Meditations on the 15 Mysteries of the Rosary

The Joyful Mysteries

The Annunciation, the First Joyful Mystery

Mary was praying in her room at the home of St. Ann and St. Joachim, her parents. She was a little over 14 at the time. The archangel St. Gabriel appeared to her as she was praying for the Redemption, for the promised King and that her own supplications might have some influence on His coming.

The Scriptures tell us that St. Gabriel told her that she will be the mother of the Son of the Most High God. She wondered aloud, how could this be, since she didn't "know" a man. She was a virgin already married to Joseph, but according to the Jewish custom, she continued to live at her own home, and he in his, until one year passed. Then they could live together.

St. Gabriel, the Archangel, said to her that the Holy Spirit would appear to her, overshadow her and she would be with Child. Then he added something very important to Mary to hear. He told her that her cousin Elizabeth, thought to be barren by many people, and now advanced in years , was now six months with child. Then St. Gabriel added, ''For nothing is impossible with God."

Mary quickly replied to him, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done unto me according to thy word." The Archangel then disappeared. Mary had given her consent to become the mother of Jesus, son of the Almighty Father in Heaven.

Blessed Ann Catherine Emmerich then saw an apparition environed by dazzling splendor. She saw three streams of light come from the breast and hands of the Holy Spirit in human form. The streams of light penetrated the right side of the Blessed Virgin Mary and united into one under her heart. Instantly, Mary became perfectly transparent and luminous.

Blessed Ann Catherine then saw a path of light that led up to Heaven, showers of half-bloomed roses and tiny green leaves falling upon Mary. She then saw in herself the Incarnate Son of God, a tiny human form of light with all the members even to the little fingers perfect.

When God created Adam, he was full grown, a man. He was never a baby or a child. When the Holy Spirit created Jesus in Mary, he was already a tiny baby, very tiny. God will do as He pleases, for nothing, as St. Gabriel told Mary, is impossible with God.

Mary, when alone again, continued to pray and finally only toward morning did she lie down. Meanwhile, an intuitive knowledge of what had taken place in her daughter was conferred upon Ann, Mary's mother.

Mary knew that the Redeemer, now within her, had to suffer and die first, before becoming King. (In the 20th and 21st century, Jesus first appeared as Jesus, King of All Nations, written about on this website in The Warnings and Promises and Prayers section.)

Jesus did not come sooner because Mary was the first and the only woman conceived without sin; she was the Immaculate Conception as she said at Lourdes in 1858, saying then "I am the Immaculate Conception."

The Second Joyful Mystery

The Visitation

This is the visitation of Mary with Elizabeth, who was thought to be barren and was now six months with child when Mary went to help her for three months until Elizabeth gave birth.

Elizabeth was advanced in years. Zachary, her husband, was a priest at the temple.

Their home stood upon a solitary hill and other dwellings were scattered around.

In a vision, Elizabeth had learned that one of her race was to give birth to the Messiah. She beheld Mary journeying to Hebron. In a little room, she anxiously looked down the road, in the hope of catching the first glimpse of Mary. One day she came. Elizabeth's first words to Mary were: "Whence is this to me, that the Mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, as soon as the voice of your salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed art thou that has believed because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord."

Elizabeth led Mary to a little room prepared for her that she might sit down and rest. Mary crossed her hands on her breast, and divinely inspired, said what is known today as The Magnificat prayer.

"My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God, my Savior. Because He hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

"Because He that is mighty hath done great things to me; and holy is His name. And His mercy from generation unto generations, to them that fear Him.

"He hath showed might in His arm; He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble.

"He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He hath sent empty away.

"He hath received Israel His servant, being mindful of His mercy. As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His seed forever."

Elizabeth, moved by similar emotion, recited the whole canticle with Mary.

All this time since they arrived, Joseph was with Zachary, Elizabeth's husband. They were conversing by means of the tablet and always about the coming of the Messiah. Zachary was struck dumb, unable to speak, when he failed to believe an angel who appeared to him in the inner temple and told Zachary that his wife would bear a son. Because he didn't believe the angel, the angel made him unable to speak until the birth of his son. He used a tablet to communicate. 

Joseph wanted to return at once, but they persuaded him to stay 8 days. Joseph as yet did not know of Mary's conception of Jesus, and would learn of it three months later when she returned to Nazareth after Elizabeth gave birth to a baby named John, and eventually he would become John the Baptist, cousin of the Lord Jesus and His forerunner. Mary and Elizabeth were cousins.

While there, Mary helped with everything around the house and prepared all kinds of necessaries for the child. Mary and Elizabeth also worked for the poor. They recited together morning and evening the Magnificat which Mary had received from the Holy Spirit at the salutation of Elizabeth.

Upon seeing Mary with Child, Joseph became very anxious. He didn't let Mary see this. He was of a mind to leave the house in Nazareth . Then an angel appeared to him in a dream and he was consoled. He was told to name the Child Jesus and when he awoke he told Mary, who of course already knew that. She confirmed it all to Joseph.

