Part 1. This 5-part series from Truth of the Spirit describes the Trials of Jesus after He was arrested until his final condemnation by Pilate and the people as given to Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich in visions and recorded in the journal of Clement Brentano, edited by Very Rev. C.E. Schmöger, CSSR, published in 1914. It is narrated by Patti Brunner of Truth of the Spirit. Excerpts are taken from Venerable Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich’s “The Lowly Life and Bitter Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Blessed Mother, Volume IV”. As with all private revelation we invite your discernment.
Welcome to Truth of the Spirit. I am your narrator, Patti Brunner. This series contains excerpts directly taken from the visions of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich writings of the Dolorous Passion of Christ[i]. This episode begins after Jesus was arrested in the garden and had been taken to the home of Annas for interrogation and then to the High Priest Caiaphas where they had a “pre-trial” with witnesses, false witnesses, and discussion of Jesus and questioning Jesus. Then, it was clear that it was not a legal trial because it was in the middle of the night; it took place around midnight. And so they held Jesus over until the daybreak so they could have a “legal” trial. And that’s where this episode begins. We will be covering the entire trials of Jesus in this series from the writings of Anne Catherine, and we know that she had visions of this trials. And its real interesting because in Part 2 we hear of someone else who was having visions of the trial during her (Blessed Anne Catherine) vision! So, we’ve got a lot planned for you of sharing Anne Catherine’s work. So now we’ll begin with the Part 1- The Morning Trial.
“As soon as it was clear daylight, Caiaphas, Annas, the Ancients and Scribes assembled in the great hall to hold a trial perfectly lawful. Trial by night was not legal. That of the preceding night had been held only because time pressed on account of the feast, and that some of the preparatory attestations might be taken. Most of the members had passed the rest of the night in side chambers in Caiaphas’s house, or on couches prepared for them above the judgment hall; but many, such as Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, went away and returned at daybreak. It was a large assembly, and business was conducted in a very hurried manner. When now they held council against Jesus in order to condemn Him to death, Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, and a few others opposed His enemies. They demanded that the case should be postponed till after the festival in order not to give rise to a tumult among the people. They argued also that no just sentence could be rendered upon the charges as yet brought forward, since all the witnesses had contradicted one another. The High Priests and their large party became exasperated by this opposition, and they told their opponents in plain terms that they understood clearly why this trial was so repugnant to them since, perhaps, they themselves were not quite innocent of having taken part in the doctrines of the Galilean.”
“The High Priests even went so far as to exclude from the Council all those that were in any way well-disposed toward Jesus. These members protested against taking any part in its proceedings, left the judgment hall, and betook themselves to the Temple. From that time forward they never sat in the Council. Caiaphas now ordered poor, abused Jesus, who was consumed from want of rest, to be brought from the prison and presented before the Council, so that after the sentence He might without delay be taken to Pilate. The servants hurried tumultuously into the prison, overwhelmed Jesus with words of abuse, loosened His hands, dragged the old tattered mantle from His shoulders, put on Him His own long, woven robe, which was still covered with all kinds of filth, fastened the ropes again around His waist, and led Him forth from the prison. All this was accompanied with blows, by way of hastening the operation, for now as before all took place with violent hurry and horrible barbarity. Like a poor animal for sacrifice, with blows and mockery, Jesus was dragged by the executioners into the judgment hall through the rows of soldiers assembled in front of the house.
And as through ill-treatment and exhaustion He presented so unsightly an appearance, His only covering being His torn and soiled undergarment, the disgust of His enemies filled them with still greater rage. Compassion found no place in any one of those hardened Jewish hearts. Caiaphas, full of scorn and fury for Jesus standing before him in so miserable a plight, thus addressed Him: “If Thou be the Anointed of the Lord, the Messiah, tell us!” Then Jesus raised His head and with divine forbearance and solemn dignity said: “If I shall tell you, you will not believe Me. And if I shall also ask you, you will not answer Me, nor let Me go. But hereafter the Son of Man shall be sitting on the right hand of the power of God.” The members of the Council glanced from one to another and, smiling scornfully, said to Jesus with disdain: “So then, Thou! Thou art the Son of God?” With the voice of Eternal Truth, Jesus answered: “Yes, it is as ye say. I am He!” At this word of the Lord all looked at one another, saying: “What need we any further testimony? For we ourselves have heard it from His own mouth.” Then all rose up with abusive words against Jesus, “the poor, wandering, miserable, destitute creature of low degree, who was their Messiah, and who would one day sit upon the right hand of God!” They ordered the executioners to bind Him anew, to place the chain around His neck, and to lead Him as a condemned criminal to Pilate.”
“A messenger had already been dispatched to notify Pilate to hold himself in readiness to judge a malefactor at an early hour, because on account of the coming festival, there was no time to be lost. Some words of dissatisfaction passed among them with regard to the Roman Governor; they were vexed at having to send Jesus first to him. But they dared not themselves pronounce sentence of death in cases that concerned other than their religious laws and those of the Temple; and as they wanted to bring Jesus to death with a greater appearance of justice, they desired that He should be judged as an offender against the Emperor, and that the condemnation should come principally from the Roman Governor. Soldiers were ranged in the outer court and in front of the house, and many of Jesus’ enemies and others of the rabble were already gathered outside. The High Priest and some other members of the Council walked first, then followed the poor Saviour among the executioners and a crowd of soldiers, and lastly came the mob. In this order they descended Sion into the lower city, and proceeded to Pilate’s palace. Many of the priests that had assisted at the late trial now went to the Temple, where there was much to be done today.”
