TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 TABLE OF FIGURES 6 PREFACE 7 I. ANCESTORS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN 8 1. THE ANCESTORS OF ST. ANNE -- ESSENES. 11 2. ST. ANNE AND ST. JOACHIM. 30 2.1 JOACHIM IS SPURNED AT THE TEMPLE AND GOES TO STAY WITH HIS FLOCKS.37
2.2 ST. ANNE RECEIVES THE PROMISE OF FERTILITY AND TRAVELS TO THE TEMPLE. 39 2.3 JOACHIM IS COMFORTED BY AN ANGEL AND RETURNS AGAIN TO THE TEMPLE TO SACRIFICE. 42 2.4 JOACHIM RECEIVES THE BLESSING FROM THE ARK OF THE COVENANT. 47 II. THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION 49 1. JOACHIM AND ST. ANNE MEET BENEATH THE GOLDEN GATE. 49 2. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN.52
2.1 THE ANGELS ARE SHOWN THE RESTORATION OF MANKIND. 52 2.2 AN EGYPTIAN REPRESENTATION OF MARY PRIOR TO ELIJAH. 57 2.3 ELIJAH'S VISION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 58 2.4 AN EXPOUNDING ON ELIJAH'S VISION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 60 2.5 A REPRESENTATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN IN EGYPT. 62 2.6 MARY PROCLAIMED TO PIOUS PAGANS. 65 2.7 THE LIFE STORY OF TOBIAS. AN ALLEGORY OF THE COMING OF SALVATION.65
2.8 THE GENEALOGICAL TREE OF THE MESSIAH. 67 2.9 APPARITION OF SAINT ANNE. 70 2.10 VISION OF THE FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION. 71 2.11 THE BLESSED VIRGIN REVEALS SECRETS ABOUT THEIR LIVES. 73 2.12 CELEBRATION OF THE CONCEPTION OF MARY IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS. 74 2.13 THE HOLY KINGS CELEBRATE A FEAST HONORING MARY'S CONCEPTION. 77 2.14 ELIMINATION OF HUMAN SACRIFICE BY THE STAR-WORSHIPPERS. 77 2.15 A PARALLEL VISION OF CHILD SACRIFICE. 79 2.16 HISTORY OF THE CELEBRATIONS OF THE CONCEPTION OF MARY. 80 3. THE ACTUAL SEASON OF MARY'S CONCEPTION (NOTE BY THE WRITER). 82 4. THE INFUSING OF MARY'S SOUL AND HER BIRTH. 84 4.1 THE UNITING OF MARY'S SOUL AND BODY. 84 4.2 MARY'S BIRTH. 85 4.3 JOY AT MARY'S BIRTH IN HEAVEN. 88 4.4 THE PROCLAIMING OF MARY'S BIRTH IN LIMBO. 88 4.5 AGITATION IN NATURE AND MANKIND AT MARY'S BIRTH. 88 4.6 THE PROCLAIMING OF MARY'S BIRTH IN CHALDEA. 89 4.7 EVENTS IN EGYPT DURING MARY'S BIRTH. 91 4.8 VISITS WITH THE NEWBORN BABY MARY. 92 4.9 THE CHILD RECEIVES THE NAME MARY. 92 5. CAUSE OF THE FEAST OF THE NATIVITY OF MARY. 93 6. THE EFFECT OF PRAYING ON THE FEAST OF THE NATIVITY OF MARY. 96 7. THE PURIFICATION OF ST. ANNE. 97 III. THE PRESENTATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN IN THE TEMPLE 98 1. PREPARATION IN ST. ANNE'S HOUSE. 98 2. THE DEPARTURE OF THE CHILD MARY FOR THE TEMPLE. 106 3. BEGINNING THE JOURNEY. 110 4. ARRIVAL IN JERUSALEM. 115 5. MARY'S ENTRY INTO THE TEMPLE AND PRESENTATION. 121 IV. THE EARLY LIFE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN AT THE TEMPLE. 