The Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary: From the Visions of Ven. Anne Catherine Emmerich

This is such a wonderful account of our Lady and our Jesus. One of the best books I've read.

Clemens Brentano had planned a Life of Mary to be based like The Dolorous Passion Of Our Lord Jesus Christ: After The Meditations Of Anne Catherine Emmerich, on his recordings of the visions of the famous mystic, Anne Catherine Emmerich. On his death in 1842 the work was left unfinished, and it was not till many years later that it was finally completed by other hands. 'Though the accounts of these visions', to quote Brentano's Preface to the Dolorous Passions, 'solemnly reject the slightest claim to bear the character of historical truth' - being merely 'a pious nun's Lenten meditations' - yet he was at pains to try to verify, often with surprising success, the scriptural, historical and geographical elements in the mystical visions he recorded. The results of his researches he embodied in notes which are here reprinted, together with further critical notes, on both the original text and Brentano's comments, by Father Sebastian Bullough, O.P. A treasury of holy scenes and pictures which contribute to the edification and inspiration of the faithful; the Life of Mary is 'a worthy companion' to the earlier book, and should obviously be read in conjunction with the Dolorous Passion, since the one narrative often supplements the other. --- from book's back cover

I bought this book because I wanted to learn more about the Blessed Virgin Mary. There is not a lot of mention of her in the Bible and I was curious because this book is written "from the visions of Ven. Anne Catherine Emmerich." As I expected this is much more than someone's fictional interpolation of the scant Biblical information. It is actually an on-going interview with the very ill Emmerich. There is a lot of repetition because her words are not often edited but she tells some amazing information much of which is verified by ancient writings other than the Bible. This gives credibility to her "fly on the wall" observations of Mary, Joseph, the three wise men and even St. John the Baptist and why he grew up in the desert. It was fascinating.

Anne Catherine Emmerich gives the "everyday" happenings in the lives of those she "observed". I thought this book was a lovely read, and give me renewed interest in the Bible itself. As with all her books, it is like reading the full story as opposed to the headlines. Because Anne Catherine was a nun, it is often supposed that this, and indeed all her books, are only for Catholics. However, for Jewish people, it gives a most profound knowledge of the rich Jewish culture two thousand years ago, and for Christians, it fills in the blanks that Mathew, Mark, Luke and John left - they probably didn't realise that two thousand years later, their readers would not know what a Jewish wedding was like (Mary's dress and hair do left me breathless!). After reading the Chapter of Christmas, you too will wonder how Santa Claus managed to take over this wonderful event. I have also read the four volumes of the Life and Passion of Our Lord. Easter has never been the same for me.NOTHING in her books contradicts the bible in any way. It just brings it to life.

It was as if God let me get to read this book: whether the visions are accurte or not even the idea of such amazing events taking place is like heaven and Gods presence. This book hit me so sublimely and wondeful...I felt Grace reading her words...so privleged.

Miss Emmerich relates in minute and often beautiful detail her visions of the life of Mary, from her conception to her assumption. Although not necessarily historical, the visions are a benefit to meditation on the events that we do know to have taken place, and help transport the reader back to Palestine in the first century.