The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. - documenta ...

The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ.Anne Catherine Emmerichcount them. His legs and thighs, as also his arms, were stretched out almost to dislocation, the fleshand muscles so completely laid bare that every bone was visible, and his whole body covered withblack, green, and reeking wounds. The blood which flowed from his wounds was at first red, butit became by degrees light and watery, and the whole appearance of his body was that of a corpseready for interment. And yet, notwithstanding the horrible wounds with which he was covered,notwithstanding the state of ignominy to which he was reduced, there still remained that inexpressiblelook of dignity and goodness which had ever filled all beholders with awe.260The complexion of our Lord was fair, like that of Mary, and slightly tinted with red; but his exposureto the weather during the last three years had tanned him considerably. His chest was wide, but nothairy like that of St. John Baptist; his shoulders broad, and his arms and thighs sinewy; his kneeswere strong and hardened, as is usually the case with those who have either walked or knelt much,and his legs long, with very strong muscles; his feet were well formed, and his hands beautiful, thefingers being long and tapering, and although not delicate like those of a woman, still not resemblingthose of a man who had laboured hard. His neck was rather long, with a well-set and finelyproportioned head; his forehead large and high; his face oval; his hair, which was far from thick,was of a golden brown colour, parted in the middle and falling over his shoulders; his beard wasnot any great length, but pointed and divided under the chin. When I contemplated him on the cross,his hair was almost all torn off, and what remained was matted and clotted with blood; his bodywas one wound, and every limb seemed as if dislocated.The crosses of the two thieves were placed, the one to the right and the other to the left of Jesus;there was sufficient space left for a horseman to ride between them. Nothing can be imagined moredistressing than the appearance of the thieves on their crosses; they suffered terribly, and the oneon the left-hand side never ceased cursing and swearing. The cords with which they were tied werevery tight, and caused great pain; their countenances were livid, and their eyes inflamed and readyto start from the sockets. The height of the crosses of the two thieves was much less than that ofour Lord.CHAPTER XLII.First Word of Jesus on the Cross.261As soon as the executioners had crucified the two thieves and divided the garments of Jesus betweenthem, they gathered up their tools, addressed a few more insulting words to our Lord, and wentaway. The Pharisees, likewise, rode up to Jesus, looked at him scornfully, made use of someopprobrious expressions, and then left the place. The Roman soldiers, of whom a hundred had beenposted round Calvary, were marched away, and their places filled by fifty others, the command ofwhom was given to Abenadar, an Arab by birth, who afterwards took the name of Ctésiphon inbaptism; and the second in command was Cassius, who, when he became a Christian, was known150