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release of the seditious Barabbas. Not satisfied with
the scourging of the divine Victim, nor the crowning
with thorns with its cruel mockery, with loud cries
they demanded the death of Jesus. Then Pilate, whilst
still proclaiming the innocence of the accused, abandoned
Him to the fury of the Jews, and wrote himself on a
tablet the inscription which was to be placed at the head
of the Cross. As the climax of ignominy it was agreed
that Christ should be crucified between two thieves.
It was in vain that, after so many cowardly conces
sions, Pilate washed his hands before the people. His
name will be for ever connected with the condemning
of Jesus to death, and unto the end of time will it be
sung in the Credo that Jesus suffered under Pontius
Pilate. From the Prcetorium where the Cross had
been prepared, the cortege, without further delay, set
out for Calvary. Then began for our Lord, weakened,
exhausted by His previous sufferings, that SORROWFUL
JOURNEY the stages of which are marked by the four
teen stations of the Cross.
The instrument of His final agony was laid upon His
sacred shoulders. After three successive falls and those
sad meetings in which Jesus forgot His own sufferings
in compassionating those of mankind, He reached Cal
vary where He allowed Himself to be stripped
of His
garments ; to be nailed to the Cross, upon which, lifted
up between heaven and earth for three long hours, He
endured the most terrible torture. Finally, after
having forgiven His murderers, and committed His soul
into the hands of His eternal Father, HE EXPIRED in
such circumstances as forced from more than one wit
ness a confession of belief in His divinity.
In all haste, for the day of the great Sabbath was
about to begin, some faithful disciples came to take