The Third Joyful Mystery

The Birth of Jesus

Joseph and his wife Mary, nearing birth, had to go to Bethlehem, for the Romans required this for their census. This would also fulfill the Scriptures, as Jesus was born in Bethlehem, as prophesied.

Bethlehem was far more crowded than usual because so many had to go there for the census. The Romans had long rolls of writing and told Joseph his ancestry and also that of Mary, through Joachim, her father Mary had descended in a straight line from David, as Joseph had also.

Later, with her, they went straight into Bethlehem to find a room in an inn. Because of so many being there for the census, everything was full. Suddenly, Joseph thought of a cave, outside the city, used as a storing place by the shepherds. Joseph had withdrawn there by himself to pray.

So, he took Mary there. Seeing the she-ass she had ridden to reach Bethlehem, leaping gaily around them, Mary said, "Behold! It is surely God's will that we should be here."

Deep in the cave, Joseph cleared out an area for Mary to give birth. She seated herself on a rug with her bundle for support. While she ate, Joseph went into Bethlehem to buy necessities, provisions and utensils. All was on tables on street corners.

Upon returning, Joseph began to prepare his own place at the entrance of the cave. He also stopped up all the openings of the cave to keep the air out. A crib was placed in a side vault of the cave. Mary was deeper in the cave to remain hidden as she gave birth.

Mary told Joseph that the birth of the Child Jesus would be the coming night. It was then nine months since her conception by the Holy Spirit.

They prayed together for the people who would afford Him no place of shelter. Joseph proposed to bring some pious women whom he knew in Bethlehem to her assistance, but Mary would not allow it. She declared that she had no need of anyone.

As he looked back later to where Mary was, he saw the cave filled with light that streamed from Mary, for she was entirely enveloped as if by flames. Joseph sank prostrate to the ground in prayer and looked not back again.

Mary was miraculously raised above the ground. Above Mary stretched a pathway of light up to Heaven. There was a great deal of light and heavenly figures issued from the light.

Mary continued in prayer, her eyes turned upon the ground at that moment she gave birth to the Infant Jesus. I (Blessed Ann Catherine Emmerich) saw the Child in her vision, lying on the rug and brighter than all the other brightness. An hour after the birth, Mary called St. Joseph, who still lay prostrate in prayer. When he approached, he fell on his knees, his face to the ground, in a transport of joy, devotion and humility. At Mary's urging, he picked up the Child and held Him in his arms. She wrapped the Child in swaddling cloths and laid Him in the crib, which had been filled with rushes and fine moss, over which was spread a cover that hung down at the sides.

Mary and Joseph stood by the Child in the crib, in tears, singing praises of God.

In the nearby hills, a cloud of glory descended upon the shepherds. There was singing, sweet and clear, from angels singing the Gloria. The shepherds reflected upon what gifts to take the Child born that night . They went down from the hills early in the morning.

When Jesus was born, the very large statue of Jupiter in Rome fell with violence from its place. All were struck with fear. Three kings departed their homes to pay homage to the newborn King.

In God's perfect timing, after a long trip, the three kings arrived in Bethlehem on the night Jesus was born. The star led them to this place. Each of the kings had their own caravan. Mary had a vision of the approach of the three kings . They arrived and pitched their tents on hills near the cave. A star shone over the cave and in it a Child was plainly visible. Amazingly, it stood directly above the crib of Jesus. The three kings hurried to the cave to pay homage, bringing gifts of gold, incense and myrrh, and other gifts. The most expensive gifts were given by Joseph to the poor and the other gifts to those who were unkind to them upon their arrival in Bethlehem. The kings and their caravans were led by an angel on a different route to avoid Jerusalem and King Herod. A few gifts remained in Mary and Joseph's possession–the woven stuff, the mantles and the golden vessels; all after the Resurrection were consecrated for religious use.

Ann came to visit her daughter, Mary, Joseph and her new grandson Jesus. Then Mary and Joseph packed up and left for the Purification and Presentation of the Lord in the temple in Jerusalem. NOTE: The basilica erected by Constantine in Bethlehem over the cave in the 4th century, and still in use, is one of the oldest Christian churches in the world.

The Fourth Joyful Mystery

The Presentation in the Temple and the Purification of Mary

The priest Simeon dwelt in the temple. On the day that Jesus, His Mother Mary and St. Joseph arrived, he approached them, for he had been promised by God, and an angel told him the day before their arrival, that the baby he'd see the next morning was the Messiah. The angel also told Simeon that, after seeing the Child, he would die.

Simeon stopped both Our Lady, holding the baby Jesus, and St. Joseph. He told them that Jesus would be the cause of the rise of many and the downfall of others. He also told Mary that a sword would pierce her through, which happened on Good Friday when Jesus' side was pierced with a lance, driven up through His heart. Then, Our Lady felt that go through her, fulfilling Simeon's prophecy to her. She fell into the arms of those with her at the cross of her Son.

At the presentation of the baby Jesus to the Lord, the Infant Jesus wrapped in His sky-blue gown was laid in the basket cradle. Four priests prayed over Jesus, including Simeon, while Anna approached Mary, gave her doves and fruit in two baskets, and went with Mary to the altar.

