Blessed Anne-Catherine Emmerich

Anne-Catherine Emmerich is a German Augustinian nun. She experiences mystical experiences, receives the stigmata of Jesus, and has numerous visions. She is the first to receive the complete vision of the life of Jesus Christ several years before Maria Valtorta. Beatified in 2004 by John Paul II, Anne-Catherine Emmerich is an example of holiness for all Christians.

Biography of Anne-Catherine Emmerich

Anna-Katharina Emmerick was born on September 8, 1774, in Flamschen, Westphalia (Germany). The fifth of a family of nine, she attended school little as she was tasked with helping with household and agricultural chores. However, she received a solid religious education. At thirteen, she went to work at a nearby farm where she learned sewing. Three years later, Anna-Katharina returned to her family and felt a strong desire to dedicate her life to God. The young girl declined a marriage proposal but did not obtain her parents' approval to become a nun. Additionally, due to a lack of money, she was not accepted by the sisters.

After a long period of twelve years trying to be accepted into a convent, she was finally welcomed by the Augustinians of Agnetenberg in 1802. She took her vows a year later and wholeheartedly participated in religious life, willingly taking on the most unpleasant tasks. Her health was very poor, and the young woman, sick, suffered greatly. Since 1799, Anne-Catherine felt the pains of the crown of thorns, every Friday blood flowed, but she managed to conceal it.

Starting from 1807, the pains of the stigmata began, remaining invisible. In 1811, the Agnetenberg convent was secularized and closed, Anne-Catherine became a servant for a French priest who had found refuge in Germany during the French Revolution. From 1813, she was so ill that she could no longer leave her bed. Her younger sister took over the household under her direction. Shortly after, the stigmata became visible, Anne-Catherine also gradually lost her appetite and now lived on a total fast. The doctor called to examine her, Franz Wesener, was deeply impressed by Anne-Catherine and became her loyal friend. From 1913 to 1919, he diligently wrote a Journal recording all his medical analyses, this document is a valuable source.

Anne-Catherine was a person overflowing with love for her neighbor, bedridden, she spent her time sewing clothes for poor children. In 1818, she met Clemens Brentano, for 5 years, he visited her daily, recording the accounts of her visions to later publish them. In 1823, Anne-Catherine's health deteriorated rapidly. Sensing death approaching, she offered all her sufferings to Jesus, in union with His Passion, for the Redemption of mankind. She died on February 9, 1824. Her body currently rests in the crypt of the Holy Cross Church in Dülmen. Her beatification process began in 1892 but was suspended for about fifty years until 1973. The Church indeed had difficulty assessing the authenticity of Brentano's texts. After a thorough investigation, Pope John Paul II celebrated the beatification on October 3, 2004. In the next step, canonization, the Church will proclaim Anne-Catherine Emmerich a saint.

Visions of Anne-Catherine Emmerich

The vast majority of Anne-Catherine Emmerich's visions have reached us thanks to the considerable work of Clemens Brentano who recorded them (16,000 pages of notes). The mystic received the vision of the entire Passion of the Savior; she also followed Him for 3 years on His evangelization journey through Palestine, seeing the scenes of Jesus' life as if she were there. Anne-Catherine Emmerich also reveals her visions of Paradise, Purgatory, and Hell. From her visions, Brentano published three works:

• The Painful Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, published in 1833.
• The Life of the Virgin Mary, published in 1852 after the death of Brentano (the work was continued by his brother and completed by his sister-in-law). The Life of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, published between 1858 and 1860 by the redemptorist K. E. Schmöger from the manuscripts of Brentano which he amended and remanufactured. Unfortunately, Clemens Brentano wanted to "improve" the authentic perfection of the visions given by Jesus by adding his own deductions. He thus distorted the original work because of an improperly placed zeal. It is now impossible to distinguish Brentano's additions from the rest of the story. Consequently, only three letters are considered by the Church as authentic writings of Anne-Catherine Emmerich. To read the life of Jesus faithful to reality, the writings of Maria Valtorta are of unparalleled richness.
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Anne-Catherine Emmerich's prophecies for our time

Anne-Catherine Emmerich had prophetic visions regarding the future of the Church. She described a period when two popes coexisted. Here are several quotations from the visions of the Blessed.

“I saw the Pope in prayer; he was surrounded by false friends who often did the opposite of what he said. I see the Holy Father in great tribulation and great distress concerning the Church. I see him surrounded by treachery. They want to take away from the shepherd the pasture that belongs to him! They want to impose one who betrays everything to the enemies! (then seized with anger, she raised her fist saying) Rascals of Germans! Wait! You will not succeed! The shepherd is on a rock! You priests, you do not move! You sleep while the sheepfold burns from all sides! You do nothing! Oh, how you will weep for this one day!

I then saw that when they introduced the bishop in the manner they had planned (after electing him democratically?), he was an intruder, introduced against the will of the Pope, and did not legitimately possess spiritual authority. I see, I believe, almost all the bishops of the world, but only a small number are perfectly healthy. ”

“I have also seen the relationship between the two popes... I have seen how harmful the consequences of this false church would be. I saw it growing in size; heretics of all kinds were coming into the city (of Rome). The local clergy was becoming lukewarm, and I saw a great darkness.”

“I see the Holy Father in great distress. He resides in a different palace than before and allows only a small number of friends close to him. If the opposing party knew his strength, it would have already erupted. I fear that the Holy Father, before his death, will have to endure many more trials. I see the false Church of darkness advancing and the disastrous influence it exerts on public opinion. The distress of the Holy Father and the Church is truly so great that one must implore God day and night... I have been instructed to pray fervently for the Church and the Pope...

I saw the Holy Father surrounded by traitors in great distress of the Church. He had visions and apparitions in times of distress. I saw many good, devout bishops, but they were weak and indecisive, their cowardice often prevailed. I saw men with dark schemes, the destroyers attacking the Church of Peter, Mary standing with her cloak on her, and the enemies of God fleeing... Then I saw darkness spreading everywhere and men seeking the true Church. They went towards another (Church) which told them: "Everything is more beautiful, more natural here, better legislated," but I saw no cleric among them.

Discover the mystics thanks to Hozana and pray with them!

Many figures of holiness are put in our way by Jesus to shine his Light and bring us back to him. Many saints and mystics have had such an intimate relationship with Jesus that they reveal it to us with clarity.

• Saint Padre Pio lived an extraordinary life of union with Christ, learn to pray with his advice. Receive a piece of spiritual advice from Padre Pio every day for 10 days, a short meditation and a prayer to grow in faith by following his example!
• Saint Faustina had an exceptional mission in the Church, that of revealing to the world the immensity of divine mercy. Thanks to this novena, take 9 days to pray the powerful rosary that Christ dictated to Saint Faustina and entrust men and the world to his divine mercy.
• Saint Rita de Cascia also had an extraordinary mystical life. Pray the novena to Saint Rita, Patron of Desperate Causes. Thus entrust all your intentions to the saint of the impossible.