Selections of Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich’s Writings on the Jews

Anne Catherine Emmerich (1774–1824) was a German Augustinian Canoness, stigmatist, and visionary of the Diocese of Münster, Westphalia. Beatified by Pope John Paul II on 3 October 2004, she is best known for her mystical visions, transcribed by the poet Clemens Brentano and later edited by the Very Rev. K. E. Schmoger, C.SS.R. Her principal works — The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ (first published 1833) and The Life of Jesus Christ and Biblical Revelations (3 vols., 1858–1860) — contain extensive passages bearing on the Adversus Judaeos tradition: the Jewish role in the Crucifixion, the theological enmity between the Synagogue and the Church, the divine punishment of the Jewish nation, the scribal falsification of Scripture, and the demonic complicity of the Sanhedrin. The following passages are reproduced verbatim from the digitised originals available at the Internet Archive. No word has been altered; OCR errors in the originals have been silently corrected against the page images where possible.

I. The Jews and the Passion of Our Lord

The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ (1862 ed.)

Chapter XII. Jesus Confined in the Subterranean Prison

“THE Jews, having quite exhausted their barbarity, shut Jesus up in a little vaulted prison, the remains of which subsist to this day. Two of the archers alone remained with him, and they were soon replaced by two others. He was still clothed in the old dirty mantle, and covered with the spittle and other filth which they had thrown over him; for they had not allowed him to put on his own clothes again, but kept his hands tightly bound together.”

(Chapter XII: Jesus confined in the subterranean prison)

“It is quite impossible to describe all that the Holy of Holies suffered from these heartless beings; for the sight affected me so excessively that I became really ill, and I felt as if I could not survive it.”

(Chapter XII)

Chapter on the Scourging (Chapter XXII)

“That most weak and undecided of all judges, Pilate, had several times repeated these dastardly words: ‘I find no crime in him: I will chastise him, therefore, and let him go;’ to which the Jews had continued to respond, ‘Crucify him! Crucify him!'”

(Chapter XXII: The Scourging)

“When he passed before the benches on which the High Priests were seated, they cried out, ‘Put him to death! Crucify him! crucify him!’ and then turned away disdainfully.”

(Chapter XXII: The Scourging)

Chapter on Pilate and the Sentencing

“I looked up again, and saw the cruel Jews almost devouring their victim with their eyes, the soldiers standing coldly by, and multitudes of horrible demons passing to and fro.”

(On the pronouncement of the death sentence)

Chapter on the Arrest in Gethsemane

“I saw the empire of Hell divided against itself; Satan desired the crime of the Jews, and earnestly longed for the death of Jesus, the Converter of souls, the holy Teacher, the Just Man, who was so abhorrent to him; but at the same time he felt an extraordinary interior fear of the death of the innocent Victim, who would not conceal himself from his persecutors. I saw him then, on the one hand, stimulate the hatred and fury of the enemies of Jesus, and on the other, insinuate to some of their number that Judas was a wicked, despicable character, and that the sentence could not be pronounced before the festival, or a sufficient number of witnesses against Jesus be gathered together.”

(On the Sanhedrin’s conspiracy and the arrest)

“The four archers and the six Pharisees did not fall to the ground at the words of Jesus, because, as was afterwards revealed to me, they as well as Judas, who likewise did not fall, were entirely in the power of Satan, whereas all those who fell and rose again were afterwards converted, and became Christians.”

(On the arrest in the Garden)

“The Pharisees ordered him to be bound still more strongly, and made answer in a contemptuous tone, ‘Ah! this is a trick of the devil, the powers of witchcraft made the ear appear to be cut off, and now the same power gives it the appearance of being healed.'”

(On the arrest: the healing of Malchus)

Chapter on Judas’s Despair (Chapter XIV)

“I again beheld him rushing to and fro like a madman in the valley of Hinnom: Satan was by his side in a hideous form, whispering in his ear, to endeavour to drive him to despair, all the curses which the prophets had hurled upon this valley, where the Jews formerly sacrificed their children to idols.”

(Chapter XIV: The Despair of Judas)

Chapter on Demons and the Crowd

“There were numerous devils among the crowd, exciting and encouraging the Jews, whispering in their ears, entering their mouths, inciting them still more against Jesus.”

(On the Jewish mob during the Passion)

II. The Solemn Curse and Its Consequences

The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Chapter XXVIII. Reflections on the Visions

“WHENEVER, during my meditations on the Passion of our Lord, I imagine I hear that frightful cry of the Jews, ‘His blood be upon us, and upon our children,’ visions of a wonderful and terrible description display before my eyes at the same moment the effect of that solemn curse. I fancy I see a gloomy sky covered with clouds, of the colour of blood, from which issue fiery swords and darts, lowering over the vociferating multitude; and this curse, which they have entailed upon themselves, appears to me to penetrate even to the very marrow of their bones, even to the unborn infants. They appear to me encompassed on all sides by darkness; the words they utter take, in my eyes, the form of black flames, which recoil upon them, penetrating the bodies of some, and only playing around others. The last-mentioned were those who were converted after the death of Jesus, and who were in considerable numbers, for neither Jesus nor Mary ever ceased praying, in the midst of their sufferings, for the salvation of souls.”

