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

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The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ.Anne Catherine EmmerichWhen Jesus, the Lord of life and death, gave up his soul into the hands of his Father, and alloweddeath to take possession of his body, this sacred body trembled and turned lividly white; the countlesswounds which were covered with congealed blood appeared like dark marks; his cheeks becamemore sunken, his nose more pointed, and his eyes, which were obscured with blood, remained buthalf open. He raised his weary head, which was still crowned with thorns, for a moment, and thendropped it again in agony of pain; while his parched and torn lips, only partially closed, showedhis bloody and swollen tongue. At the moment of death his hands, which were at one time contractedround the nails, opened and returned to their natural size, as did also his arms; his body becamestiff, and the whole weight was thrown upon the feet, his knees bent, and his feet twisted a little onone side.What words can, alas, express the deep grief of the Blessed Virgin? Her eyes closed, a death-liketint overspread her countenance; unable to stand, she fell to the ground, but was soon lifted up, andsupported by John, Magdalen, and the others. She looked once more upon her beloved Son—thatSon whom she had conceived by the Holy Ghost, the flesh of her flesh, the bone of her bone, theheart of her heart—hanging on a cross between two thieves; crucified, dishonoured, contemned bythose whom he came on earth to save; and well might she at this moment be termed ‘the queen ofmartyrs.‘“274The sun still looked dim and suffused with mist; and during the time of the earthquake the air wasclose and oppressive, but by degrees it became more clear and fresh.It was about three o’clock when Jesus expired. The Pharisees were at first much alarmed at theearthquake; but when the first shock was over they recovered themselves, began to throw stonesinto the chasm, and tried to measure its depth with ropes. Finding, however, that they could notfathom its bottom, they became thoughtful, listened anxiously to the groans of the penitents, whowere lamenting and striking their breasts, and then left Calvary. Many among the spectators werereally converted, and the greatest part returned to Jerusalem perfectly overcome with fear. Romansoldiers were placed at the gates, and in other principal parts of the city, to prevent the possibilityof an insurrection. Cassius remained on Calvary with about fifty soldiers. The friends of Jesus stoodround the Cross, contemplated our Lord, and wept; many among the holy women had returned totheir homes, and all were silent and overcome with grief.CHAPTER XLVI.The Earthquake.—Apparitions of the Dead in Jerusalem.I SAW the soul of Jesus, at the moment he expired, appear under the form of a bright orb, andaccompanied by angels, among whom I distinguished the angel Gabriel penetrate the earth at thefoot of the Cross. I likewise saw these angels cast a number of evil spirits into the great abyss, and158
The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ.Anne Catherine EmmerichI heard Jesus order several of the souls in Limbo to reënter the bodies in which they once dwelt, inorder that the sight might fill sinners with a salutary terror, and that these souls might render asolemn testimony to his divinity.275276The earthquake which produced the deep chasm at Calvary did much damage in different parts ofPalestine, but its effects were even more fatal in Jerusalem Its inhabitants were just beginning tobe a little reassured by the return of light, when their terror was reawakened with double force bythe shocks of the earthquake, and the terrible noise and confusion caused by the downfall of housesand walls on all sides, which panic was still farther increased by the sudden appearance of deadpersons, confronting the trembling miscreants who were flying to hide themselves, and addressingthem in the most severe and reproachful language.The High Priests had recommenced the sacrifice of the Paschal lamb (which had been stopped bythe unexpected darkness), and they were triumphing at the return of light, when suddenly the groundbeneath them trembled, the neighbouring buildings fell down, and the veil of the Temple was rentin two from the top to the bottom. Excess of terror at first rendered those on the outside speechless,but after a time they burst forth into cries and lamentations. The confusion in the interior of theTemple was not, however, as great as would naturally have been expected, because the strictestorder and decorum were always enforced there, particularly with regard to the regulations to befollowed by those who entered to make their sacrifice, and those who left after having offered it.The crowd was great, but the ceremonies were so solemnly carried out by the priests, that theytotally engrossed the minds of the assistants. First came the immolation of the lamb, then thesprinkling of its blood, accompanied by the chanting of canticles and the sounding of trumpets.The priests were endeavouring to continue the sacrifices, when suddenly an unexpected and mostappalling pause ensued; terror and astonishment were depicted on each countenance; all was throwninto confusion; not a sound was heard; the sacrifices ceased; there was a general rush to the gatesof the Temple; every one endeavoured to fly as quickly as possible. And well might they fly, wellmight they fear and tremble; for in the midst of the multitude there suddenly appeared persons whohad been dead and buried for many years! These persons looked at them sternly, and reproved themmost severely for the crime they had committed that day, in bringing about the death of ‘the justman,’ and calling down his blood upon their heads. Even in the midst of this confusion, someattempts were, however, made by the priests to preserve order; they prevented those who were inthe inner part of the Temple from rushing forward, pushing their way through the crowds who werein advance of them, and descending the steps which led out of the Temple: they even continuedthe sacrifices in some parts, and endeavoured to calm the fears of the people.The appearance of the Temple at this moment can only be described by comparing it to an ant-hillon which persons have thrown stones, or which has been disturbed by a stick being driven into itscentre. The ants in those parts on which the stones have fallen, or which the stick has disturbed,are filled with confusion and terror; they run to and fro and do nothing; while the ants in those partswhich have not been disturbed continue to labour quietly, and even begin to repair the damagedparts.The High Priest Caiphas and his retinue did not lose their presence of mind, and by the outwardtranquillity which their diabolical hardness of heart enabled them to preserve, they calmed the159
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