the-glories-of-mary

GLORIES OF MARY. 587
agony, went to take the body of her Son from
her arms, to bear it
away for burial. Therefore,
with reverential force they took him from her
arms, and having embalmed him, wrapped him
in a linen cloth already prepared, upon which
our Lord wished to leave to the world his image
impressed, as may be seen at the present day in
Turin. And now they bear him to the sepul
chre. The sorrowful funeral train sets forth;
the disciples place him on their shoulders;
hosts of angels from heaven accompany him;
those holy women follow him; and the afflicted
mother follows in their company her Son to the
grave. When they had reached the appointed
place, how gladly would Mary have buried her
self there alive with her Son! "Oh how will
said the ingly," Virgin to St. Bridget, "would I
have remained there alive with my Son, if it had
been his will!"* But since this was not the
divine will, the authors relate that she herself
accompanied the sacred body of Jesus into the
sepulchre, where, as Baronius narrates, they
deposited the nails and the crown of thorns.
In raising the stone to close the sepulchre, the
disciples of the Saviour had to turn to the
Virgin, and say to her: Now, oh Lady, we must
close the sepulchre; have patience, look upon
thy Son, and take leave of him for the last time.
Then, oh my beloved Son, must the afflicted
mother have said, then shall I see thee no more?
Receive then, this last time that I look upon
* O quam libenter tune posita fuissem viva cum filio meo, si fuissej
voluntaa ejns! Key. 1. 1.