128 V. THE EARLY LIFE OF ST. JOSEPH 130 1. AN ELDER BROTHER OF ST. JOSEPH 136 VI. A SON IS PROMISED TO ZECHARIAH 138 VII. MARRIAGE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN TO JOSEPH 141 1. ABOUT MARY AND JOSEPHS WEDDING AND NUPTIAL CLOTHES. 145 2. MARY'S WEDDING-RING. 151 3. FROM MARY'S RETURN HOME TO THE ANNUNCIATION. 154 VIII. THE ANNUNCIATION 156 IX. THE VISITATION 163 1. MARY AND JOSEPH TRAVEL TO VISIT ELIZABETH. 163 2. MARY AND JOSEPH ARRIVE AT THE HOUSE OF ELIZABETH AND ZECHARIAH. 166 3. THE BIRTH OF JOHN. MARY RETURNS TO NAZARETH. 181 X. THE CENSUS AND THE JOURNEY OF THE HOLY FAMILY 183 1. THE CENSUS OF THE EMPEROR AUGUSTUS IS PROCLAIMED. CHRIST'S BIRTH IN NOVEMBER. 183 2. ST. ANNE'S HOUSE IN NAZARETH. PREPARING FOR CHRIST'S BIRTH. 183 3. JOSEPH IS TOLD TO TRAVEL WITH MARY TO BETHLEHEM. 184 4. JOSEPH REVEALS TO MARY THE ANGEL'S COMMANDMENT. 186 5. ON THE JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM 186 5.1 THE FIELD GINIM. THE TRAVELERS ARE GIVEN A YOUNG SHE-ASS FROM ANNA'S PASTURE. 186 5.2 TRAVELING AT NIGHT. MARY AND JOSEPH REST AT THE TEREBINTH OF ABRAHAM. 188 5.3 TWO HOURS SOUTH OF THE TEREBINTH TREE. THEY REST IN AN EMPTY SHED.189
5.4 SABBATH CELEBRATION. 191 5.5 THEY TRAVEL FURTHER SOUTH-EAST. THEY SEE THE TEMPLE ON MOUNT GARIZIM. 191 5.6 BETWEEN SAMARIA AND JUDEA. THE FRUITLESS FIG TREE NORTH-EAST OF BETHANY. 193 5.7 THEY STOP AT A SHEPHERD'S LARGE HOUSE. 195 5.8 A HOUSE OWNED BY JOSEPH'S RELATIVES. THEY STAY AT AN INN CONDUCTING A FUNERAL. 196 5.9 THE LAST STRETCH OF ROAD TOWARDS BETHLEHEM. THE GOODWILL OF THE INN OWNERS. 197 6. THE ARRIVAL OF THE HOLY FAMILY IN BETHLEHEM. 197 7. SEEKING LODGING IN BETHLEHEM. 199 8. DESCRIPTION OF THE CAVE OF THE NATIVITY AND ITS SURROUNDINGS. 201 9. THE BURIAL CAVE OF MARAHA, ABRAHAM'S NURSE, ALSO CALLED THE CAVE OF THE SUCKLINGS. 206 10. THE HOLY FAMILY MOVES INTO THE CAVE OF THE NATIVITY. 208 11. MARY CONCLUDES THE SABBATH IN THE BURIAL CAVE OF MARAHA. 210 XI. CHRIST'S BIRTH 212 1. GREAT JOY IN NATURE. "GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST". 214 2. OCCURRENCES DURING THE BIRTH OF CHRIST IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. 218 3. REVELATIONS OF THE BIRTH TO THE KINSWOMEN AND FRIENDS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 218 4. OCCURRENCES DURING THE BIRTH OF CHRIST IN JERUSALEM. 218 5. OCCURRENCES DURING THE BIRTH OF CHRIST IN ROME. 219 6. OCCURRENCES DURING THE BIRTH OF CHRIST IN EGYPT. 221 7. VISIONS APPEAR DURING THE BIRTH OF CHRIST TO THE THREE HOLY KINGS.221
