angels denotes the office they fill; some represent
consolation, others prayer, or some of the works of mercy.

I likewise often see consolatory, and at other times menacing
voices, under the appearance of bright or coloured gleams of light,
issuing from the mouths of these different apparitions; and I see the
feelings of their souls, their interior sufferings, and in a word,
their every thought, under the appearance of dark or bright rays. I
then understand everything perfectly, but it is impossible for me to
give an explanation to others; besides which, I am so ill, and so
totally overcome by the grief which I feel for my own sins and for
those of the world, I am so overpowered by the sight of the sufferings
of our Lord, that I can hardly imagine how it is possible for me to
relate events with the slightest coherency. Many of these things, but
more especially the apparitions of devils and of angels, which are
related by other persons who have had visions of the Passion of Jesus
Christ, are fragments of symbolical interior perceptions of this
species, which vary according to the state of the soul of the
spectator. Hence the numerous contradictions, because many things are
naturally forgotten or omitted.

Sister Emmerich sometimes spoke on these subjects, either during the
time of her visions on the Passion, or before they commenced; but she
more often refused to speak at all concerning them, for fear of causing
confusion in the visions. It is easy to see how difficult it must have
been for her, in the midst of such a variety of apparitions, to
preserve any degree of connection in her narrations. Who can therefore
be surprised at finding some omissions and confusion in her
descriptions?

CHAPTER XXIX.

Jesus condemned to be crucified.

Pilate, who did not desire to know the truth, but was solely anxious
to get out of the difficulty without harm to himself, became more
undecided than ever; his conscience whispered--'Jesus is innocent;' his wife
said, 'he is holy;' his superstitious feelings made him fear that Jesus was
the enemy of his gods; and his cowardice filled him with dread lest
Jesus, if he was a god, should wreak his vengeance upon his judge. He
was both irritated and alarmed at the last words of Jesus, and he made
another attempt for his release; but the Jews instantly threatened to
lay an accusation against him before the Emperor. This menace terrified
him, and he determined to accede to their wi