six enemies of Jesus, who had assisted in
arresting him in the Garden of Olives. The archers led Jesus into the
middle of the court, the slaves threw down the cross at his feet, and
the two arms were forthwith tied on to the centre piece. Jesus knelt
down by its side, encircled it with his sacred arms, and kissed it
three times, addressing, at the same time, a most touching prayer of
thanksgiving to his Heavenly Father for that work of redemption which
he had begun. It was the custom among pagans for the priest to embrace
a new altar, and Jesus in like manner embraced his cross, that august
altar on which the bloody and expiatory sacrifice was about to be
offered. The archers soon made him rise, and then kneel down again, and
almost without any assistance, place the heavy cross on his right
shoulder, supporting its great weight with his right hand. I saw angels
come to his assistance, otherwise he would have been unable even to
raise it from the ground. Whilst he was on his knees, and still
praying, the executioners put the arms of the crosses, which were a
little curbed and not as yet fastened to the centre pieces, on the
backs of the two thieves, and tied their hands tightly to them. The
middle parts of the crosses were carried by slaves, as the transverse
pieces were not to be fastened to them until just before the time of
execution. The trumpet sounded to announce the departure of Pilate's
horsemen, and one of the Pharisees belonging to the escort came up to
Jesus, who was still kneeling, and said, 'Rise, we have had a sufficiency
of thy fine speeches; rise and set off.' They pulled him roughly up, for
he was totally unable to rise without assistance, and he then felt upon
his shoulders the weight of that cross which we must carry after him,
according to his true and holy command to follow him. Thus began that
triumphant march of the King of Kings, a march so ignominious on earth,
and so glorious in heaven.

By means of ropes, which the executioners had fastened to the foot
of the cross, two archers supported it to prevent its getting entangled
in anything, and four other soldiers took hold of the ropes, which they
had fastened to Jesus underneath his clothes. The sight of our dear
Lord trembling beneath his burden, reminded me forcibly of Isaac, when
he carried the wood destined for his own sacrifice up the mountains.
The trumpet of Pilate was sounded as the signal for departure, for he
himself intended to go to Ca