Simeon went to where Mary was standing, took the Child into his arms and, entranced with and filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke a long time. Then Anna, also filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke a long time.

I (Blessed Ann Catherine Emmerich) did not witness the purification ceremonies of the other mothers, but I had an interior conviction on that day all the children would receive special grace.

Joseph, Mary and the Baby Jesus went straight out of Jerusalem after leaving the temple.

The Fifth Joyful Mystery

Finding Jesus in the Temple

When Jesus was 12, he went with His Mother Mary and Joseph to Jerusalem with youth and adults. This was Jesus' fifth time there; He always went with the other youth from Nazareth. At one point, Jesus separated from his youthful friends and acquaintances. They thought He joined His parents. Mary and Joseph thought He was ahead with the other youth. Everyone left Jerusalem but Jesus remained in the temple. That night he stayed at an inn in Bethlehem. He then went to a school at the temple in Jerusalem, where Joseph and Mary found Him on the third day He was missing from them.

Mary asked Jesus, "Why have you done this to us?" He said, "Do you not know that I must be about My Father's business?"

They did not understand. They at once began with Him their journey home. When they reached Nazareth, Ann, His grandmother, had a feast in her house. Present were 33 boys, all future disciples of Jesus.

First Sorrowful Mystery

The Agony in the Garden

This took place in the Garden of Gethsemane on Jesus' last night on earth before His crucifixion and death on the cross. Jesus led the eleven apostles to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus said to them, "All you shall be scandalized in Me this night. For it is written: I will strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be dispersed. But after I shall be risen again, I will go before you into Galilee."

Jesus asked eight of them to remain in the Garden of Gethsemane. He took Peter, John and James with Him to the Garden of Olives. He was incredibly sad. John wanted to know why. He replied, "My soul is sorrowful even unto death."

He told them, "Remain here and watch with Me. Pray lest you enter into temptation!" Jesus went on some more steps.

Jesus' Heart, the only one that loved God and man perfectly, shrank in terror and anguish from the horror, the burden of all those sins now and in the future of all people. He was the only Savior and Redeemer.

''Abba, Father, if it be possible, remove this chalice from Me," prayed Jesus to the Father. "My Father, all things are possible to thee. Take this chalice from Me. But not what I will, but what thou will."

Later, He went back to the three Apostles Peter, John and James. They had fallen asleep. Jesus said, "What! Could you not watch one hour with Me?"

When they inquired as to what is causing Him so much agony, Jesus said, "Were I to live, teach and work miracles for 33 years longer, it would not suffice for the accomplishment of what I have to fulfill before this time tomorrow."

Jesus told them to watch and pray, lest they fall into temptation, "for the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Jesus wished by them to exhort His followers, through all time, to perseverance.

Jesus, as He continued to pray alone, broke into a bloody sweat from the pores of His Sacred Body.

In taking human nature and willing to suffer death for us, He too left Father and Mother to cleave to His Bride, the Church. He has become one flesh with her with the Most Holy Sacrament of the altar, His Body, His Flesh and Blood. He wills to remain on earth with His bride, the Church. He has said, "The gates of hell shall not prevail against her."

Peter was the first to see Jesus bathed in His blood and trembling. Jesus said, on the morrow He was going to die. His enemies would seize Him, drag Him before the courts, abuse Him, deride Him, scourge Him and put Him to death in the most horrible manner. He asked His Apostles to console His Mother. Jesus saw and felt also His Blessed Mother's sorrow and anguish of heart.

Finally, Jesus went to the other Apostles too. He said, "Behold the traitor is approaching! Oh, it were better for him had he never been born."

Judas came, followed by many soldiers and executioners as well. Judas kissed Jesus on the cheek, the sign to the soldiers that He was Jesus.

Peter grabbed a sword as the soldiers arrested Jesus and seized Him. Peter swung the sword, cutting off a piece of the ear of Malchus, the servant of the high priest. Jesus picked up the part of his ear and placed it to the head of the servant, healing it as He did so.

The executioners dragged Jesus away, in the most cruel manner. Jesus was barefoot and was dragged by their ropes over ruts and stones, causing His feet to bleed as He was taken from the Garden of Gethsemane. The Apostles dispersed in all directions.

Second Sorrowful Mystery

The Scourging at the Pillar

The Lord was offering no resistance whatever, yet they struck Jesus with their fists and ropes and with frantic rage dragged Him to the pillar. Jesus shuddered before the pillar. His most afflicted Mother was standing with the holy women in a corner of one of the porches around the square, not far from the scourging place.

Jesus said: “Turn thine eyes from Me!”

I beheld her turning away and sinking into the arms of the holy women who surrounded her.

And now Jesus clasped the pillar in His arms. The executioners, with horrible imprecations and barbarous pulling, fastened His sacred, upraised hands, by means of a wooden peg, behind the iron ring on top. In thus doing, they so stretched His whole body, that His feet, tightly bound below at the base, scarcely touched the ground. Two of the bloodhounds began to tear with their whips the sacred back from head to foot.

