now but in the future ... I saw the secret
sect relentlessly undermining the great Church. Near them I saw a
horrible beast coming up from the sea. All over the world, good and
devout people, especially the clergy, were harassed, oppressed, and
put into prison ... "
"Whole Catholic communities were being oppressed, harassed, confined,
and deprived of their freedom. I saw many churches closed down, great
miseries everywhere, wars and bloodshed. A wild and ignorant mob took
violent action. But it did not last long... "
THE INTERCESSION FROM BLESSED VIRGIN AND KING
HENRY, THE VICTORS:
"I had a vision of the holy Emperor Henry. I saw him at night kneeling
alone at the foot of the main altar in a great and beautiful church
... and I saw the Blessed Virgin coming down all alone. She laid on
the altar a red cloth covered with white linen. She placed a book
inlaid with precious stones. she lid the candles and the perpetual
lamp. Then came the Saviour Himself clad in priestly vestments. He was
carrying the chalice and the veil. Two angels were serving Him and two
more were following ... Although there was no altar bell, the cruets
were there. The wine was as red as blood, and there was also some
water. The Mass was short. The Gospel of St. John was not read at the
end . When the Mass had ended, Mary came up to Henry, and she extended
her right hand towards him, saying that it was in recognition of his
purity. Then she urged him not to falter. Thereupon I saw an angel,
and he touched the sinew of his hip, like Jacob. Henry was in great
pain; and from that day on he walked with a limp ... "
"Very bad times will come when non-Catholics will lead many people
astray. A great confusion will result. I saw the battle also. The
enemies were far more numerous, but the small army of the faithful cut
down whole rows of enemy soldiers. During the battle, the Blessed
Virgin stood on a hill, wearing a suit armor. It was a terrible war.
At the end, only a few fighters for the just cause survived, but the
victory was theirs. "
THE CHURCH SHALL BE VICTORIOUS, REBUILT, AND
MORE GLORIOUS THAN EVER:
"I was in such distress that I cried out to Jesus with all my might,
imploring His mercy... He said , among other things, that this
translation of the church from one place to another meant that she
would seem to be in complete decline. But she would rise again; even
if there remained but one Catholic, the church would conquer again
because she does not rest on human counsels and intelligence. "
"When the Church had been for the most part destroyed by the secret
sect, and when only the sanctuary and altar were still standing, I saw
the wreckers enter the Church with the beast. There, they met a Woman
of noble carriage who seemed to be with child because she walked
slowly. At this sight, the enemies were terrorized, and the Beast
could not take but another step forward. It projected its neck towards
the Woman as if to devour her, but the woman turned about and bowed
down toward the Altar, her head touching the ground. Thereupon, I saw
the beast taking to flight towards the sea again, and the enemies were
fleeing in the greatest of confusion. Then, I saw in the great
distance great legion approaching. In the foreground I saw a man on a
white horse. Prisoners were set free and joined them. All enemies were
pursued. Then, I saw that the Church was being promptly rebuilt, and
she was more magnificent than ever before. "
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