Jewish criticism of beatification.

Also to be beatified on October 3 is the 19th century nun, Anne Catherine Emmerich. This beatification has been criticized by various Jewish leaders who claim that Emmerich's visions, as described in the book The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, are anti-Semitic. This book, however, was not written by the virtually illiterate nun herself but by the poet Clemens Brentano, based on conversations with her (see our article C.I., July/August, 2004, pp. 22-25).

Father Peter Gumpel, S.J., of the Congregation for Sainthood, affirmed that the contents of the book were not used in the beatification process. "They were set aside completely in preparing her cause," he stated. Considerations leading to Sister Emmerich's upcoming beatification have been based on her personal piety and spiritual experience, particularly the stigmata which she manifested from 1813 onwards until her death.