Welcome to Truth of the Spirit. I am your narrator, Patti Brunner. This series contains excerpts directly taken from the visions of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich reported in “The Lowly Life and Bitter Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Blessed Mother, Volume IV”[i]. This episode is the Trial of Jesus Part 3 Herod’s Trial. Between the trials Venerable Anne Catherine saw the graphic violence done to our Lord. We have chosen to omit most of the explicit descriptions, but remember that even his mother could not physically identify him after the inhumane treatment he received as he bore the sinful violence of the world for our sakes. The following is from her visions of Herod’s trial.
On the forum and in the streets through which Jesus was led to Herod, a constantly increasing crowd was gathered, composed of the inhabitants from the neighboring places and the whole country around, come up for the feast. The most hostile Pharisees in the whole land had taken their places with their own people in order to stir up the fickle mob against Jesus. Jesus enemies were greatly enraged at this going backward and forward, and they ceased not to insult Him and encourage the executioners to drag Him and push Him about. Pilate’s messenger had announced the coming procession; consequently’ Herod was awaiting it. He was seated in a large hall on a cushioned throne, surrounded by courtiers and soldiers.
The High Priests went in through the colonnade and ranged on either side, while Jesus stood in the entrance. Herod was very much flattered that Pilate had openly, before the High Priests, accorded to him the right of judgment upon a Galilean; so he put on a very arrogant air and made a great show of business. He was well-pleased also at seeing Jesus before him in so sorry a plight, since He had always disdained to appear in his presence. John had spoken of Jesus in terms so solemn, and he had heard so much of Him from his spies and tale-bearers, that Herod was exceedingly curious about Him. He was in an extraordinarily good humor at the thought of being able to institute, before his courtiers and the High Priests, a grand judicial inquiry concerning Jesus, in which he might show off his knowledge before both parties. He had also been informed that Pilate could find no guilt in Jesus, and that was to his cringing mind a hint that he was to treat the accusers with some reserve, a proceeding that only increased their fury.
As soon as they entered his presence, they began to vociferate their complaints. Herod however looked inquisitively at Jesus, and when he saw Him so miserable, so ill-treated, His garments bespattered with filth, His hair torn and disheveled, His face covered with blood and dirt, a feeling of loathsome compassion stole over the effeminate, voluptuous king. He uttered God’s name (it was something like “Jehovah”), turned his face away with an air of disgust and said to the priests: “Take Him away! Clean Him! How could you bring before my eyes so unclean, so maltreated a creature!” At these words the servants led Jesus into the vestibule, brought a basin of water and an old rag with which they removed some of the dirt, ill-treating Him all the while. Their rough manner of acting opened the wounds on His disfigured face. Herod meantime reproached the priests with their brutality. He appeared to wish to imitate Pilate’s manner of acting toward them, for he said: “It is very evident that He has fallen into the hands of butchers. You are beginning your work today before the time.” The High Priests replied only by vehemently alleging their complaints and accusations. When Jesus was again led in, Herod, who wanted to play the agreeable toward Him, ordered a glass of wine to be brought to Him that He might regain a little strength. But Jesus shook His head, and would not accept the drink. Herod was very affable to Jesus; he even flattered Him and repeated all that he knew of Him. At first, he asked Him several questions, and wanted to see a sign from Him. But Jesus answered not a syllable, and quietly kept His eyes cast down. Herod became very much vexed and ashamed before those present. Wishing, however, to conceal his embarrassment, he poured forth a torrent of questions and empty words. Thou hast now been delivered to me by the Roman Governor that I may judge Thee. What sayest Thou to all these charges? Thou art silent? They have often told me of Thy great wisdom in speaking and teaching-I should like to hear Thee refute Thy accusers. What sayest Thou? Is it true that Thou art the King of the Jews? Art Thou the Son of God? Who art Thou? I hear that Thou hast performed great miracles. Prove it to me by giving me some sign. It belongs to me to release Thee. Is it true that Thou hast given sight to men born blind? Didst Thou raise Lazarus from the dead? Didst Thou feed several thousand people with a few loaves? Why dost Thou not answer! I conjure Thee to perform one of Thy miracles! It will be to Thy own advantage.”