(Chapter XXVIII: Reflections on the Visions)

III. The Malice, Blindness, and Persecution of Jesus by the Jews During His Hidden Life

The Life of Jesus Christ and Biblical Revelations (Schmoger ed.)

“He had already suffered much from the persecution Jesus had had to support from the malice of the Jews from His twentieth to His thirtieth year; for they could not bear the sight of Him. Their jealousy often made them exclaim that the carpenter’s Son thought He knew everything better than others, that He was frequently at variance with the teachings of the Pharisees, and that He . . . Mary never ceased to suffer from these persecutions. Such pains always seem to me sharper than those of martyrdom. Unspeakable was the love with which Jesus in His youth bore the jealous persecution of the Jews.”

(Vol. I: On the persecution of Jesus by the Jews during His hidden life, and the sufferings of St. Joseph)

IV. The Jews Reject Their Final Grace; Divine Punishment Foretold

The Life of Jesus Christ and Biblical Revelations

“Jews rejected this last grace, never to the end of time should they as a nation receive another, and that a much more frightful chastisement should fall upon Jerusalem than it had ever yet experienced. The whole discourse was calculated to inspire fear. All listened silent and terrified, for Jesus very clearly signified, as He explained the Prophecies, that He Himself was the One who was to bring salvation. The Pharisees of the place, who were not of much account and who, like those of Akrabis, had received Jesus with a show of hypocritical reverence, kept silence, though filled with wonder and irritation.”

(Vol. II: On Jesus’s preaching beyond Akrabis; the rejection of the final grace and the threatened destruction of Jerusalem)

V. The Scribes’ Falsification of Holy Scripture

The Life of Jesus Christ and Biblical Revelations

“Jesus spoke likewise of the Scribes, their misrepresentations of the Holy Scriptures, their false interpretations and additions. That evening a public entertainment was given in the tabernacles on the eminence.”

(Vol. II: Jesus preaches in the region of Akrabis)

VI. The Jews Storming and Jeering at the Teaching of the Passion

The Life of Jesus Christ and Biblical Revelations (Schmoger ed., Vol. IV)

“The Jews stormed and jeered when Jesus spoke of His sufferings and their power to satisfy for sin, and some of them left the hall to report to the mob whom they had appointed to spy Jesus.”

(Vol. IV: On Jesus’s last discourses in the Temple; the opposition of the Jews)

“He exposed the deep corruption and guilt of mankind, and explained that without His Passion no man could be justified.”

(Vol. IV: The last weeks before the Passion)

VII. The Conspiracy of the Sanhedrin Aided by Satan

The Life of Jesus Christ and Biblical Revelations

“Satan desired the crime of the Jews by the death of the Most Innocent; he longed for the death of Jesus, the Converter of sinners, the holy Teacher, the Saviour, the Just One, whom he hated. But at the same time he experienced a sentiment of fear at the thought of the guiltless death of Jesus, who would make no effort to conceal Himself, who would not save Himself; he envied Him the power of suffering innocently. And so I saw the adversary on the one side stimulating the hatred and fury of Jesus’ enemies assembled around the traitor; and on the other, insinuating to some of their number that Judas was a scamp, a knave, that the sentence could not be pronounced before the festival, nor could the requisite number of witnesses against Jesus be brought together.”

(On the Sanhedrin’s council and Judas’s treachery)

VIII. Supersessionism: The Old Sacrifices Abolished, the New Law Established

The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ

“Jesus spoke of a new period then beginning, and said that the sacrifice of Moses and the figure of the Paschal Lamb were about to receive their accomplishment, but that on this very account, the lamb was to be immolated in the same manner as formerly in Egypt, and that they were really about to go forth from the house of bondage.”

(Meditation VI: The Last Pasch)

“The disciples had already asked Jesus where he would eat the Pasch . . . Jesus spoke to them at some length concerning all they had to prepare and order at Jerusalem.”

(Meditation I: Preparations for the Pasch)

IX. The Shameful Treatment of Our Lord at the Hands of the Jews: The Praetorium and the Road to Calvary

The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ

“The enemies of our Lord did not allow him a moment’s respite, even in this dreary prison, but tied him to a pillar which stood in the centre, and would not allow him to lean upon it, although he was so exhausted from ill treatment, the weight of his chains, and his numerous falls, that he could scarcely support himself on his swollen and torn feet. Never for a moment did they cease insulting him; and when the first set were tired out, others replaced them.”

(Chapter XII: Jesus confined in the subterranean prison)

“The Philistines at Gaza, who gave vent to their wrath by tormenting poor blind Samson, were far less barbarous than these cruel executioners of our Lord.”