8. VISION FRAGMENTS WHICH DETERMINE THE EXACT DATE OF THE BIRTH OF CHRIST. 226 9. THE ADORATION OF THE SHEPHERDS. 229 10. THE SHEPHERDS ASSIST ST. JOSEPH. ESSENE WOMEN RENDER SERVICE TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 231 11. THE DONKEY KNEELS BEFORE JESUS. ST. ANNE'S MAID FROM NAZARETH COMES TO MARY. 231 12. THE BLESSED VIRGIN HIDES FROM EMISSARIES OF HEROD. 233 13. THE ANGEL'S APPEARANCE TO THE SHEPHERDS HAS BECOME WIDESPREAD. 234 14. MANY PEOPLE VISIT THE CHILD JESUS ON THE WAY TO BETHLEHEM. JOSEPH PAWNS THE SHE-ASS. 234 XII. THE CIRCUMCISION OF JESUS 235 1. PREPARATION FOR THE CIRCUMCISION. JOSEPHS FETCHS THE PRIESTS FROM BETHLEHEM. 235 2. THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST. THE NAME JESUS. 236 3. ELIZABETH VISITS THE MANGER. 239 4. FAMILIARITY BETWEEN MARY AND ELIZABETH. MARY CONFIDES HER PAINS AND JOYS. 239 XIII. THE JOURNEY OF THE THREE HOLY KINGS TO BETHLEHEM 242 1. THE KINGS SEE THE STAR AND BEGIN THEIR TRAVEL. 242 2. VISIONS OF ABRAHAM, HAGAR, AND ISHMAEL. 249 3. THEOKENO CATCHES UP TO THE TRAIN OF MENSOR AND SAIR IN A DESERTED CITY. 251 4. THE HISTORICAL COLORS AND NAMES OF THE THREE HOLY KINGS. 252 5. THE TRAIN OF THE THREE HOLY KINGS RESTS AT A SPRING. 253 6. ABOUT THE HOMELANDS AND LENGTHS OF THE JOURNEYS OF THE THREE HOLY KINGS. 257 7. NIGHT TRAVEL OF THE KINGS. 259 8. THE ANCESTORS OF THE KINGS. THEIR STAR OBSERVATIONS - JACOB'S LADDER AND ITS PROPHESIES. 261 9. THE KINGS TRAIN IS AUGMENTED WITH OTHER TRAVELERS. 265 10. THE BLESSED VIRGIN FORESEES THE APPROACH OF THE THREE HOLY KINGS.266
11. JOSEPH CELEBRATES THE FEAST OF THE CONSECRATION OF THE TEMPLE. 267 12. JOSEPH WANTS TO SETTLE DOWN IN BETHLEHEM. 268 13. END OF THE FEAST OF THE CONSECRATION OF THE TEMPLE. 268 14. THE TRAIN OF THE KINGS. ARRIVAL IN MANATHEA. 270 15. ST. ANNE JOURNEYS TO BETHLEHEM. 272 16. THE TRAIN OF THE KINGS CROSSES THE JORDON. 276 17. THEOKENO IS SUMMONED TO HEROD'S PALACE. 279 18. THE THREE HOLY KINGS APPEAR BEFORE HEROD. 280 19. HEROD'S STATE OF MIND - A MURDER. 281 20. THE HOLY THREE KINGS GO TO BETHLEHEM. THEY REST BY A SPRING. 283 21. ARRIVAL OF THE THREE KINGS AT THE TAX-COLLECTION HOUSE IN BETHLEHEM. 284 22. JOSEPH ENTERTAINS THE THREE HOLY KINGS. 290 23. THE KINGS VISIT WITH THE HOLY FAMILY AGAIN. THEIR GENEROSITY TO THE SHEPHERDS. 291 24. DEPARTURE OF THE KINGS. 294 XIV. THE HOLY FAMILY IN BETHLEHEM AFTER THE DEPARTURE OF THE KINGS. 295 1. MEASURES TAKEN IN BETHLEHEM AGAINST THE KINGS. JOSEPH IS EXAMINED AND BLACKMAILED. 295 2. ST. ANNE RETURNS WITH ELIUD. 296 3. THE HOLY FAMILY HIDES IN THE BURIAL CAVE OF MARAHA. 299 4. JOSEPH TAKES THE BABY JESUS FROM MARY BECAUSE OF DANGER. 300 5. COMMEMORATION OF MARY'S WEDDING. 300 6. preparations FoR the departure OF the hOLY family. 301 XV. PERSONAL NOTES: RELICS NEARBY THAT THE THREE KINGS HAD GIVEN TO THE HOLY FAMILY. 303 XVI. THE PURIFICATION OF MARY 309 1. A VIEW OF THE THREE HOLY KINGS ON THEIR JOURNEY HOME. 316 2. SIMEON'S DEATH. 316 3. THE ARRIVAL OF THE HOLY FAMILY AT ST. ANNE'S HOUSE. 318 4. THE WEATHER IN PALESTINE. 319 5. CANDLEMAS. 