The Gospel of John tells us that Jesus' first interrogation was by Annas, who demanded to know what He had taught. Jesus suggested that Annas interrogate instead the people who had heard His preaching. In Anne Catherine's vision, many of the witnesses in fact gave correct testimony of Jesus but drew the wrong implications of his ministry.

First they led Him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. ... The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples and His teaching. Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in the synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together; I have said nothing secretly. Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me, what I said to them; they know what I said." When He had said this, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, "Is that how You answer the high priest?" Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken wrongly, bear witness to the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike Me?" - John 18:13, 19-23

With excerpts from:

• The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ by Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich (https://bit.ly/3kaeP6l)
• The Mystical City of God by Ven. Mary of Agreda (https://bit.ly/3IhySaO)

GET THE BOOK - The Passion: Reflections on the Suffering and Death of Jesus Christ by Paul Thigpen (https://bit.ly/3IiSNpM)

The visions of Anne Catherine and Maria are vividly detailed. Facial expressions, room furnishings, ambient noises, odors, features of the landscape-nothing seems to escape their penetrating mystical senses. In such rich visions, we feel for ourselves a little something of what these women might have felt when such scenes first spread before them.

He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away; and as for His generation, who considered that He was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? - Isaiah 53:7-8

With excerpts from:

• The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ by Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich (https://bit.ly/3kaeP6l)
• The Mystical City of God by Ven. Mary of Agreda (https://bit.ly/3IhySaO)

GET THE BOOK - The Passion: Reflections on the Suffering and Death of Jesus Christ by Paul Thigpen (https://bit.ly/3IiSNpM)

After His arrest, in every place where Our Lord was dragged and tormented, we hear one long, ceaseless refrain: the taunts of those who took pleasure in seeing Him humiliated. Insults and indignities, sarcasm and slander, blasphemy and mockery followed Our Lord's disciples then, as they do today.

For it is for Thy sake that I have borne reproach, that shame has covered my face. I have become a stranger to my brethren, an alien to my mother's sons. For zeal for Thy house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult Thee have fallen on me. - Psalm 69:7-9

With excerpts from:

• The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ by Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich (https://bit.ly/3kaeP6l)
• The Mystical City of God by Ven. Mary of Agreda (https://bit.ly/3IhySaO)

GET THE BOOK - The Passion: Reflections on the Suffering and Death of Jesus Christ by Paul Thigpen (https://bit.ly/3IiSNpM)

Once Christ was arrested, those He had offended gathered gleefully to speak against this Sign from heaven who, simply by being true and good, had proved them to be false and wicked. In His time, as in our own, few friends found sufficient courage to stand by Our Lord, let alone the courage to defend Him.

"Now the chief priests and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus that they might put Him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward." - Matthew 26

With excerpts from:

• The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ by Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich (https://bit.ly/3kaeP6l)
• The Mystical City of God by Ven. Mary of Agreda (https://bit.ly/3IhySaO)

GET THE BOOK - The Passion: Reflections on the Suffering and Death of Jesus Christ by Paul Thigpen (https://bit.ly/3IiSNpM)

More than once in His public ministry, Our Lord walked unharmed through angry crowds seeking to kill Him. "His hour had not yet come." But as the torch-bearing mob surrounded Him in Gethsemane, He knew the appointed time had arrived.

Then Jesus said to [Peter] ... "Do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once send Me more than twelve legions of angels?" ... At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture Me? ... But all this has taken place, that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." - Matthew 26:52-53, 55-56

With excerpts from:

• The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ by Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich (https://bit.ly/3kaeP6l)
• The Mystical City of God by Ven. Mary of Agreda (https://bit.ly/3IhySaO)

GET THE BOOK - The Passion: Reflections on the Suffering and Death of Jesus Christ by Paul Thigpen (https://bit.ly/3IiSNpM)

Those who came to arrest Jesus in the garden no doubt had heard accounts of His miracles. How is it, after witnessing such a miracle mere feet away, that they–and we– could so easily doubt the power of Our Lord?

And when those who were about [Jesus] saw what would follow, they said, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?" And one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, "No more of this!" And He touched his ear and healed him. - Luke 22:49-51

With excerpts from:

• The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ by Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich (https://bit.ly/3kaeP6l)
• The Mystical City of God by Ven. Mary of Agreda (https://bit.ly/3IhySaO)

GET THE BOOK - The Passion: Reflections on the Suffering and Death of Jesus Christ by Paul Thigpen (https://bit.ly/3IiSNpM)

What sting is as sharp as a friend's betrayal? And what insult is more bitter than betrayal through a kiss? Worst of all, who could be so wicked, so foolish as to betray the Son of God with a kiss? Judas, yes—but also any one of us.

While [Jesus] was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I kiss is the man; seize Him." And he came up to Jesus at once and said, "Hail, Master!" And he kissed Him. - Matthew 26:47-49

With excerpts from:

• The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ by Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich (https://bit.ly/3kaeP6l)
• The Mystical City of God by Ven. Mary of Agreda (https://bit.ly/3IhySaO)

GET THE BOOK - The Passion: Reflections on the Suffering and Death of Jesus Christ by Paul Thigpen (https://bit.ly/3IiSNpM)

We learn from Anne Catherine Emmerich's visions how God the Father mercifully granted Christ visions of the communion of saints and martyrs from the ages to come. In His moment of torment, this glimpse and reminder of those who would commit their hearts to Him and join Him in heaven, was a soothing reminder of what would be made possible by His sacrifice.

These all died in faith, not having received what was promised, but having seen it and greeted it from afar. ... Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. – Hebrews 11:13; 12:1–2

With excerpts from:

• The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ by Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich (https://bit.ly/3kaeP6l)
• The Mystical City of God by Ven. Mary of Agreda (https://bit.ly/3IhySaO)

GET THE BOOK - The Passion: Reflections on the Suffering and Death of Jesus Christ by Paul Thigpen (https://bit.ly/3IiSNpM)