BEST PRINTED IN "SMALLEST" SETTING ON YOUR BROWSER
THE TRUE STATUS OF ANNA KATHARINA EMMERICK
a.k.a. Anne Catherine Emmerich
The following correspondence with the
vice-postulator for the beatification cause
of Anna Katharina Emmerick, Canon Martin Hülskamp,
of the German DIOCESE OF MÜNSTER, should explain:
Apr. 28, 2002
To: DIOCESE OF MÜNSTER
pressestelle@bistum-muenster.de
Domkapitular Martin Hülskamp,
DIOCESE OF MÜNSTER
Greetings from Australia.
I must apologize for the fact that I do not speak nor read German. However, I have read some of
the articles on your website using Google translator.
My interest is in Anna Katharina Emmerich (Anne Catherine Emmerich). I would appreciate knowing
some true facts concerning her, for I am writing a critique of an article written in 1975 by Solange
Hertz, titled: "AIMEZ-VOUS ANNE CATHERINE EMMERICK?" Mrs Hertz is an Integrist. It appears that
anything which "proves" her contention that - for example, "Rome will lose the faith and become
the seat of antichrist" (as alleged to be the words of the Blessed Virgin Mary at La Salette) - is fair
game. Therefore, she promotes Mélanie Calvat, the seer of La Salette, but she does not seem to
"aimez" Anne Catherine Emmerich so much.
In fact, she writes that Sr. Emmerich is neither "Venerable" nor "Blessed".
There are others who ascribe either or both titles to her, and attribute to her their contentions, for
example, that Our Lady was conceived "NOT in the normal manner", but by a special miracle from
God.
The fly-cover to "The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ", From the Meditations of Anne
Catherine Emmerich states: "The Bishop of Munster introduced the cause of the beatification of
Sister Emmerich in 1892."
I understands that documentation was promulgated in April 24, 2001, in which she was described as
a "servant of god", and that the beatification was expected in a few months by Pope John-Paul II.
My questions, therefore, are:
- Was Anne Catherine Emmerich officially elevated to the status "Venerable", if so, when and under
what circumstances?
- Has Anne Catherine Emmerich yet been beatified, and is now entitled to the honor of being
officially called "Blessed".
- Do books attributed to Anne Catherine Emmerich have any value other than being pious - even
valuable meditations that may or may not be factual?
With many thanks in advance,
Yours sincerely,
F. John Loughnan
Sean Ó Lachtnáin's Home Page
Received in Australia May 1, 2002
By F. John Loughnan
From : hbrandt@bistum-muenster.de
To : jloughnan@hotmail.com
Subject : s. Anlage
Date : Tue, 30 Apr 2002 16:44:13 +0200
AAttachment : Loughnan-Emmerick.doc (34k)
Hochwürdigster Herr,
in der Anlage übersende ich Ihnen einen Brief von Herrn Domkapitular Msgr.
Martin Hülskamp zu Ihrer Kenntnis.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Hildegunde Brandt
Sekretariat
BISCHÖFLICHER OFFIZIAL
48143 MÜNSTER
Horsteberg 11
Tel. 02 51 / 495 - 6037
Fax: 0251 / 495 - 6020
Hochwürdigem Herrn
F. John Loughnan
Australien
Datum: 01.05.2002
Hochwürdigster Herr!
Bestens danke ich Ihnen für Ihre freundliche E-Mail-Anfrage bezüglich Anna Katharina Emmerick, die
Sie über die Pressestelle unserer Diözese an mich gerichtet hatten.
Es freut uns sehr, dass auch in Australien das Andenken an Anna Katharina Emmerick lebendig ist
und sich die Menschen dort mit ihr beschäftigen.
Natürlich ist es nicht unser Wunsch, Anna Katharina Emmerick sozusagen an die Ränder der kirchlichen
Spiritualität geraten zu lassen, was mitunter auch in Europa geschieht.
Leider kann ich Ihnen auf dem Internet-Weg keine weiteren Informationsmaterialien zukommen
lassen, sollten Sie derartige wünschen, müssten Sie mir noch Ihre Postanschrift mitteilen.
