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Summary: Grotesque & Disturbing Yet Brilliant
Review: 'The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ' was mandatory reading during my studies last year, and with every new meditation or chapter it became both startling, and disturbing. If not for the fact that it depicts in the finest of detail the sufferings of the one many believe to be the Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, then for the fact that this is the only known full length work by a stigmatist. In this case one, Anne Catherine Emmerich.It's hard for me to imagine the suffering that Sister Emmerich endured throughout her life, and particularly while having these visions (some of them are described in the book's introduction, which is a concise biography of Sister Emmerich) yet I can feel the passion in which she endured them with every word that is in this book. I guess it shouldn't come as a shock that it was this book that influenced Mel Gibson to make his controversial film, 'The Passion of the Christ'. Whether you believe in the divinity of Christ, or not (I personally don't) one can't help but be moved by the sufferings in which he endured -- described here in the finest and most grotesque of detail -- for simply teaching a doctrine which was opposed not only by the Roman Empire, but by the very people he hoped to enlighten. A powerful MUST read.
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Summary: Like steamy love novels? No truer love than this!
Review: All worries, troubles and life's problems pale in comparison to the Lord's suffering FOR US. And to think, He would endure it all over again for even ONE of His children. His love is beyond measure and beyond comprehension and this book brings the knowledge of what Jesus did into a horrific yet beautiful reality. Non-catholics and Catholics alike will be overwhelmed by this book.
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Summary: Fascinating glimpse into the mind of a stigmatic mystic
Review: Ann Catherine Emmerich basically dictated this from her sick bed, after a painful life of her own, one full of toil and disappointment and sorrow. Does this better prepare one for mysticism? This is one of several examples of the phenomenon of the Catholic stigmatic driven to extacy and visions by a life of brutal effort and constant prayer. I leave it to the reader to judge the actual truth of their experiences. First let me say that I do believe that the Passion occurred much as it is explained here, but then it is explained here much as it was in the Gospels, with a few variations. The interesting thing about this book is that it actually does read like an eye witness account. For instance: the house where the Last Supper occurred was (according to Emmerich) owned by Joseph of Arimathia and Nicodemus, who used it as both an office for their stone working business as well as renting the main room out for Passover meals during that season. In times past it was used as a training facility during the time of King David, and the Ark of the Covenant was stored in a basement room awaiting completion of the temple. The room is described very clearly and logically, and after a while you get a chill as though you are actually seeing the actual events take place. But then she tips her hand, and it seems we are only dealing with someone in an advanced state of mental fatigue, suffering pleasant delusions. The chalice that was to be used, (it turns out) is a priceless heirloom left over from the original Temple, and it was never melted down and reused because it was made of - not gold - but some other, miraculous metal that couldn't be melted. It also seems that this chalice was in fact a small dinner service with 6 other smaller cups, a detachable base, a spoon that slipped into a hidden recess, all packaged in a leather carrier. Sort of a Swiss Army knife of chalices. Not only that, but it was brought with Noah on the ark to escape the flood. So it was difficult for me to get completely lost in the narrative as it seemed clear that much of it was what psychiatrists call "confabulation", or adding one detail on top of another until things get preposterous. The scourging and crucifixion scenes are horrendous, and I don't doubt that the original event was probably something similar. But it should be borne in mind that the point of Roman crucifixion was just that...a proper public crucifixion to show the masses who was in charge. A scourging as brutal as the one described here would have killed any man, and Christ was fully man (and fully God.) He would have been unable to walk from blood loss, and would have simply passed out and died there at the pillar, with no subsequent crucifixion necessary or possible. I do believe that people like Emmerich are special - through prayer and hardship they slowly leave the earthly plane and attain something like a middle level between earth and heaven, and it's quite possible that they can be allowed to see things the rest of us aren't worthy to see. It's also possible that weak, delusional people can be whipped into a frenzy by their "handlers" who are eagerly writing down every word they say, and the truth gets embroidered to the point that it's difficult to tell fact from fantasy. But it doesn't really matter. What matters is that books like this make us think: about Christ's Passion, about our prayer lives, about the work that WE should be doing to try to attain something like sainthood in this modern life. If it does that, the book is well worth the price.
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Summary: Devotion. Imagination.
Review: Anne Catherine Emmerich has been beatified by Pope John Paul II. This is one more step on the road to being declared a saint in the Catholic Church.