“The inhuman crowd that conducted Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate passed through the most populous part of the city, which was now swarming with Paschal guests and countless strangers from all parts of the country. The procession proceeded northward from Mount Sion, down through a closely built street that crossed the valley, then through a section of the city called Acre, along the west side of the Temple to the palace and tribunal of Pilate, which stood at the northwest corner of the Temple opposite the great forum, or market. Caiaphas and Annas, with a large number of the Chief Council in robes of state, stalked on in advance of the procession. After them were carried rolls of writing. They were followed by numerous Scribes and other Jews, among them all the false witnesses and the exasperated Pharisees who had been particularly active at the preceding accusation of the Lord. Then after a short intervening distance, surrounded by a crowd of soldiers and those six functionaries who had been present at the capture, came our dear Lord Jesus bound as before with ropes which were held by the executioners. The mob came streaming from all sides and joined the procession with shouts and cries of mockery. Crowds of people were standing along the way. Jesus was now clothed in His woven undergarment, which was covered with dirt and mud. From His neck hung the heavy, rough chain, which struck His knees painfully as He walked. His hands were fettered as on the day before, and the four executioners dragged Him again by the cords fastened to His girdle. By the frightful ill treatment of the preceding night, He was perfectly disfigured. He tottered along, a picture of utter misery, haggard, His hair and beard torn, His face livid and swollen with blows. Amid fresh outrage and mockery, He was driven onward.”
“Many of the mob had been instigated by those in power to scoff in this procession at Jesus royal entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. They saluted Him in mockery with all kinds of regal titles; cast on the road at His feet stones, clubs, pieces of wood, and filthy rags; and in all kinds of satirical songs and shouts reproached Him with His solemn entrance. The executioners pushed Him and dragged Him by the cords over the objects that impeded His path, so that the whole way was one of uninterrupted maltreatment.”
“Not very far from the house of Caiaphas, crowded together in the corner of a building, and waiting for the coming procession, were the blessed and afflicted Mother of Jesus, Magdalen, and John. Mary’s soul was always with Jesus, but wherever she could approach Him in body also; her love gave her no rest. It drove her out upon His path and into His footsteps. After her midnight visit to Caiaphas’s tribunal, she had in speechless grief tarried only a short time in the Coenaculum; for scarcely was Jesus led forth from prison for the morning trial when she too arose. Enveloped in mantle and veil, and taking the lead of John and Magdalen, she said: “Let us follow My Son to Pilate. My eyes must again behold Him.” Taking a bypath, they got in advance of the procession, and here the Blessed Virgin stood and waited along with the others. The Mother of Jesus knew how things were going with her Son. Her soul had Him always before her eyes, but that interior view could never have depicted Him so disfigured and maltreated as He really was by the wickedness of human creatures. She did, in truth, see constantly His frightful sufferings, but all aglow with the light of His love and His sanctity, with the glory of that patient endurance with which He was accomplishing His sacrifice. But now passed before her gaze the frightful reality in all its ignoble significance. The proud and enraged enemies of Jesus, the High Priests of the true God, in their robes of ceremony, full of malice, fraud, falsehood, and blasphemy, passed before her, revolving deicidal designs. The priests of God had become priests of Satan. Oh, terrible spectacle! And then that uproar, those cries of the populace! And lastly, Jesus, the Son of God, the Son of Man, Mary’s own Son, disfigured and maltreated, fettered and covered with blows, driven along by the executioners, tottering rather than walking, jerked forward by the barbarous executioners who held the ropes that bound Him, and overwhelmed by a storm of mockery and malediction! Ah! Had He not been the most wretched, the most miserable in that tempest of Hell unchained, had He not been the only one calm and in loving prayer, Mary would never have known Him, so terribly was He disfigured. He had, besides, only His undergarment on, and that had been covered with dirt by the malicious executioners. As He approached her, she lamented as any Mother might have done: “Alas! Is this my Son? Ah! Is this my Son! O Jesus, my Jesus!”
“The procession hurried by. Jesus cast upon His Mother a side glance full of emotion. She became unconscious of all around, and John and Magdalen bore her away. But scarcely had she somewhat recovered herself when she requested John to accompany her again to Pilates palace.”
“The poor people, who had received so many cures and favors from Jesus, were shaken in their faith by the frightful spectacle exhibited before them by the most venerable personages of the land, the High Priest and the members of the Sanhedrim. The best of them turned away in doubt, while the viciously inclined, with scoffs and jeers, joined the procession wherever they could, for the avenues of approach were here and there occupied by guards appointed by the Pharisees in order to prevent a tumult.”
Truth of the Spirit will continue with The Trial of Jesus Part 2: Before Pilate. We invite you to subscribe with notification so you don’t miss the next episode. The transcript of this episode is available at PatriarchMinistries.com/311. Come back for more. With the Holy Spirit there’s always more. Amen.
[i] VISIONS OF VENERABLE ANNE CATHERINE (jesus-passion.com)
“The Lowly Life and Bitter Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Blessed Mother, Volume IV”. FROM THE VISIONS OF BLESSED ANNE CATHERINE EMMERICH AS RECORDED IN THE JOURNAL OF CLEMENT BRENTANO AND EDITED BY VERY REV. C.E.SCHMÖGER, C.SS.R. 1914
Life_of_Our_Lord_Jesus_Christ_Vol_IV.pdf (jesus-passion.com)
