The Departure of Mary and the holy Women of Calvary.
Although the Blessed Virgin was carried away fainting after the sad
meeting with her Son loaded with his cross, yet she soon recovered
consciousness; for love, and the ardent desire of seeing him once more,
imparted to her a supernatural feeling of strength. Accompanied by her
companions she went to the house of Lazarus, which was at the bottom of
the town, and where Martha, Magdalen, and many holy women were already
assembled. All were sad and depressed, but Magdalen could not restrain
her tears and lamentations. They started from this house, about
seventeen in number, to make the way of the cross, that is to say, to
follow every step Jesus had taken in this most painful journey. Mary
counted each footstep, and being interiorly enlightened, pointed out to
her companions those places which had been consecrated by peculiar
sufferings. Then did the sharp sword predicted by aged Simeon impress
for the first time in the heart of Mary that touching devotion which
has since been so constantly practised in the Church. Mary imparted it
to her companions, and they in their turn left it to future
generations,--a most precious gift indeed, bestowed by our Lord on his
beloved Mother, and which passed from her heart to the hearts of her
children through the revered voice of tradition.
When these holy women reached the house of Veronica they entered it,
because Pilate and his officers were at that moment passing through the
street, on their way home. They burst forth into unrestrained tears
when they beheld the countenance of Jesus imprinted on the veil, and
they returned thanks to God for the favour he had bestowed on his
faithful servant. They took the jar of aromatic wine which the Jews had
prevented Jesus from drinking, and set off together towards Golgotha.
Their number was considerably increased, for many pious men and women
whom the sufferings of our Lord had filled with pity had joined them,
and they ascended the west side of Calvary, as the declivity there was
not so great. The Mother of Jesus, accompanied by her niece, Mary (the
daughter of Cleophas), John, and Salome went quite up to the round
platform; but Martha, Mary of Heli, Veronica, Johanna Chusa, Susanna,
and Mary, the mother of Mark, remained below with Magdalen, who could
hardly support herself. Lower down on the mountain there was a third
group of holy women, and there were a few scattered individuals between
the three groups, who carried messages from one to the other. The
Pharisees on horseback rode to and fro among the people, and the five
entrances were guarded by Roman soldiers. Mary kept her eyes fixed on
the fatal spot, and stood as if entranced,--it was indeed a sight
calculated to appal and rend the heart of a mother. There lay the
terrible cross, the hammers, the ropes, the nails, and alongside of
these frightful instruments to torture stood the brutal executioners,
half drunk, and almost without clothing, swearing and blaspheming,
whilst making their preparations. The sufferings of the Blessed Virgin
were greatly increased by her not being able to see her Son; she knew
that he was still alive, and she felt the most ardent desire once more
to behold him, while the thought of the torments he still had to endure
made her heart ready to burst with grief.
A little hail had been falling at times during the morning, but the
sun came out again after ten o'clock, and a thick red fog began to
obscure it towards twelve.