Very Rev. K. E. Schmoger - Life and Revelations of Anne Catherine Emmerich Volume 1 (with Supplemental Reading: A Brief Life of Christ) [Illustrated]

APPROBATION

The first volume of the work entitled Life and Revelations of Anne Catherine Emmerich, by Father Schmger, C.SS.R., presented to us in manuscript, contains nothing contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church, either as to dogma or morals, and, as it seems conducive to faith and piety, we cheerfully give it the approbation solicited by the author.

PETER JOSEPH,

Bishop of Limbourg

Limbourg, September 26, 1867

Reprinted from the 1968 edition of Maria Regina Guild, Los Angeles, California, itself reprinted from the English edition of 1885.

ISBN: Volume 1978-0-89555-059-0

Volume 2978-0-89555-060-6

The Set978-0-89555-061-3

Printed and bound in the United States of America.

TAN Books

An Imprint of Saint Benedict Press, LLC

Charlotte, North Carolina

2012

DEDICATION

To the Immaculate Heart of the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Help of Christians, and Refuge of the Human Race.

CONTENTS

PREFACE TO THE ENGLISH EDITION

T HE LIFE of Anne Catherine Emmerich is already well known to thousands in Germany, Italy, and France. Its publication in those countries was hailed by numbers who have profitted by its perusal. It will be no small recommendation in its favor to state that His Holiness, Pius IX of blessed memory, ordered the Italian translation to be made from advanced proof-sheets of the German. The French, also, as we are told by Canon de Cazals in his preface, was taken from the original proofs furnished by the author himself, Very Rev. Carl Erhard Schmger, C.SS.R.

The present translation from the edition of 1870 was undertaken in the conviction that the work is calculated to edify English readers not less than those of other nationalities. We were likewise actuated by the persuasion that it would be pleasing to Almighty God to publish the wonders of His workings in chosen souls; for if it is good to hide the secret of the king, it is also honorable to confess the works of the Most High. ( Tobias 12:7).

The disciples of Antichrist never weary of publishing book after book, each more pernicious than the preceding, with the design of perverting the mind and corrupting the hearts of millions; they employ every effort, every stratagem to spread around by means of the press and in every possible form the deadly poison of Hell.

Should the children of Holy Church, they who have it in their power to counteract these diabolical designs by the publication and circulation of good books, remain idle? Should they fancy themselves exonerated from further efforts in a contrary direction by the mere utterance of useless lamentations while, at the same time, they behold that tide of evil gaining fresh strength as it sweeps along bearing with it innumerable souls to ruin? Can too much be done to stem the torrent, to avert the danger before it is too late?

May we not, also, while offering an antidote to the deadly effects of so much of our current literature, supply the spiritual wants, and gratify the varied tastes of many souls hungering for fresh and more suitable nourishment?

Much has already been done in English Catholic literature, both in defense of Catholic principles and to lay before the public the lives of numerous saints and servants of God. But much still remains to be done, and it ought to be accomplished as carefully, as conscientiously as so noble an object deserves.

As every bad book tends to mislead the mind and corrupt the heart of its reader, so every good book is a cherished companion, a faithful teacher, whose lessons are often more telling on the interior life than the most eloquent sermons.

Should we have today a St. Ignatius Loyola had he, when convalescing after his wound at Pompeluna, been supplied with novels by way of entertainment instead of the legends of the saints? Where would be our great St. Teresa had she continued her secret perusal of those dangerous romances which she found in the paternal home? Should we be called upon to lament the spiritual ruin of so many of our young people, had they not imbibed principles of infidelity and licentiousness from the pages of those miserable publications whose only aim is to depict vice in its most vivid colors, and to spread it broadcast throughout the land? Earnest Catholic parents, good Catholic schools, zealous priests, are indeed rich blessings for our Catholic youth; but let some dangerous book fall into a childs hands, and the efforts of parents, teachers, and priests will soon be frustrated.

May the present work, The Life [ and Revelations ] of Anne Catherine Emmerich , open in the future, as it has done in the past, a source of multiplied graces to its readers! May its perusal prepare them for that of another most intimately connected with it; viz., the Life of Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Blessed Mother, compiled from the revelations made to this holy religious!

If some of our readers find it difficult to lend credence to the extraordinary favors conferred upon this privileged spouse of Christ, let them remember that they are facts not met in everyday life, consequently, facts to the contemplation of which the mind must be gradually trained as to any other subject of thought and reflection. Let them understand that the arm of the Lord is not shortened : that He who bestowed so many extraordinary favors on His servants both of the Old and the New Law, has the same power, the same freedom to show forth in our own day for the benefit of mankind His marvelous gifts in those whom He has selected and prepared for them.

To those of our readers who may feel an interest in the opinion of theologians concerning the present biography, we can afford evidence not to be lightly put aside.

Even in her lifetime, after she had been subjected to the test of a most rigid examination, sound theologians approved Anne Catherine Emmerichs supernatural state; after her death sound theologians wrote and examined her life, and distinguished ecclesiastical authorities set their seal of approbation upon it. Among the first class, we may mention Msgr. Clemens Auguste, Count von Droste-Vischering, Coadjutor-Bishop of Mnster, later Archbishop of Cologne, who suffered so much, even two years imprisonment, for defending and upholding the rights of the Church against the encroachments of the government. We mention the renowned Bishop Michael Sailer, of Ratisbon, and his coadjutor, the saintly Bishop Wittman,Some hours before the death of the latter, as we read in Schmgers Lebensbild , he earnestly exhorted the Pilgrim (Brentano) to publish his manuscripts relating to the servant of God. O my beloved friend, said he, labor faithfully, labor faithfully for the honor of Jesus Christ! Go on courageously! So spoke the dying Bishop as he blessed Brentano, and congratulated him in the hearing of all around upon having noted down the visions of Anne Catherine, to the publication of which he had in their very first interview urged him. Nor must we omit Sister Emmerichs extraordinary confessor, the pious and learned Dean Overberg, for a time Director of the Seminary at Mnster. We shall often meet his name in the following pages. To the foregoing illustrious names may be added those of Count von Stolberg and Joseph Goerres who, though not in the ranks of the priesthood, so excelled in the theological learning and sound judgment that their words were received as oracles in their time.