The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus ChristEmmerich, Anna Katharina
Religion
The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Emmerich, Anna Katharina
Jesus Christ -- Passion -- Devotional literature
Longinus, who had, I think, another name, held on office, partly
civil and partly military, in the household of Pilate, who entrusted
him with the duty of superintending all that passed, and making a
report of it to him. He was trustworthy and ready to do a service, but
previous to his conversion was greatly wanting in firmness and strength
of character. He was excessively impetuous in all that he did, and
anxious to be thought a person of great importance, and as he squinted
and had weak eyes, he was often jeered at and made the laughing-stock
of his companions. I have seen him frequently during the course of this
night, and in connection with him I have at the same time seen all the
Passion, I do not know in what manner; I only remember that it was in
connection with him.
Longinus was only in a subordinate position, and had to give an
account to Pilate of all that he saw. On the night that Jesus was led
before the tribunal of Caiphas he was in the outer court among the
soldiers, and unceasingly going backwards and forwards. When Peter was
alarmed at the words of the maid-servant standing near the fire, it was
he who said once: 'Art thou not also one of this man's disciples?'
When Jesus was being led to Calvary, Longinus, by Pilate's orders,
followed him closely, and our Divine Lord gave him a look which touched
his heart. Afterwards I saw him on Golgotha with the soldiers. He was
on horseback, and carried a lance; I saw him at Pilate's house, after the
death of our Lord, saying that the legs of Jesus ought not to be
broken. He returned at once to Calvary. His lance was made of several
pieces which fitted one into the other, so that by drawing them out,
the lance could be made three times its original length. He had just
done this when he came to the sudden determination of piercing the side
of our Saviour. He was converted upon Mount Calvary, and a short time
afterwards expressed to Pilate his conviction that Jesus was the Son of
God. Nicodemus prevailed upon Pilate to let him have Longinus's lance,
and I have seen many things concerning the subsequent history of this
lance. Longinus, after his conversion, left the army, and joined the
disciples. He and two other soldiers, who were converted at the foot of
the cross, were among the first baptised after Pentecost.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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