LENT: 40 Reflections and Mystical Revelations on the Passion

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)

We learn from Anne Catherine Emmerich how Our Lord's terrifying visions continued – this time, representing the future misguidance and dispersal of His flock. For this, and much more, our savior prepared to give Himself up in sacrifice.

My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray, turning them away on the mountains; from mountain to hill they have gone, they have forgotten their fold. All who found them have devoured them, and their enemies have said, “We are not guilty, for they have sinned against the Lord, their true habitation.” – Jeremiah 50:6–7

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)

Long before His Passion, Christ knew that the Church He established would follow in the footstops of His suffering. He must have faced haunting questions: “If I suffer these things, what good will it do? Will this fallen race turn its back on My gift? Is it worth the price?”

Jesus answered them, “Take heed that no one leads you astray. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. ... Then they will deliver you up to tribulation, and put you to death; and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will fall away, and betray one another, and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise, and lead many astray. And because wickedness is multiplied, most men’s love will grow cold.” – Matthew 24:4–5, 9–12

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)

How startling it is to hear Christ's outcry in the Garden: “Remove this cup from Me!” Is any prayer of Our Lord more unsettling than this? Hearing it, we are tempted to think that in this terrible moment, Jesus lost His courage, faltered in His resolve, shrank from His mission. Yet Jesus was not stumbling spiritually...

Jesus withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, “Father, if Thou art willing, remove this cup from Me; nevertheless, not my will, but Thine be done.” And there appeared to Him an angel from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly; and His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down upon the ground. – Luke 22:41–45

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)

Satan, defeated by Our Lord in the wilderness before His public ministry began, had retreated until an opportunity arose to engage Him again. What better opportunity than the agonized hours in Gethsemane?

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit for forty days in the wilderness, tempted by the Devil. ... And when the Devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time. – Luke 4:1–2, 13

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)

Here we begin with the Stations of the Cross, in the Garden of Gethsemane. We must imagine the crushing grief Christ felt – even before His physical torture commenced – knowing what awaited Him, as the wretched gravity of the sin of a whole world weighed down on him.

Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and He said to His disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, He began to be troubled and full of grief. Then He said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with Me.” Then going a little farther, He fell on His face and prayed. – Matthew 26:36–39

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)