But Jesus was silent. Herod, with increasing volubility, went on: “Who art Thou? What is the matter with Thee? Who has given Thee power?
Why canst Thou no longer exercise it? Art Thou He of whose birth things so extraordinary are told? Once some kings came from the East to my father, to inquire after a newborn King of the Jews, to whom they wanted to do homage. Now, they say that this Child is no other than Thyself. Is this true? Didst Thou escape the death which at that time fell upon so many children? How did that happen? Why didst Thou remain so long in retirement? Or do they relate those events of Thee only in order to make Thee a king? Answer me! What kind of a king art Thou? Truly, I see nothing royal about Thee! Speak! How comes it that such popularity ends in this way?” To all these questions Herod received no answer from Jesus.
Anne Catherine said, “It was revealed to me that Jesus would not speak with Him because, by his adulterous connection with Herodias and the murder of the Baptist, Herod was under excommunication.
Annas and Caiaphas took advantage of Herod’s displeasure at Jesus’ silence in order to renew their charges. Among others, they brought forward the following: Jesus had called Herod ‘a fox’, and for a long time He had been laboring to overthrow his whole family; He wanted to establish a new religion, and He had already eaten the Passover yesterday. This last accusation had been lodged with Caiaphas at the time of Judas’s treason, but some of Jesus friends had brought forth writings to show that that was allowed under certain circumstances. Herod, although greatly vexed at Jesus’ silence, did not permit himself to lose sight of his political ends. He did not wish to condemn Jesus, partly because of his own secret fear of Him and the remorse he felt for John’s murder, and partly again because the High Priests were odious to him, because they would never palliate his adultery and on account of it had excluded him from the sacrifices. But the chief reason for Herod’s not condemning Jesus was that he would not pass sentence on One whom Pilate had declared to be without guilt. He had political views also in thus acting; he wanted to show Pilate an act of courtesy in presence of the High Priests. He ended by overwhelming Jesus with words of scorn and contempt, and said to his servants and bodyguard (of whom there were about two hundred in his palace): “Take this fool away, and show the honor due to so ridiculous a king. He is more fool than malefactor!” The Saviour was now led out into a large court and treated with unspeakable outrage and mockery.
Herod, standing on a flat roof, gazed for a considerable time upon the ill-treatment offered to Jesus. Annas and Caiaphas were at his back, trying by all means in their power to induce him to pass sentence upon Jesus. Herod, however, would not yield. He replied in a tone loud enough to be heard by the Roman soldiers: “It would be for me the greatest sin, did I condemn Him.” He meant probably the greatest sin against Pilate’s decision, who had been so gracious as to send Jesus to him.
When the High Priests and enemies of Jesus saw that Herod would in no way comply with their wishes, they dispatched some of their number with money for distribution among the people as bribes, that with furious and vehement clamoring they might demand Jesus death. Other messengers were sent to spread among the people threats of Gods vengeance if they did not insist upon the death of the blasphemer. They gave out the report also that if Jesus were not put to death, He would go over to the Romans, that this was what He meant by the Kingdom of which He had so constantly spoken.
On other sides, they spread the report that Herod had condemned Jesus, but that the people must express their will on the subject; that His followers were to be feared, for if Jesus were freed in any way, the feast would be altogether upset, and then would the Romans and His followers unite in taking vengeance. Thus were scattered abroad confused and alarming rumors in order to rouse and exasperate the populace. At the same time, Jesus’ enemies caused money to be distributed among Herod’s soldiers, that they might grossly maltreat Jesus, yes, even hasten His death, for they would rather see Him die in that way than live to be freed by Pilates sentence.