Our Lord and Saviour, the Son of God, true God and true Man, quivered and writhed under the strokes of the criminals’ rods. He cried in a suppressed voice, and a clear, sweet-sounding wailing, like a loving prayer under excruciating torture.

Many voices cried out together: “Away with Him! Crucify Him!”

They had been at work about a quarter of an hour when they ceased to strike, and joined two of the others in drinking. Jesus’ body was livid, brown, blue, and red, and entirely covered with swollen cuts. His sacred blood was running down on the ground. He trembled and shuddered. Derision and mockery assailed Him on all sides.

The second pair of scourgers now fell upon Jesus with fresh fury. The swollen welts on Jesus’ sacred body were torn and rent; His blood spurted around so that the arms of His tormentors were sprinkled with it. Jesus moaned and prayed and shuddered in His agony.

The last two scourgers struck Jesus with whips consisting of small chains, or straps, fastened to an iron handle, the ends furnished with iron points, or hooks. They tore off whole pieces of skin and flesh from His ribs. Oh who can describe the awful barbarity of that spectacle!

But those monsters had not yet satiated their cruelty. They loosened the cords that bound Jesus and turned His back to the pillar. They bound him to it. Like furious bloodhounds raged the scourgers with their strokes. One held a slender rod and with it struck the face of Jesus. There was no longer a sound spot on the Lord’s Body.

The terrible scourging had lasted fully three-quarters of an hour when an obscure man, a stranger and relative of that blind Ctesiphon who Jesus had restored to sight, rushed indignantly to the back of the pillar, a sickle-shaped knife in his hand, and cried out: “Hold on! Do not beat the innocent Man to death!”

Mary during the Scourging of Jesus

I saw the Blessed Virgin, during the scourging of our Redeemer, in a state of uninterrupted ecstasy. She saw and suffered in an indescribable manner all that her Son was enduring. Her punishment, her martyrdom, was as inconceivably great as her most holy love. Her eyes were inflamed with weeping.

Third Sorrowful Mystery

Crowning with Thorns

Now they dragged Jesus to the stool covered with stones and potsherds, and violently forced His wounded, naked body down upon them. Then they put upon Him the crown of thorns. It was two hands high, thick, and skillfully plaited, with a projecting edge on top. In plaiting the crown, as many of the thorns as possible had been designedly pressed inward.

Next they placed in Jesus’ hand a thick reed with a tufted top. All this was done with mock solemnity, as if they were really crowning Him king. Then they snatched the reed from His hand and with it struck the crown violently, until His eyes filled with blood. They bent the knee before Him, stuck out their tongue at Him, struck and spat in His face, and cried out: “Hail, King of the Jews!” With shouts of mocking laughter, they upset Him along with the stool, in order to force Him violently down upon it again.

The poor Savior. Ah! His thirst was horrible, for He was consumed with the fever of His wounds, the laceration caused by the inhuman scourging. He quivered. The flesh on His sides was in many places torn even to the ribs. His tongue contracted convulsively. Only the sacred Blood trickling down from His head laved, as it were in pity, His parched lips which hung languishingly open. Those horrible monsters turned His mouth into a receptacle for their own disgusting filth.

His blood be upon us!

The trumpet sounded to command attention, for Pilate was going to speak.

He said: “Behold! I bring Him forth to you, that you may know that I find no cause in Him!” He then went up from the assembled multitude, among whom were people from all parts of Palestine, the horrible, the unanimous cry: “His blood be upon us and upon our children!”

For not one moment were the Savior and His Mother angered by all their horrible maltreatment. I see the entire Passion of the Lord under symbols of the most malicious, the most barbarous torments, the basest and most insolent mockery and fury.

But I see Jesus enduring all, till His last gasp, in constant prayer, in constant love for His enemies, and constant supplication for their conversion.

Jesus condemned to death on the cross

Pilate, who was not seeking the truth but a way out of difficulty, now became more undecided than ever.

His conscience reproached him: “Jesus is innocent.”

His wife said: “Jesus is holy.”

His superstition whispered: “He is an enemy of thy gods.”

Through fear he delivered to the Jews the blood of Jesus.

The Sentence of Condemnation

From that moment Pilate spoke no word for nor with Jesus. He began the sentence of condemnation.

“Shall I crucify your King?” said Pilate.

“We have no king but Caesar!” responded the High Priests.

Pilate found the sentence of the High Priests just, and ended with the words: “I also condemn Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews, to be nailed to the cross.”

The most afflicted Mother of Jesus, the Son of God, on hearing Pilate’s words became like one in a dying state, for now was the cruel, frightful, ignominious death of her holy and beloved Son and Savior certain. John and the holy women took her away from the scene.

Fourth Sorrowful Mystery

Jesus Carries the Cross

He was forced to take the heavy beams upon His right shoulder and hold them fast with His right arm. I saw invisible angels helping Him, otherwise He would have been unable to lift the cross from the ground.

The crown of thorns, which it was impossible to leave on during the carrying of the cross, was taken from Christ’s head and placed on the end of a pole, which this lad now carried over his shoulder. The crown of thorns would be put again and pushed down very hard on His head before the Crucifixion, causing many new wounds!

