Who is Sister Anne Emmerich?
Mel Gibson apparently relied on some of the writings of Sister Anne Catherine Emmerich , an Augustinian nun who lived in Germany from 1774 to 1824. She is remembered for her mystical visions of Jesus’ and Mary’s lives, recorded in works like “The Dolorous Passion of OUr Lord Jesus Christ.” Gibson drew from this work when crafting his movie. Emmerich is called “Venerable,” a title given by the Catholic Church to holy men and women of “heroic virtue” who have not been beatified or canonized. Bedridden for years, Emmerich sewed clothes for the poor and attracted many followers who sought her advice and healing. Her supporters claim that she bore the stigmata–the wounds in the hands and feet that Christ suffered. Emmerich has been considered for sainthood. However, it is unclear whether all her writings were her own, according to Mary Francis Lester, editor at TAN Books and Publishers, which publishes “The Dolorous Passion.” Emmerich’s visions were transcribed by Clemens Brentano, a poet
