The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-11-19

The visions of Anne Catherine Emmerict
originally written in German, and then trans
lated into French, have never in their entiret
been put into an English form. Those WHO
relate to the Passion and Death of our Lor
have been prepared separately and publishes
in English; but there still remains rich min
of information from which We propose to give
from time to time, Q few bright gems which, W
hope, will interest our readers while they ais
serve to animate their faith.
Catherine Emmerich died, we believe, i
1922, so that these visions possess o peculia
interest as belonging to our own century
Like Louise Lateau, she wss marked with th
stigmas of our Lord, and, like her, saw, Will
in ecstasy, all the terrible scenes of His suffer
| ing and His death. Besides these visions, sh
| also was favored with panoramic view, "a i
were, of all His public life; and the six vol
umes which contain her revelations give III
many curious details regarding not only oul
Divine Lord, but His apostles, disciples an6
friends.
She seemed to feel q special compassion fol
Judas, and we will give those portions of heH
visions which show him to us as he really was
The Holy Scriptures say but little of him, and
it may therefore prove edifyiDg as we'll as in
struclive to learn little more of his personal
history, especially as his character seems to
find counterpart in most of the young men OF
our day.
bartholomew and Simon spoke to Jesus of
Judas Iscariot whom they knew as a man
energetic, learned, eager to oblige, and par
tcularly DESTROYS of becoming one of his disci-
pies.
'While listening to them, the Saviour seemed
preoccupied, and sighed frequently as though
oppressed by care. Upon being asked the
cause of his uneasness, He replied that it was
not the time to explain the matter and that He
must think about it,
Jude, learning that the Saviour W as about
to visit the country of the Meroz, where he had
himself many acquaintance, sought out Bar
tholomew, whom he had known for some time
and begged him to accompany him to Meroz sc
as to introduce him to the Master. Bartholomew
was willing to grant his request, but was first
obliged to join Philip and Simon at Tiberias, sc
that it was only at Naim that Judas joined the
three disciples.
"He again entreated them to introduce him tc
their Master, and they, charmed by his obligine
manners and interesting conversation, pro-
missed to do as hsrequested.
Judas was then about twenty five years OF
age, not tall and not particularly comely. His
hair was black, while his beard was inclined to
red. He was heater in his dress than many OF
the Jews of that day, and tried to appear upon
every occasion as a man of much Importance.
He spoke in q most familiar manner of many
great and good personages, and where he was
not known, assumed airs of consequence and
pedaptry.
sit not unfrequently happened that persons
better instructed that himself discovered his
falsehoods, and then he generally withdrew,
abashed and indignant. He loved honors,
fame, and, above all, money.
"For many years he had thought to secure
happiness by striving after fame, lofty posi-
ton in society, civil distinctions and brilliant
fortune, but had not once seen his hopes real
izsd. Meanwhile, what he heard of the Saviour
had made a-dsep impression on him.-Hia
disciples were at no expense, the wealthy
Lazarus was devoted to Him, it was generally
believed that He was to found an empire, every
one spoke of the new king, of the Messiah, Of
the prophet of Nazareth, and all boosted of the
wisdom and proclaimed abroad the miracles Of
Jesus.
"Judas, therefore, eagerly desired to become
one of his disciples and to have part in the
grandeurs which he so little understood. Fol
some time he had been rejecting upon the Sa
viour's life, and had made several attempts tt
put himself in communication with His fol
lowers.
"The principal motives which influenced hi
desires were, first, an absence of any fixed &C
cupation, and secondly, his pretersions as
o.cal!ed scientist. He had engaged in com
merce but without success, and had nearl!
squau dered the moderate fortune left him b.
his father. Still later he had offered his ser
vices to several merchants who had entrusted
him with business and who had every reason t,
be satisfied with his zeal and intelligence.
"His psternal uncle, Simeon, was engaged il
agriculture and lived at Iscariote, villag
composed of twenty houses, short distanc
from Meroz. His parents had lived there man.
years it had also been his chief residence sine
their death, and it was from this circumstsnc