The visions of Sister Emmerich, which had continued from the 18th of February to the 6th of April 1823, here came to a conclusion.

APPENDIX.

Detached Account of Longinus.

On the 15th of March 1821, Sister Emmerich gave the following detached account of parts of a vision which she had had the previous night concerning St. Longinus, whose festival happened to fall upon that very day, although she did not know it.

Longinus, who had, I think, another name, held on office, partly civil and partly military, in the household of Pilate, who entrusted him with the duty of superintending all that passed, and making a report of it to him.  He was trustworthy and ready to do a service, but previous to his conversion was greatly wanting in firmness and strength of character.  He was excessively impetuous in all that he did, and anxious to be thought a person of great importance, and as he squinted and had weak eyes, he was often jeered at and made the laughing-stock of his companions.  I have seen him frequently during the course of this night, and in connection with him I have at the same time seen all the Passion, I do not know in what manner; I only remember that it was in connection with him.

Longinus was only in a subordinate position, and had to give an account to Pilate of all that he saw.  On the night that Jesus was led before the tribunal of Caiphas he was in the outer court among the soldiers, and unceasingly going backwards and forwards.  When Peter was alarmed at the words of the maid-servant standing near the fire, it was he who said once:  ‘Art thou not also one of this man’s disciples?’

When Jesus was being led to Calvary, Longinus, by Pilate’s orders, followed him closely, and our Divine Lord gave him a look which touched his heart.  Afterwards I saw him on Golgotha with the soldiers.  He was on horseback, and carried a lance; I saw him at Pilate’s house, after the death of our Lord, saying that the legs of Jesus ought not to be broken.  He returned at once to Calvary.  His lance was made of several pieces which fitted one into the other, so that by drawing them out, the lance could be made three times its original length.  He had just done this when he came to the sudden determination of piercing the side of our Saviour.  He was converted upon Mount Calvary, and a short time afterwards expressed to Pilate his conviction that Jesus was the Son of God.  Nicodemus prevailed upon Pilate to let him have Longinus’s lance, and I have seen many things concerning the subsequent history of this lance.  Longinus, after his conversion, left the army, and joined the disciples.  He and two other soldiers, who were converted at the foot of the cross, were among the first baptised after Pentecost.