Jesus confined in the subterranean Prison.
The Jews, having quite exhausted their barbarity, shut Jesus up in a
little vaulted prison, the remains of which subsist to this day. Two of
the archers alone remained with him, and they were soon replaced by two
others. He was still clothed in the old dirty mantle, and covered with
the spittle and other filth which they had thrown over him; for they
had not allowed him to put on his own clothes again, but kept his hands
tightly bound together.
When our Lord entered this prison, he prayed most fervently that his
Heavenly Father would accept all that he had already suffered, and all
that he was about to suffer, as an expiatory sacrifice, not only for
his executioners, but likewise for all who in future ages might have to
suffer torments such as he was about to endure, and be tempted to
impatience or anger.
The enemies of our Lord did not allow him a moment's respite, even in
this dreary prison, but tied him to a pillar which stood in the centre,
and would not allow him to lean upon it, although he was so exhausted
from ill treatment, the weight of his chains, and his numerous falls,
that he could scarcely support himself on his swollen and torn feet.
Never for a moment did they cease insulting him; and when the first set
were tired out, others replaced them.
It is quite impossible to describe all that the Holy of Holies
suffered from these heartless beings; for the sight affected me so
excessively that I became really ill, and I felt as if I could not
survive it. We ought, indeed, to be ashamed of that weakness and
susceptibility which renders us unable to listen composedly to the
descriptions, or speak without repugnance, of those sufferings which
our Lord endured so calmly and patiently for our salvation. The horror
we feel is as great as that of a murderer who is forced to place his
hands upon the wound he himself has inflicted on his victim. Jesus
endured all without opening his mouth; and it was man, sinful man, who
perpetrated all these outrages against one who was at once their
Brother, their Redeemer, and their God. I, too, am a great sinner, and
my sins cause these sufferings. At the day of judgment, when the most
hidden things will be manifested, we shall see the share we have had in
the torments endured by the Son of God; we shall see how far we have
caused them by the sins we so frequently commit, and which are, in
fact, a species of consent which we give to, and a participation in,
the tortures which were inflicted on Jesus by his cruel enemies. If,
alas! we reflected seriously on this, we should repeat with much
greater fervour the words which we find so often in prayer books: 'Lord,
grant that I may die, rather than ever wilfully offend thee again by
sin.'
Jesus continued to pray for his enemies, and they being at last
tired out left him in peace for a short time, when he leaned against
the pillar to rest, and a bright light shone around him. The day was
beginning to dawn,--the day of his Passion, of our Redemption,--and a faint
ray penetrating the narrow vent-hole of the prison, fell upon the holy
and immaculate Lamb, who had taken upon himself the sins of the world.
Jesus turned towards the ray of light, raised his fettered hands, and,
in the most touching manner, returned thanks to his Heavenly Father for
the dawn of that day, which had been so long desired by the prophets,
and for which he himself had so ardently sighed from the moment of his
birth on earth, and concerning which he had said to his disciples, 'I
have a baptism wherewith I am to be baptised, and how am I straitened
until it be accomplished!' I prayed with him; but I cannot give the words
of his prayer, for I was so completely overcome, and touched to hear
him return thanks to his Father for the terrible sufferings which he
had already endured for me, and for the still greater which he was
about to endure. I could only repeat over and over with the greatest
fervour, 'Lord, I beseech thee, give me these sufferings: they belong to
me: I have deserved them in punishment for my sins.' I was quite
overwhelmed with feelings of love and compassion when I looked upon him
thus welcoming the first dawn of the great day of his Sacrifice, and
that ray of light which penetrated into his prison might, indeed, be
compared to the visit of a judge who wishes to be reconciled to a
criminal before the sentence of death which he has pronounced upon him
is executed.
The archers, who were dozing, woke up for a moment, and looked at
him with surprise: they said nothing, but appeared to be somewhat
astonished and frightened. Our Divine Lord was confined in this prison
an hour, or thereabouts.
Whilst Jesus was in this dungeon, Judas, who had been wandering up
and down the valley of Hinnom like a madman, directed his step towards
the house of Caiphas, with the thirty pieces of silver, the reward of
his treachery, still hanging to his waist. All was silent around, and
he addressed himself to some of the sentinels, without letting them
know who he was, and asked what was going to be done to the Galilean. 'He
has been condemned to death, and he will certainly be crucified,' was the
reply. Judas walked to and fro, and listened to the different
conversations which were held concerning Jesus. Some spoke of the cruel
treatment he had received, other of his astonishing patience, while
others, again discoursed concerning the solemn trial which was to take
place in the morning before the great Council. Whilst the traitor was
listening eagerly to the different opinions given, day dawned; the
members of the tribunal commenced their preparations, and Judas slunk
behind the building that he might not be seen, for like Cain he sought
to hide himself from human eyes, and despair was beginning to take
possession of his soul. The place in which he took refuge happened to
be the very spot where the workmen had been preparing the wood for
making the cross of our Lord; all was in readiness, and the men were
asleep by its side. Judas was filled with horror at the sight: he
shuddered and fled when he beheld the instrument of that cruel death to
which for a paltry sum of money he had delivered up his Lord and
Master; he ran to and fro in perfect agonies of remorse, and finally
hid himself in an adjoining cave, where he determined to await the
trial which was to take place in the morning.