(On the mockery and ill-treatment of Jesus at Herod’s palace)

“The enemies of Jesus were perfectly furious at the trouble they were compelled to take in going backwards and forwards, and therefore vented their rage upon him.”

(On Jesus before Herod)

“Many were bribed by the enemies of our Lord to strike him on the head with their sticks, and they took advantage of the confusion and tumult to do so. Jesus looked upon them with compassion; excess of pain drew from him occasional moans and groans, but his enemies rejoiced in his sufferings, and mocked his moans, and not one among the whole assembly showed the slightest degree of compassion.”

(On the mockery of Jesus at Herod’s palace)

X. The Jews as Fully in the Power of Satan

The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ

“The Jews listened to all these pieces of advice with scornful indifference, and replied, ‘If we once have him in our hands, we will take care not to let him go.'”

(On the Sanhedrin’s final deliberations)

“He saw that sufferings and persecutions were on the increase for our Lord and his followers, and he sought to make friends with the powerful enemies of our Saviour before the time of danger, for he saw that Jesus did not become a king, whereas the actual dignity and power of the High Priest, and of all who were attached to his service, made a very strong impression upon his mind.”

(On the corruption of Judas and the power of the high-priestly faction)

XI. The Ritual Murder of a Christian Child by Jews: The Infant-Martyr of Sachsenhausen

The Life and Revelations of Anne Catherine Emmerich (Schmoger ed., pp. 428–432)

“I have had an apparition of a child about four years old, surrounded by the martyrs’ rosy aureola. There was something wonderfully attractive about him; his words were few, but full of wisdom. I went a long journey with him, and I was deeply impressed on seeing the little boy so brilliant with light, so grave, and so wise! . . . His parents were very pious people who lived about three hundred years ago, at Sachsenhausen, near Frankfort. They had a near relative in Egypt, an anchoret, whom they regarded with great affection and veneration. They frequently remarked, as they looked on their child, how happy they would be if he, too, would one day lead a holy life and serve God in solitude. Surely, parents who could form such a desire for an only child, still in his first year, must have been persons of more than ordinary piety! When the child had attained his first year, one of his parents died. The other married again, and still in the new family continued to speak of the hermit and of the child’s following his example. The little fellow was often entertained with this plan for his future. At last his only surviving parent died, and the little boy was now an orphan. The hermit continued to be spoken of in the family and the child, now four years old, earnestly longed to see him. (He told me that he was a beautiful child, but by no means so beautiful as I now beheld him, and that, had he lived, he would have been very good, perhaps a hermit.) His step-parents, who saw in him an heir of the family, were nothing loath to get rid of him. They secretly encouraged him in his desire to walk in his pious relative’s footsteps; and, when not quite four years old, they intrusted him to some foreign Jews who were journeying to Egypt. This they did to make away with him; the plea of sending him to his relative was only a cloak for their treachery. Although this step led to his martyrdom, yet the child ever loved his family and country.”

“I travelled far across the sea into a hot sandy country where he again joined me in a ruined city whose houses seemed to be toppling down on one another. In a cave under a hill, he showed me the place of his martyrdom: it looked like a slaughter-house. In the walls were iron hooks from which the Jews had hung the child, as from a cross, and slowly bled him to death. On the ground yet lay the bones of many other martyred children, shining like sparks. It seemed as if no one knew of this place, and the martyrdom of the child had never been discovered or punished. There were no Christians there, only a few hermits who lived in the desert and occasionally visited the city.”

(Pp. 429–431: An Infant-Martyr of Sachsenhausen; the relic of a child-martyr presented to Sister Emmerich by Clement Brentano, and her subsequent vision)

XII. The Holy Land in Prophecy: Jerusalem’s Desolation

The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ

“More than once she beheld them profaned and laid waste, but always venerated, either publicly or privately. She saw many stones and pieces of rock, which had been silent witnesses of the Passion and Resurrection of our Lord, placed by St. Helena in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre upon occasion of the foundation of that sacred building.”

(Chapter XLIX: A Description of some parts of ancient Jerusalem; footnote on Sister Emmerich’s visions of the Holy Places)

The Life of Jesus Christ and Biblical Revelations

“On the next Sabbath Jesus taught in the Temple from morning till evening, part of the time in a retired apartment in presence of the Apostles and disciples only, and another part in the lecture hall where the lurking Pharisees and other Jews could hear Him. He foretold to the Apostles and disciples, though in general terms, much of what was to happen to them in the future.”

(Vol. IV: Jesus teaches in the Temple during the last weeks)

“This instruction occasioned great anxiety among the Scribes and Pharisees. They held a meeting in Caiaphas’ house, and issued a prohibition against anyone’s harboring Jesus and His disciples. They also set spies at the gates to watch for Him.”

(Vol. IV: The conspiracy of Caiaphas)

Sources

All texts are in the public domain and available in full at the Internet Archive, under the creator search for Catherine Emmerich:

https://archive.org/search?query=creator%3A%22Catherine+Emmerich%22

Works drawn upon in this compilation: