The Life of the Virgin Mary

Following an initial overview, part one commences with the visionary’s account of Mary’s parents Anne and Joachim and their Essene ancestors, closing with the immaculate conception under the golden gate. Part two covers Mary’s birth (including its effects in many places), presentation, life in the Temple, and wedding. Part three provides intimate details of the annunciation, visitation, journey to Bethlehem, the caves (cave of the nativity and milk cave), the nativity, and the adoration of the shepherds. Part four focuses on Mary’s relationship with Elizabeth, the arrival of the three kings, the purification, flight into Egypt, life in Egypt, and return. Part five describes Mary’s latter years and death and assumption at Ephesus. Finally, part six offers insights into Mary as mystical Virgin.

Various editions of the visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich have been compiled over the years, but only recently (2009) were the 38 volumes of the complete, original notes of these visions published. Angelico Press has drawn heavily from these notes, setting its editions apart from all others.

Anne Catherine Emmerich (Sept. 8, 1774–Feb. 9, 1824) lived from early childhood in almost continual vision of scenes from the Old and New Testaments. By the time she had become (at 29) an Augustinian nun, the visions were concerned primarily with the life of Jesus. In November 1812, she was permanently confined to bed, shortly thereafter received the stigmata, and was for the rest of her life sustained almost exclusively by water and the Eucharist. Many came to visit her, among them the famous poet Clemens Brentano, who was so affected by her radiance that he moved close by to record her visions. On July 29, 1820, Anne Catherine began to communicate to Brentano scenes of the day-to-day life of Jesus, which in due course encompassed the better part of his ministry. She was able to describe in extraordinary detail the places Jesus visited, his miracles and healings, his teaching activity, and the people around him (some unknown to history)—including the apostles’ journeys after the Passion. At the same time she communicated far-reaching insights into many other mysteries, including teachings on prayer and the spiritual life, spiritual healing, the saints, heaven, hell, and purgatory, the life of the Virgin Mary, the Ark of the Covenant, the Promise, the Tree of Life, the Mountain of the Prophet, and many other themes. In 2004 she was beatified by Pope John Paul II.