The book isn't necessarily an accurate transcription of her visions. Her visions are not necessarily a form of communication from God, nor do they necessarily originate in her own imagination exclusively.
I think the book works wonderfully as a speculative and dramatic account as filtered through the experience of a 19th century German mystic nun. What annoys some other reviewers - the quirks in the style and the anachronisms - I think they are reminders that this isn't well-researched historical fiction nor it is a work of the inspiration of the Holy Spirit - it's in its own category.
4 rather than 5 stars because I believe that one should read the Bible and non-fiction accounts about life in the Holy Land first so they get a good background before picking up the Dolorous Passion.
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Summary: Looking for more
Review: Catherine Emmerich's book graphically describes the Crucifixion. It is certainly not for the faint of heart. But reading it raises a thirst to know more about who God is and why He did this. While the Emmerich's book is a good start, it is only a start. It doesn't answer important questions concerning, such as:
Who is God that He would do such a thing for us?
Exactly what happened at the Fall that brought the need for such a sacrifice?
How can I translate the suffering Emmerich describes into an example for my daily life?
Where do we go for answers like these? If you would like to find out more about the Trinity, how the Crucifixion is rooted in Fall, why the Son of God took on flesh, and why marriage is at the center of our salvation, consider Sex and the Sacred City by Steve Kellmeyer (ISBN 0-9718128-1-0). Using easy, clear language, it explains why Christ is the Bridegroom, how the sacrament of marriage gives form to our salvation, and why Jesus' offering of Himself in the Passion and the Cross is described by Paul as the "great mystery" of bride and Bridegroom. In the course of providing these explanations, Sex and the Sacred City also describes for every adult how we can live out the life of God in our own bodies, whether we are single or married. In this way, we see how to live out Jesus' example in our daily lives. Get behind the movie, move beyond the description and discover the depths of God's Passion for us!
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Summary: Readers please contact Amazon re: Offensive Reviews
Review: Dear Readers: Please join me in contacting Amazon regarding any negative reviews you see posted that are in violation of Amazon's Conditions of Use/Offensive Language Policy ("...obscene, threatening, defamatory, injurious to third parties, objectionable, profanity, obscenities, or spiteful remarks..."). Perhaps if more customers call them to accountability they will remove such reviews and do a better job of maintaining their own policies by not posting such reviews in the future. Thank you. Together we can make a difference!
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Summary: Review from the Publisher
Review: Faithful to the Bible story of the Passion and death of Jesus, it fills in many details and is edifying and inspiring beyond belief; plus, it is surpising and heartrendering. It will melt a heart of stone. This book is the best on the Passion we have seen. It is also wonderful on the Blessed Mother's role inour redemption. Includes a short biography of St. Emmerich. A great, great book for the whole family!
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Summary: deepens ones devotion of the Passion of Jesus
Review: I absolutely loved this book!! Can't recommend it enough for those wanting to grow deeper in devotion to our Lord's Passion. A must read!! It really deepened my Love for Jesus.
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Summary: Beautiful, august-has changed my life and will change yours
Review: I am a Catholic who has learned about the sufferings of Jesus Christ in his passion - (crucifiction and death), but I had never realized the depth of his physical and mental anguish. The book is the recordings of a woman named Anne Catherine Emerich who received visitations from our Lord Jesus Christ. She was revealed great understanding of the lives of Jesus and Mary, His Blessed Mother and experienced visions of what exactly had occured during his agony, scourging, crowning, mocking and crucifiction as well as many other events in His life and the lives of the Blessed Virgin and many Biblical figures. It's especially wonderful for those who need their faith to be strengthened. I recommend it to every soul in the world - that it may awaken in them an understanding of the great love and mercy that Jesus Christ has for us all. PRAISE BE TO JESUS CHRIST - NOW AND FOREVER!!!
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Summary: One of the great meditation books on the passion of Christ!
Review: I am currently reading this book at a break-neck speed, as it is almost impossible to put down. The meditations of this book are great for any liturgical season, but most especially for that of Lent. The book forces upon you the reality of the daily life that Jesus and the Apostles lived, as well and the details of the events told in the Bible. I am gaining a much deeper respect for all Our Lord suffered, for His inseparable relationship with Mary, and for the greatness of the Eucharist. I am sending this book to others, as I know I want my own copy to refer to frequently!
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