The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ
The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ is a book published in 1833, based on the visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich, a German Roman Catholic mystic and stigmatic. The visions she experienced on the Passion of Jesus were recorded and compiled by Clemens Brentano, a German romantic poet and writer,[1] who compiled them for the book.[2]
The Dolorous Passion quickly became a popular book following its publication, and it has been translated into many languages. The book has been praised for its vivid descriptions of the Passion, and it has been used by many people to deepen their understanding of the meaning of Christ's sacrifice.[3]
The book has also been criticized by some for its graphic descriptions of violence. Emmerich's supporters argue that these descriptions are necessary to convey the full horror of the Passion. They also point out that the book is not intended to be a historical account, but rather a spiritual meditation on the Passion.
The book was a major source for the 2004 film The Passion of the Christ by Mel Gibson.[4]
Background
In 1812, Emmerich was bedridden with a debilitating illness. During this time, she began to have visions of the Passion of Jesus Christ. She described these visions in great detail to her assistant, Clemens Brentano, who later wrote them down.[5][6]
Clemens Brentano established acquaintance with Anne Catherine Emmerich in 1818 and diligently positioned himself at the bedside of the stigmatist, meticulously transcribing her dictations until 1824. Following Emmerich's death, Brentano meticulously curated an index comprising her extensive corpus of visionary experiences and divine revelations, which subsequently formed the basis for the publication of "The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ" in 1833.
Summary
Emmerich's account begins with Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and continues through the Last Supper, the Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, the betrayal by Judas Iscariot, the trial before Pontius Pilate, the scourging, the carrying of the Cross, the Crucifixion, and finally, the Resurrection.[7]
Impact
One particular vision revealed by Brentano played a crucial role in the later identification of the purported House of the Virgin Mary in Ephesus by Abbé Julien Gouyet, a French priest, in 1881.[8][9][10]
The book played a significant role as a primary source of inspiration for the 2004 film The Passion of the Christ, directed by Mel Gibson. The depth of Emmerich's descriptions provided a crucial foundation for the cinematic portrayal of Jesus Christ's passion, contributing to the emotional intensity and realism that became characteristic of Gibson's critically acclaimed film.[11]
References
- ^ Murray, Christopher John (2013-05-13). Encyclopedia of the Romantic Era, 1760–1850. Routledge. p. 109. ISBN 978-1-135-45579-8.
- ^ Emmerich, Anne Catherine; Cazales, Abbe De (2004-07-01). The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ: From the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich. TAN Books. ISBN 978-0-89555-210-5.
- ^ Emmerich, Anna Katharina (2005). The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ: After the Meditations of Anne Catherine Emmerich as Told to Clemens Brentano. Anvil Publishers. ISBN 978-0-9749721-2-1.
- ^ Kurian, George Thomas; III, James D. Smith (2010-04-16). The Encyclopedia of Christian Literature. Scarecrow Press. p. 58. ISBN 978-0-8108-7283-7.
- ^ Wiseman, Nicholas Patrick (1838). The Dublin Review. Tablet Publishing Company. p. 425.
- ^ Fetzer, John F. (1981). Clemens Brentano. Twayne Publishers. p. 146. ISBN 978-0-8057-6457-4.
- ^ Emmerich, Anne Catherine (2021-12-09). The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ: From the Meditations of the Saint and Prophet Anne Catherine Emmerich. e-artnow.
- ^ "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Klemens Maria Brentano". www.newadvent.org. Retrieved 2023-06-07.
- ^ Emmerich, Anne Catherine (2004). The Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary: From the Visions of Venerable Anne Catherine Emmerich. TAN Books. ISBN 978-1-61890-902-2.
- ^ "House of the Virgin Mary in Ephesus | Turkish Archaeological News". turkisharchaeonews.net. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
- ^ "Passion of the Christ: Every Scene NOT From The Bible (& Why They Were Included)". ScreenRant. 2020-04-11. Retrieved 2023-06-07.