And next came Our Lord and Redeemer, bowed down under the heavy weight of the cross, bruised, torn with scourges, exhausted, and tottering. Since the Last Supper of the preceding evening, without food, drink, and sleep, under continual ill-treatment that might of itself have ended in death, consumed by loss of blood, wounds, fever, thirst, and unutterable interior pain and horror, Jesus walked with tottering steps, His back bent low, His feet naked and bleeding. His face was covered with blood and swellings.

The Most Sorrowful Mother

After falling for the first time, Jesus met the most sorrowful Mother. She rushed to Jesus then fell on her knees with her arms around Him.

“My Son!” ㅡ

“My Mother!”

A tall, elegant-looking woman rushed forward to meet the procession. It was Seraphia, the wife of Sirach, one of the members of the Council belonging to the Temple. Owing to her action of this day, she received the name Veronica from vera (true) and icon (picture, or image). She gave her veil to Him which Jesus placed over his face. That veil was kept for showing to the public in St. Peter’s in Rome until 1850, with the distinct image of Christ’s face.

Fifth Sorrowful Mystery

The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus

Upon reaching Calvary for Crucifixion, above the Lord, I frequently saw during the Crucifixion great figures of weeping angels and, in a halo of glory, little angelic faces. I saw similar angels of compassion and consolation hovering above the Blessed Virgin and all others well-disposed to Jesus, strengthening and supporting them.

The Son of Man, trembling in every limb, covered with blood and welts; covered with wounds, some closed, some bleeding; covered with scars and bruises! He still retained the short woolen scapular over His breast and the tunic about His loins. The wool of the scapular was dried fast in His wounds and cemented with blood into the new and deep one made by the heavy cross upon His shoulder. This last wound caused Jesus unspeakable suffering. The scapular was now torn ruthlessly from His frightfully lacerated and swollen breast. His shoulder and back were torn to the bone.

A man, who has run from the city gate and up through the crowd thronging the way, rushed breathless, his garments girded, into the circle among the executioners, and handed Jesus a strip of linen, which He accepted with thanks and wound around Himself.

There was something authoritative in the impetuosity of this benefactor of his Redeemer, obtained from God by the prayer of the Blessed Virgin. With an imperious wave of the hand toward the executioners, he said only the words:

“Allow the poor Man to cover Himself with this!”

And, without further word to any other, hurried away as quickly as he came. It was Jonadab, the nephew of St. Joseph, from the region of Bethlehem. Jonadab’s action was the fulfillment of a prefiguring type, and it was rewarded.

Jesus Nailed to the Cross

Jesus was now stretched on the cross by the executioners, who rudely drew His right hand to the hole for the nail in the right arm of the cross, and tied His wrist fast. One knelt on His sacred breast and held the closing hand flat; another placed the long, thick nail, which had been filed to a sharp point, upon the palm of His sacred hand, and struck furious blows with the iron hammer. A sweet, clear, spasmodic cry of anguish broke from the Lord’s lips, and His blood spurted out upon the arms of the executioners. The Blessed Virgin sobbed in a low voice, but Magdalen was perfectly crazed.

After nailing Our Lord’s right hand, the crucifiers found that His left, which also was fastened to the crosspiece, did not reach to the hole made for the nail, for they had bored a good two inches from the fingertips. They consequently unbound Jesus’ arm from the cross, wound cords around it and, with their feet supported firmly against the cross, pulled it forward until the hand reached the hole. Now, kneeling on the arm and breast of the Lord, they fastened the arm again on the beam and hammered the second nail through the left hand. The blood spurted up and Jesus’ sweet, clear cry of agony sounded above the strokes of the heavy hammer. Both arms had been torn from their sockets, the shoulders were distended and hollow, and at the elbows one could see the disjointed bones.

The Blessed Virgin endured all this torture with Jesus. She was pale as a corpse, and low moans of agony sounded from her lips.

On account of the mistake made in the holes in the crosspiece, the sacred feet of Jesus did not reach even to the block. When the executioners saw this, they gave vent to curses and insults.

“He will not stretch Himself out, but we will help Him!”

Then they tied ropes around the right leg and, with horrible violence and terrible torture to Jesus, pulled the foot down to the block, and tied the leg fast with cords. Jesus’ body was thus most horribly distended. His chest gave way to a cracking sound, and He moaned aloud:

“O God! O God!”

They tied down His arms and His breast also that His hands might not be torn away from the nails. The abdomen was entirely displaced, and it seemed as if the ribs broke away from the breastbone. The suffering was horrible.

With similar violence the left foot was drawn and fastened tightly with cords over the right; the instep was bored with a fine, flathead piercer, much finer than the one used for the hands. Then seizing the most frightful-looking nail of all, which was much longer than the others, they drove it with great effort through the wounded instep of the left foot and that of the right foot resting below. With a cracking sound, it passed through Jesus’ feet into the hole prepared for it in the footblock, and through that again back into the trunk of the cross, one nail passing through both feet. The nailing of the feet was the most horrible of all, on account of the distension of the whole body.

