On the evening of the 18th of February, 1823, a friend of Sister
Emmerich went up to the bed, where she was lying apparently asleep; and
being much struck by the beautiful and mournful expression of her
countenance, felt himself inwardly inspired to raise his heart
fervently to God, and offer the Passion of Christ to the Eternal
Father, in union with the sufferings of all those who have carried
their cross after him. While making this short prayer, he chanced to
fix his eyes for a moment upon the stigmatised hands of Sister
Emmerich. She immediately hid them under the counterpane, starting as
if someone had given her a blow. He felt surprised at this, and asked
her, 'What has happened to you?' 'Many things,' she answered in an expressive
tone. Whilst he was considering what her meaning could be, she appeared
to be asleep. At the end of about a quarter of an hour, she suddenly
started up with all the eagerness of a person having a violent struggle
with another, stretched out both her arms, clenching her hand, as if to
repel an enemy standing on the left side of her bed, and exclaimed in
an indignant voice: 'What do you mean by this contract of Magdalum?' Then
she continued to speak with the warmth of a person who is being
questioned during a quarrel--'Yes, it is that accursed spirit--the liar from
the beginning-- Satan, who is reproaching him about the Magdalum contract,
and other things of the same nature, and says that he spent all that
money upon himself.' When asked, 'Who has spent money? Who is being spoken
to in that way?' she replied, 'Jesus, my adorable Spouse, on Mount Olivet.'
Then she again turned to the left, with menacing gestures, and
exclaimed, 'What meanest thou, O father of lies, with thy Magdalum
contract? Did he not deliver twenty-seven poor prisoners at Thirza,
with the money derived from the sale of Magdalum? I saw him, and thou
darest to say that he has brought confusion into the whole estate,
driven out its inhabitants, and squandered the money for which it was