- ad 1) Konkret auf Ihre Fragen kann ich Ihnen mitteilen, dass mit Dekret vom 24. April 2001 der
Dienerin Gottes Anna Katharina Emmerick die heroischen Tugendgrade zuerkannt worden sind
(Decretum super virtutibus), womit ihr nach kirchlicher Übung der Titel "Venerabiles" zuerkannt ist.
Das Wunderverfahren "processus super miro" ist auf der Diözesanebene bereits ab-
geschlossen und liegt in Rom bei der Kongregation für die Selig- und Heiligsprechungsangelegenheiten
für die weitere Verhandlung vor.
- ad 2) Wie aus dem zuvor Gesagten schon hervorgeht, ist Anna Katharina Emmerick nicht
seliggesprochen. Sie kann also noch nicht als Selige bezeichnet werden, sondern, wie erwähnt,
als Venerabiles.
- ad 3) Es werden in dem Sinne Anna Katharina Emmerick keine Bücher zugeschrieben, da sie
selbst ja kaum schriftliche Zeugnisse hinterlassen hat. Die wesentlichen schriftlichen
Hinterlassenschaften sind niedergeschrieben von Personen, die in ihrem Umkreis sich angesiedelt
hatten, insbesondere der Dichter Clemens Brentano. Diese Bücher haben ausschließlich spirituellen
Charakter und keine kirchenamtliche Qualität.
In der Hoffnung, so Ihre Anfragen beantwortet zu haben, verbleibe ich mit allen guten Wünschen
und
freundlichen Grüßen
Ihr
Domkapitular Msgr. Martin Hülskamp
Bischöflicher Offizial
PS: Entschuldigen Sie meinerseits, dass ich der Einfachheit halber mich nicht der englischen
Sprache bedient habe, sondern in Deutsch geschrieben habe in der Hoffnung, dass Sie in Ihrer
Umgebung jemand finden, der Ihnen die entsprechenden Hilfestellungen bei der Übersetzung ins
Englische leisten kann.
Matt Cunningham of the "Mother-of-God" Forum kindly sought assistance from a friend on the forum
to render into smooth flowing English the rough GOOGLE TRANSLATION that I had made. I would like to
thank my friends at his "Mother-of-God" Forum - which is one of the very few discussion groups that
are absolutely faithful to the Magisterium of the Church, and which discuss only mystical phenomena
which has been approved by the appropriate Church authority. Further information may be obtained at
"Mother of God" Forum
F. John Loughnan
From : hbrandt@bistum-muenster.de
To: jloughnan@hotmail.com
Subject : s. Anlage
Date : Tue, 30 Apr 2002 16:44:13 +0200
Attachment : Loughnan-Emmerick.doc (34k)
Your Excellency, in the attachment I send you a letter from Msgr. Martin
Huelskamp, Chaplain of the Catherdal.
Yours sincerely
Hildegunde Brandt, Secretary
BISHOP'S OFFICE
48143 MÜNSTER
Horsteberg 11
Tel. 02 51/495 - 6037
Fax: 0251/495 - 6020
Your Excellency [1]
F. John Loughnan
Australia
Date: May 1, 2002
Your Excellency!
I thank you very much for your kind e-mail inquiry concerning Anna Katharina Emmerick,
which had been addressed to me via the press office of our Diocese.
We are very pleased (to hear) that also in Australia the memory of Anna Katharina Emmerick is
alive and remembered.
Of course it is not our desire to let Anna Katharina Emmerick be marginalized in
ecclesial Spirituality which happens now and then also in Europe.
Unfortunately I cannot send you any further documentation through the Internet,
should you wish such, you would have to communicate with me through regular
mail.
a.. ad 1) concretely on your questions I can answer you that with the decree
of 24 April 2001 the servant of God Anna Katharina Emmerick has been awarded
the degree of heroic virtue (Decretum super virtutibus), with which she has
been awarded by Church practice the title "Venerable".