I counted thirty-six strokes of the hammer amid the poor Redeemer’s moans, which sounded to me so sweet, so pure, so clear. Jesus’ moans were purely cries of pain.

The position of the sun at the time of Jesus’ Crucifixion showed it to be about a quarter past twelve, and at the moment the cross was lifted, the trumpet of the Temple resounded. The Paschal lamb has been slaughtered.

Many a hard heart shuddered and thought of John the Baptist’s words:

“Behold the Lamb of God, who hath taken upon Himself the sins of the world!”

Jesus Crucified, the two thieves also.

The terrible concussion caused by the shock when the cross was let fall into the hole prepared for it drove the precious blood in rich streams from Jesus’ thorn-crowned head, and from the wounds of His sacred feet and hands. The blood, now with new force, owing to the loosening of the cords and the upright position, resumed its course. Jesus’ torments were, in consequence, redoubled. For seven minutes He hung in silence as if dead, sunk in an abyss of untold pain. The sacred face, on account of the immense crown, could be uplifted only with unspeakable pain. Jesus’s limbs had been so violently distended, His muscles and torn skin so pitifully stretched, that His bones could be counted one by one.

Dismas, one of the two thieves on either side of Jesus, was that leprous boy who, on Mary’s advice, was washed by his mother in the water used for bathing the Child Jesus and instantly healed by it.

Now Jesus’ hair was almost all torn off, and what was left was matted with blood. His body was wound upon wound, His breast was crushed and there was a cavity visible below it.

And now Jesus, raising His head a little, exclaimed:

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!”

Dismas, was deeply touched at hearing Jesus pray for His enemies. Dismas, the thief on the right, received by virtue of Jesus’ prayer an interior enlightenment. When the Blessed Virgin came hurrying forward to Jesus, he suddenly remembered that Jesus and His Mother had helped him when a child.

“How is it possible that ye can revile Him when He is praying for you! He has kept silence and patience, He prays for you, and you outrage Him! He is a Prophet! He is our King! He is the Son of God!”

Dismas confessed his crime to Jesus, saying:

“Lord, if Thou dost condemn me, it will be just. But have mercy on me!”

Jesus replied:

“Thou shalt experience My mercy.”

At these words Dismas received the grace of deep contrition, which he indulged for the next quarter of an hour.

The sun obscured. The Second and the Third Words of Jesus on the Cross

The sun was enveloped in fog, and the moon came sweeping up before it from the east. The sky became perfectly dark, and the stars shone out with a reddish gleam. Terror seized upon man and beast.

Dismas said: “Remember me when Thou shalt come into Thy Kingdom!”

Jesus replied to him: “Amen, I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with Me in Paradise!”

Jesus, turning His eyes toward John, said to her, His Mother: “Woman, behold this is thy son! He will be thy son more truly than if thou hadst given him birth.”

Then He praised John, and said: “He has always been innocent and full of simple faith. He was never scandalized, excepting when his mother wanted to have him elevated to a high position.” To John, He said: “Behold, this is thy mother!”

So on such an occasion one is not at all surprised to hear Jesus addressing the Blessed Virgin, not as “Mother,” but as “Woman”; for one feels that in this hour in which, by the sacrificial death of the Son of Man, her own Son, the Promise was realized. Mary stood in her dignity as the Woman who was to crush the serpent’s head.

Mary is the Mother of the Eternal Word Incarnate

Now she understood from her dying Son that she was to be the spiritual Mother of another son, in the midst of her grief at parting and still humbly obedient, again pronounced, though in her heart, the words: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord! Be it done to me according to Thy word!” I felt that she took at that moment for her own children all the children of God, all the brethren of Jesus.

I heard these words as if coming from His lips: “We should, by all means, teach the people that Jesus, more keenly than any human being can conceive, endured this pain of utter abandonment, because He was hypostatically united with the Divinity, because He was truly God and man. Being in His Sacred Humanity wholly abandoned by the Father, He felt most perfectly that bereavement, He drained to the dregs the bitter cup of dereliction, He experienced for the time what a soul endures that has lost its God forever.

Toward the third hour, Jesus cried in a loud voice: “Eli, Eli, lamma, sabacthani!” which means: “My God! My God! Why hast Thou forsaken Me!”

When the most afflicted Mother heard the voice of her Son, she could no longer restrain herself. She again pressed forward to the cross, followed by John, Mary Cleophas, Magdalen, and Salome.

Jesus Dies on the Cross

Jesus was now completely exhausted.

With his parched tongue, He uttered the words: “I thirst!”

Jesus spoke: “It is consummated!” and raising His head He cried with a loud voice: “Father, into Thy hands I commend My Spirit!” The sweet, loud cry rang through Heaven and earth. Then He bowed His head and gave up the ghost! I saw His soul like a luminous phantom descending through the earth near the cross down to the sphere of Limbo. John and the holy women sank, face downward, prostrate on the earth.

The earth quaked and the rock between Him and the thief on His left was rent asunder with a crashing sound. It was consummated! The soul of Our Lord had left the body! A sharp sword of sorrow pierced the hearts of those that loved Him.

