The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. - documenta ...

The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ.Anne Catherine EmmerichJohn. The holy women came to the determination of putting down their spices on the stone whichclosed the door of the monument, and waiting until some one came to roll it back.The guards were still lying on the ground, and the strong convulsions which even then shook themclearly demonstrated how great had been their terror, and the large stone was cast on one side, sothat the door could be opened without difficulty. I could see the linen cloth in which the body ofJesus had been wrapped scattered about in the tomb, and the large winding-sheet lying in the sameplace as when they left it, but doubled together in such a manner that you saw at once that it nolonger contained anything but the spices which had been placed round the body, and the bandageswere on the outside of the tomb. The linen cloth in which Mary had enveloped the sacred head ofher Son was still there.335I saw the holy women coming into the garden; but when they perceived the light given by the lampsof the sentinels, and the prostrate forms of the soldiers round the tomb, they for the most part becamemuch alarmed, and retreated towards Golgotha. Mary Magdalen was, however., more courageous,and, followed by Salome, entered the garden, while the other women remained timidly on theoutside.Magdalen started, and appeared for a moment terrified when she drew near the sentinels. Sheretreated a few steps and rejoined Salome, but both quickly recovered their presence of mind, andwalked on together through the midst of the prostrate guards, and entered into the cave whichcontained the sepulchre. They immediately perceived that the stone was removed, but the doorswere closed, which had been clone in all probability by Cassius Magdalen opened them quickly,looked anxiously into the sepulchre, and was much surprised at seeing that the cloths in which theyhad enveloped our Lord were lying on one side, and that the place where they had deposited thesacred remains was empty. A celestial light filled the cave, and an angel was seated on the rightside. Magdalen became almost beside herself from disappointment and alarm. I do not know whethershe heard the words which the angel addressed to her, but she left the garden as quickly as possible,and ran to the town to inform the Apostles who were assembled there of what had taken place. Ido not know whether the angel spoke to Mary Salome, as she did not enter the sepulchre; but I sawher leaving the garden directly after Magdalen, in order to relate all that had happened to the restof the holy women, who were both frightened and delighted at the news, but could not make uptheir minds as to whether they would go to the garden or not.336In the mean time Cassius had remained near the sepulchre in hopes of seeing Jesus, as he thoughthe would be certain to appear to the holy women; but seeing nothing, he directed his steps towardsPilate’s palace to relate to him all that had happened, stopping, however, first at the place wherethe rest of the holy women were assembled, to tell them what he had seen, and to exhort them togo immediately to the garden. They followed his advice, and went there at once. No sooner hadthey reached the door of the sepulchre than they beheld two angels clothed in sacerdotal vestmentsof the most dazzling white. The women were very much alarmed, covered their faces with theirhands, and prostrated almost to the ground; but one of the angels addressed them, bade them notfear, and told them that they must not seek for their crucified Lord there, for that he was alive, hadrisen, and was no longer an inhabitant of the tomb. He pointed out to them at the same moment theempty sepulchre, and ordered them to go and relate to the disciples all that they had seen and heard.194