People of the New Testament (V) is the seventh volume of the long-awaited “New Light on the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich” series, and is specifically devoted to the many women disciples and supporters of Jesus, many unknown to history. An initial overview sets the stage regarding the primary holy women, who are presented in detail in the second part. Among these are: Mary Heli (elder sister of the Virgin Mary), Mary Cleophas (mother, or stepmother, to five of the apostles), Mary Salome (mother of John and James the Greater), Martha and her sister Mary Magdalene, Maroni (the widow of Nain), Veronica, Susanna and Salome, Mary Mark, Dinah (the Samaritan woman), and Mara the Suphanite. There follows an study of the holy women present at Christ’s death and resurrection. The third, fourth, and fifth parts present other major and minor women disciples of Jesus, as well as his female relations. Among these are Enue (the woman cured of a flow of blood), Lea, Mary of Hebron, the Syrophoenician woman, Naomi of the Temple (aunt of Lazarus), Salome of Capernaum (whom Jesus raised). Perhaps most fascinating of all is Silent Mary, an historically unknown sister of Lazarus, Martha, and Magdalene, with whom Jesus communes immediately before his baptism.

Anne Catherine Emmerich was born on September 8, 1774, at Flamske, Germany. From early childhood she was blessed with the gift of spiritual sight and lived almost constantly in inner vision of scenes of the Old and New Testaments. Later, her visions became concerned primarily with the life of Jesus Christ, although they encompassed also the lives of many saints and other personages (some unknown to history) as well as far-reaching insights into many other mysteries. In 2004 she was beatified by Pope John Paul II.

This series supplements an earlier Angelico publication: The Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich, Books I–III. In 2009 the original notes of Anne Catherine’s visions (in 38 notebooks) became for the first time available for reference, and the present series incorporates much new material translated therefrom. With regard to both individuals and themes, every reference thus far located in the notes and in prior translations have been woven together, so the reader can find in one place almost all of what Anne Catherine had to say on each topic.

As regards the series as a whole, virtually every individual in the biblical visions (approximately 250 in total) is referenced in the five People of the New Testament volumes. The Life of the Virgin Mary is dedicated to Mary (and her Essene ancestry), and Scenes from the Lives of the Saints treats of fifty-nine saints. The present volume forms a set with Mysteries of the Old Testament and two further volumes cover a multitude of separate themes: Inner Life and Worlds of Soul & Spirit and Spiritual Works and Journeys. The final volume is The Life of Anne Catherine Emmerich.