“Truly, He is the Son of God!” said Abenadar, who was now a changed being, a man redeemed, after his public homage to the Son of God would no longer remain in the service of His enemies. He turned his horse toward Cassius, the subaltern officer, known under the name Longinus, dismounted, picked up his lance, presented it to him and addressed a few words both to him and the soldiers. Cassius mounted the horse and assumed the command. 

The veil of the Temple was on the instant rent in two, the dead arose from their graves, while mountains and buildings were overturned in many parts of the world.

When the loving Lord of life, by a death full of torture, paid for sinners their debt, as man He commended His soul to His God and Father, and gave His body over to the tomb.

When Jesus’ hands became stiff, His Mother’s eyes grew dim, the paleness of death overspread her countenance, her feet tottered, and she sank to the earth.

When that most loving, that most afflicted Mother arose from the ground, she beheld the Sacred Body of her Son, whom she had conceived by the Holy Spirit, the flesh of her flesh, the bone of her bone, the heart of her heart, the holy vessel formed by the divine overshadowing in her own blessed womb.

She beheld that beloved Son crushed, maltreated, disfigured, and put to death by the hands of those whom He had come in the flesh to restore to grace and life.

Who can conceive the sorrow of the Mother of Jesus, of the Queen of Martyrs!

It was just after 3 p.m. when Jesus expired.

First Glorious Mystery

The Resurrection of Jesus

I saw the sacred limbs moving beneath the swathing bands, and the dazzling, living body of the Lord with His Soul and His Divinity coming forth from the side of the winding sheet as if from the wounded Side.

Now I saw the Lord floating in glory up through the rock. The earth trembled, and an angel in warrior garb shot like lightning from Heaven down to the tomb, rolled the stone to one side, and seated himself upon it.

The holy women, when the Lord arose from the dead, were near the little gate belonging to Nicodemus.

Outside the tomb the stone was rolled to the right, so that the doors, which were merely lying to, could now be easily opened. The linens in which the sacred body has been enveloped were in the tomb in the following order: the large winding sheet in which it had been wrapped lay undisturbed, only empty and fallen together, containing nothing but the aromatic herbs; the long bandage that had been wound around it was still lying twisted and at full length just as it had been drawn off, on the outer edge of the tomb; but the linen scarf with which Mary had enveloped Jesus’ head lay to the right at the head of the tomb. It looked as if the head of Jesus was still in it, excepting that the covering for the face was raised.

The head covering has been in a church in Oviedo, Spain for many years.

Mary Magdalen sees the Risen Jesus

At the words: “Whom seekest thou?”

Magdalen at once answered: “Sir, if thou hast taken Him hence, show me where thou hast laid Him! I will take Him away!” And she again glanced around, as if to see whether he had not laid Him someplace near.

Then Jesus, in His well-known voice, said: “Mary!”

Recognizing the voice, and forgetting the crucifixion, death, and burial now that He was alive, she turned quickly and, as once before, exclaimed: “Rabboni!” (Master!).

She fell on her knees before Him and stretched out her arms toward His feet. But Jesus raised His hand to keep her off, saying: “Do not touch Me, for I am not yet ascended to My Father. But go to My brethren, and say to them: I ascend to My Father and to your Father, to My God and to your God.”

I (always refers in this article to Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich) was told that He had not yet, since His Resurrection, presented Himself to His Heavenly Father, had not yet thanked Him for His victory over death and for Redemption. I understood by those words that the first fruits of joy belong to God. It was as if Jesus had said that Magdalen should recollect herself and thank God for the mystery of Redemption just accomplished and His conquest over death.

Scarcely had she left the garden when John approached, followed by Peter. John stood outside the entrance of the cave and stooped down to look, through the outer doors of the sepulcher, at the half-opened doors of the tomb, where he saw the linens lying. Then came Peter.

The linen that had covered the sacred face was lying to the right. It too was folded. John now followed Peter to the tomb, saw the same things, and believed in the Resurrection. Peter took the linens with him under his mantle.

Later, Jesus appeared to His Apostles. He also appeared to a great crowd of 500, some of whom saw Him crucified and die on the cross.

Thomas, the Apostle, at first refused to believe that Jesus had risen. He said that unless he could put his hand in his side and finger in the holes in his hands, he would not believe. He was not with the other Apostles when Jesus appeared to them the first time. The second time is when he saw the Lord Jesus with his fellow Apostles.

Thomas, very much frightened at the sight of the Lord, timidly drew back. But Jesus, grasping his right hand in His own right hand, took the forefinger and laid the tip of it in the wound of His left hand; then taking the left hand in His own left, he placed the forefinger in the wound of His right hand; lastly, taking again Thomas’ right hand in His own right, He put it, without uncovering His breast, under His garment, and laid the fore and middle fingers in the wound of His right side. He spoke some words as He did this. With the exclamation: “My Lord, and my God!” Thomas sank down like one unconscious, Jesus still holding his hand. The nearest of the Apostles supported him, and Jesus raised him up by the hand.

