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
17 Sister Emmerich was accustomed, when speaking of persons of
historical importance, to explain how they divided their hair. 'Eve,' she
said, 'divided her hair in two parts, but Mary into three.' And she
appeared to attach importance to these words. No opportunity presented
itself for her to give any explanation upon the subject, which probably
would have shown what was done with the hair in sacrifices, funerals,
consecrations, or vows, etc. She once said of Samson: 'His fair hair,
which was long and thick, was gathered up on his head in seven tresses,
like a helmet, and the ends of these tresses were fastened upon his
forehead and temples. His hair was not in itself the source of his
strength, but only as the witness to the vow which he had made to let
it grow in God's honour. The powers which depended upon these seven
tresses were the seven gifts of the Holy Ghost. He must have already
broken his vows and lost many graces, when he allowed this sign of
being a Nazarene to be cut off. I did not see Dalila cut off all his
hair, and I think one lock remained on his forehead. He retained the
grace to do penance and of that repentance by which he recovered
strength sufficient to destroy his enemies. The life of Samson is
figurative and prophetic.'
18 This refers to a custom of the Diocese of Munster. During Lent
there was hung up in the churches a curtain, embroidered in open work,
representing the Five Wounds, the instruments of the Passion, etc.
19 Apparently Sister Emmerich here spoke of the ancient cases in
which her poor countrymen keep their clothes. The lower part of these
cases is smaller than the upper, and this gives them some likeness to a
tomb. She had one of these cases, which she called her chest. She often
described the stone by this comparison, but her descriptions have not,
nevertheless, given us a very clear idea of its shape.
20 The above relation was given later, and it is impossible to
say whether it relates to the day of the Resurrection or to the
following Sunday.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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