The miracle procedure "processus super miro" is already closed on the level of
the diocese and at present is in Rome with the Congregation for the declaration of
blessed and saints for further investigation.
a.. ad 2) as appears from the above mentioned, Anna Katharina Emmerick has
not been declared a saint. Thus she can not as yet be called saint, but, as
mentioned, venerable.
b.. ad 3) no books are attributed to Anna Katharina Emmerick in the sense that
she herself has hardly left any written proof. The substantial written documents
left behind are written down by persons, who had settled in her vicinity, in
particular the poet Clemens Brentano. These books have exclusively spiritual
character and no official Church quality.
In the hope to have answered your inquiries I remain with best wishes and
Friendly greetings
yours
Msgr. Martin Hülskamp, Chaplain of the Cathedral
Bishop's Office
PS: Excuse me on my part the fact that I did not use the English Language, for
the sake of simplicity and easiness but wrote in German in the hope that you
may find someone around you, that can give you the appropriate assistance for
the translation into English.
[1] Disclaimer: I, Francis John Loughnan, affirm that I am not worthy or entitled to be
addressed as "Your Excellency". It is apparent, that the good Msgr. Hülskamp (or his
Secretary) mistakenly thought that I was a bishop.
Conclusions:
-
The above appears to me that the decree of 24 April 2001 NOW (that is, for the first time!) entitles Anna Katharina Emmerich to the title "Venerable".
-
Thus, she is not YET able to be called "Blessed" - and will not be so able to be called UNTIL she is actually beatified. (A probability - but there CAN be slip-ups!)
- She wrote no books. They have no official church approval apart from "a certain spiritual
character and no official Church quality" which I assume to mean for meditation.
F. John Loughnan
jloughnan@hotmail.com
Sean Ó lachtnáin's Home Page
Also sent to: The webmaster of the following two sites:
http://home.germany.net/100/398778/emmerick.htm
http://home.germany.net/100/398778/start.htm
Apr. 29, 2002
theol@dr-e-meier.de
Dr. Erhard Meier
Greetings from Australia.
<snipped - the same as to the Domkapitular Martin Hülskamp, DIOCESE OF MÜNSTER >
From: emeier@nexgo.de
To: jloughnan@hotmail.com
Subject: Aw: Anna Katharina Emmerich - your web-page
Date: Wed, 1 May 2002 11:18:06 +0200 (CEST)
Dear Mr. Loughnan,
Many thanks for your kind e-mail. I am sorry but I am not able to answer all your questions, only
this: The right spelling ist Anna Katharina Emmerick.
By the way, my English is very poor, sorry!
I don't know Mrs. Hertz.
As I know, the process for beatification is not terminated, but is on the way.
Important for AKEmm. are her stigmata, that seem be genuine.
You should read the specific literature. The Visions of A.K.E. had been written by the Poet Clemens
Brentano.
Sorry that I am not able to help you more. As to me, I am concerned on the Philosophy of the
Mystic and of the other religions.
Greetings from Germany to Australia!
Yours Sincerely:
Erhard Meier.
Automatische Anfügung:
Dr. theol. Erhard Meier,
Milanweg 1, 31303
Burgdorf. - Kathol. Theologie, Religionsphilosophie, Religionswissenschaft.
- Fax 05136-84530
Fon 05136-84535,
E-mail theol@dr-e-meier.de,
Internet: www.drmeiernet.de,
www.religionen-web.de,
www.religionsphilosophie.com
May 1, 2002
Dear Dr Meier,
Many thanks for your reply.
Your English is excellent - you definitely should not see MY German! It is non-existent.
I know quite a lot about Anna Katharina Emmerick; I have the book, "The Dolorous Passion of Our
Lord Jesus Christ", which was produced by Clemens Brentano from the meditations of Sr. Anne
Catherine.
I also sent a request for information to Domkapitular Msgr. Martin Hülskamp. He also forwarded a
reply today in German, which I had roughly translated by GOOGLE. I will add a copy of his reply
and the translation below for your information.
I am able to understand the meaning from the rough translation, but tomorrow I will take the
original to a German lady close to where I live, and see if she can refine it for me.
From it, I understand that she as from April 24, 2001, one is permitted to describe her as
Venerable Anna Katharina Emmerick.
Once again, thank you for your reply,
With kind regards and God bless,
John Loughnan
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