Jesus said, “You’ve believed because you’ve seen Me; blessed are they who haven't seen Me yet have believed.” (John 20:29)

Second Glorious Mystery

Jesus' Ascension into Heaven

On the night before His Ascension, Jesus was in the inner hall of the house of the Last Supper, with the Blessed Virgin Mary and the eleven Apostles. Jesus consecrated bread and wine, making them His Body and Blood.

Jesus again imparted to Peter authority over the others. Jesus also presented His Mother as their Mediatrix and their Advocate.

The next day, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. When he reached the top of the mountain, He was resplendent as a beam of white sunlight. A shining circle fell from Heaven around Him, on this the 40th day since His Resurrection. Jesus shone still more brightly than the glory about Him. He laid His left hand on His breast and, raising the right, turned slowly around, blessing the whole world.

I (Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich) saw Jesus disappearing, dissolving as it were in the light from Heaven, vanishing as He rose up toward Heaven. He disappeared as it were in a cloud of light.

Then two figures appeared in this light, descending. They said to Mary and the Apostles, "This Jesus who is taken up from you into Heaven, shall come again as you saw Him going to Heaven." Then the two figures, angels, disappeared.

All knew that Jesus had left them and went to His Father in Heaven. On the top of Mount Olives, His footsteps remained impressed on the stone and on another, the mark of one hand of the Blessed Virgin.

The Apostles felt themselves alone, but the soothing presence of the Blessed Virgin Mary comforted them. They put confidence in Jesus' words that she would be a mediatrix, a mother and an advocate to them, and they regained peace of soul.

Third Glorious Mystery

The Descent of the Holy Spirit upon Mary and the Apostles

A luminous cloud, very bright, descended low over the house where Mary and the Apostles were gathered. With increasing sound, the light became brighter.

Streams of light intersected one another in sevenfold rays, and below each intersection resolved into fine threads of light and fiery drops. In a rainbow of light floated a luminous figure with outstretched wings or rays of light that looked like wings.

The assembled faithful were ravished in ecstasy. Each involuntarily threw back his head and raised his eyes on high, while into the mouth of everyone there flowed a stream of light like a burning tongue of fire.

All were given the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit–knowledge, wisdom, understanding, fear of the Lord, fortitude, counsel and piety.

The holy women there and all disciples in the side halls were similarly affected. The Apostles had a new life, full of joy, confidence and courage which had been infused into all. Their joy found vent in thanksgiving.

The Apostles soon afterward baptized many. When they spoke, everyone listened in his own language. Peter solemnly blessed the water for baptism. The water was scooped up in a basin and then with the hand poured three times over the head. Those baptized here today were they that had received John's baptism only. The holy women were baptized too. The people added to the community on this day amounted to three thousand.

Fourth Glorious Mystery

The Assumption of Mary into Heaven

The Blessed Virgin's dwelling was not in Ephesus itself, but three to four hours away. (Epheus is in modern-day Turkey).

It stood on a height up on which several Christians from Judea moved to. Some of the holy women related to Mary came to live there also.

She lived alone with her maid. At times John visited her, as he lived nearby. John provided the house to her and whatever she needed. The Apostles visited her from time to time.

Near to her dwelling, Our Lady had erected the Stations of the Cross. At each one she raised a memorial stone in remembrance of the special suffering there endured by Her Son Jesus.

As the death of Our Lady approached, the Apostles came to visit with her one last time. All, except Thomas, made it in time. After her body was placed in a tomb near her home, Thomas arrived and begged to pray at the foot of her body. This was granted by Peter. Thomas had traveled all the way from India.

When the Apostles reached the tomb of Mary and rolled the stone back to enter, they found she was gone. Her bodily Assumption into Heaven, by her Son Jesus, had taken place. Then her soul and body were reunited.

On this date of the Assumption, observed every August 15 by the Catholic Church, many of her devout clients are freed from Purgatory.

Peter and John must have seen the glory of Mary's soul, for their faces were turned upward, while all the other Apostles' faces were facing down to the ground. The Assumption of Mary's body into Heaven was on the night following her burial.

If Thomas had not been late and had not asked to pray before her body , the Apostles would not have learned about her bodily Assumption into Heaven.

Before they all left to continue their work for Jesus in many places throughout the known world, they rendered the grotto of the tomb wholly inaccessible by raising an embankment of earth before the entrance.

Mary 's house became a little church.

Fifth Glorious Mystery

The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Mary was crowned Queen of Heaven and earth by God the Father, Jesus her Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The crowning of Our Lady took place in Heaven before all the angels, from the highest to the lowest rank. Also witnessing the Coronation of Mary were the souls of the faithful departed already in Heaven.

For much more information and details on the 15 mysteries of the rosary, in revealed apparitions of Jesus and Mary to Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, order the four-volume set for $100, or $25 each, from www.tanbooks.com. Volume 1 contains some of the mysteries, while Volume 4 contains the greater part of the mysteries. Only the Fifth Glorious Mystery is not in her revelations. The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and earth took place after the Assumption, the last mystery revealed to Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich. You can also order the books by Fax: 1-815-226-7770 giving your charge card information and your mailing address and contact phone number if needed.