320 XVI. THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT AND ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST IN THE DESERT 322 1. THE AGE OF THE CHILD JESUS DURING THE FLIGHT TO EGYPT. 322 2. NAZARETH. THE HOUSE OF THE HOLY FAMILY. 323 3. JERUSALEM. HEROD'S PREPARATIONS FOR THE MURDER OF THE CHILDREN. 323 4. HEROD PLACES SOLDIERS IN VARIOUS PLACES SURROUNDING JERUSALEM. 324 5. PERSONAL NOTES: PRAYER DURING THE SEASON OF THE MARTYRDOM OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS. 324 6. NAZARETH. ST. ANNE AND HER MAID BRING FOOD TO THE HOLY FAMILY. 325 7. NAZARETH. A LOOK AT THE LIFESTYLE OF THE HOLY WOMEN. 325 8. NAZARETH. AN ANGEL WAKES JOSEPH TO FLEE. 326 9. NAZARETH. THE HOLY WOMEN PUT THINGS IN ORDER AND LEAVE JOSEPH'S HOME. 328 10. THE GROVE OF MOREH. ABRAHAM'S TEREBINTH TREE. 331 11. THE HOLY FAMILY RESTS BY A STREAM. 331 12. JUTTAH. ELIZABETH TAKES JOHN INTO THE WILDERNESS. 331 13. EPHRAIM BY THE MAMBRE WOODS. 332 14. SOUTH OF HEBRON. JOHN SENDS THE THIRSTING JESUS A SPRING OF WATER.333
15. NEAR ANIM. THE LAST INN IN THE REGION OF HEROD. 335 16. NIGHT TRAVEL. THE HOLY FAMILY STARTLES SNAKES AND FLYING LIZARDS.336
17. MARA (?). AN INHOSPITABLE DESERT. 337 18. THE ROBBERS HUT. THE ROBBERS BECOME FRIENDLY. 337 19. THE WILDERNESS. SNAKES AND FLYING LIZARDS. 340 20. THE DESERT. A SPRING ARISES FROM MARY'S PRAYER. 342 21. HELIOPOLIS, OR ON. 342 22. HELIOPOLIS, ON. JOSEPH BUILDS A PLACE FOR JEWISH PRAYER. 345 23. THE MASSACRE OF THE INNOCENTS. 346 24. THE BOY JOHN ESCAPES AGAIN TO THE WILDERNESS. 350 25. TRAIN TO MATAREA. AN IDOL FALLS AT THE FAMILY'S PASSING. 351 26. MATAREA AND ITS POVERTY. 353 27. ELIZABETH TAKES THE BOY JOHN AGAIN TO THE WILDERNESS. 355 28. HEROD HAS ZECHARIAH CAPTURED, QUESTIONED, AND KILLED. ELIZABETH DIES. 357 29. MATAREA. THE HOLY VIRGIN DISCOVERS A SPRING NEAR THEIR HOUSE. 360 29.1 THE SPRING AT MATAREA - DISCOVERED BY JOB. 361 29.2 THE SPRING AT MATAREA - ABRAHAM LIVES A LONG TIME BY IT. 366 XVII. THE RETURN OF THE HOLY FAMILY FROM EGYPT 371 XVIII. THE DEATH OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY AT EPHESUS 375 1. REGARDING MARY'S AGE. 375 2. MARY'S HOUSE IN EPHESUS. 377 3. MARY'S MAIDSERVANT AND JOHN THE APOSTLE. 379 4. MARY TRAVELS FROM EPHESUS TO JERUSALEM. 381 5. RELATIVES AND FRIENDS OF THE HOLY FAMILY WHO ALSO LIVE IN EPHESUS.383
6. THE HOLY VIRGIN MAKES THE WAY OF THE CROSS FOR THE LAST TIME. 384 7. TWO APOSTLES HAVE NOT YET ARRIVED. 387 8. ARRIVAL OF SIMON THE APOSTLE. 388 9. JERUSALEM AT THE TIME OF THE DEATH OF THE HOLY VIRGIN. 389 10. THE APOSTLES HOLD A SERVICE. 390 11. JAMES THE GREATER AND PHILIP ARRIVE. 392 12. HOW THE APOSTLES WERE CALLED TO MARY'S DEATHBED. 393 13. THE EFFECT OF RELICS OF THE APOSTLES ON THE VISIONS. 396 14. THE DEATH OF THE HOLY VIRGIN. 397 XIX. THE BURIAL AND ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN 407 Related Works By or About Anne Catherine Emmerich 415