From this insolent, godless rabble, Our Lord had to suffer the most shameful mockery, the most barbarous ill-treatment. When they led Him out into the court, a soldier brought from the lodge at the gate a large white sack in which cotton had been packed. They cut a hole in the bottom of the sack and, amid shouts of derisive laughter from all present, threw it over Jesus’ head. Another soldier laid a red rag like a collar around His neck. And now they bowed before Him, pushed Him here and there, insulted Him, spat upon Him, struck Him in the face because He had refused to answer their king, and rendered Him a thousand acts of mock homage and dragged Him through a gutter which ran around the court the whole length of the buildings. Those that had received money from the Pharisees took advantage of the confusion to strike the sacred head of Jesus with their clubs. He looked at them with compassion, sighed and groaned from pain. There was not one to pity Jesus. I saw the blood running down from His head in the most pitiable manner, and three times did I see Him sink to the earth under the blows from their clubs. At the same time, I saw weeping angels hovering over Him, anointing His head. It was made known to me, (Anne said) that these blows would have proved fatal, were it not for the divine assistance. But time pressed. The High Priests must soon appear in the Temple and, as they had received the assurance that all their instructions would be attended to, they made one more effort to obtain Jesus’ condemnation from Herod. But he was deaf to their prayers. He still turned his thoughts toward Pilate alone, to whom he now sent back Jesus in His garment of derision.
With renewed irritation, the High Priests and the enemies of Jesus made their way back with Him from Herod to Pilate. They were mortified at being forced to return, without His condemnation, to a tribunal at which He had already been pronounced innocent. They took, therefore, another and longer route in order to exhibit Him in His ignominy to another portion of the city, also that they might have longer to abuse Him, and give their emissaries more time to stir up the populace against Him. The way they now took was very rough and uneven. He was on this journey subjected to indescribable scorn and outrage both from His conductors and the populace, but He prayed the while that He might not die until He had consummated His Passion for us.
It was a quarter after eight in the morning when the procession with the maltreated Jesus again crossed the forum to Pilate’s palace. The crowd was very great. The people were standing in groups, those from the same places and regions together. The Pharisees were running around among them, stirring them up. Remembering the insurrection of the Galilean zealots at the last Pasch, Pilate had assembled upwards of a thousand men whom he distributed in the praetorium and its surroundings, and at the various entrances of the forum, and his own palace.
The Blessed Virgin, her elder sister Mary Heli with her daughter Mary Cleophas, Magdalen, and several other holy women-in all about twenty-were, while the following events were taking place, standing in a hall from which they could hear everything, and where they could slip in and out. John was with them in the beginning.
Jesus, in His garments of derision, was led through the jeering crowd. The most audacious were everywhere pushed forward by the Pharisees, and they surpassed the others in mockery and insults. One of Herod’s court officers, who had reached the place before the procession, announced to Pilate how very much he appreciated his attention, but that he found the Galilean, so famed for His wisdom, nothing better than a silent fool, that he had treated Him as such and sent Him back to him. Pilate was very glad that Herod had not acted in opposition to himself and condemned Jesus. He sent his salutations to him in return, and thus they today were made friends who, since the fall of the aqueduct, had been enemies.
Truth of the Spirit will continue this series with The Trial of Jesus Part 4: Ecce Homo! Behold the Man! We invite you to subscribe with notification so you don’t miss the next episode. The transcript of this episode is available at PatriarchMinistries.com/313. Come back for more. With the Holy Spirit there’s always more! Amen.
[i] VISIONS OF VENERABLE ANNE CATHERINE (jesus-passion.com)
“The Lowly Life and Bitter Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Blessed Mother, Volume IV”. FROM THE VISIONS OF BLESSED ANNE CATHERINE EMMERICH AS RECORDED IN THE JOURNAL OF CLEMENT BRENTANO AND EDITED BY VERY REV. C.E.SCHMÖGER, C.SS.R. 1914
Life_of_Our_Lord_Jesus_Christ_Vol_IV.pdf (jesus-passion.com)
