ur years old, up to Jerusalem, to place her among the
virgins in the Temple, they lodged in the house of Zacharias, which was
situated near the fish-market. Seraphia was at least five years older
than the Blessed Virgin, was present at her marriage with St. Joseph,
and was likewise related to the aged Simeon, who prophesied when the
Child Jesus was put into his arms. She was brought up with his sons,
both of whom, as well as Seraphia, he imbued with his ardent desire of
seeing our Lord. When Jesus was twelve years old, and remained teaching
in the Temple, Seraphia, who was not then married, sent food for him
every day to a little inn, a quarter of a mile from Jerusalem, where he
dwelt when he was not in the Temple. Mary wet there for two days, when
on her way from Bethlehem to Jerusalem to offer her Child in the
Temple. The two old men who kept this inn were Essenians, and well
acquainted with the Holy Family; it contained a kind of foundation for
the poor, and Jesus and his disciples often went there for a night's
lodging.

Seraphia married rather late in life; her husband, Sirach, was
descended from the chaste Susannah, and was a member of the Sanhedrin.
He was at first greatly opposed to our Lord, and his wife suffered much
on account of her attachment to Jesus, and to the holy women, but
Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus brought him to a better state of
feeling, and he allowed Seraphia to follow our Lord. When Jesus was
unjustly accused in the court of Caiphas, the husband of Seraphia
joined with Joseph and Nicodemus in attempts to obtain the liberation
of our Lord, and all three resigned their seats in the Council.

Seraphia was about fifty at the time of the triumphant procession of
our Lord when he entered into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, and I then saw
her take off her veil and spread it on the ground for him to walk upon.
It was this same veil, which she presented to Jesus, at this his second
procession, a procession which outwardly appeared to be far less
glorious, but was in fact much more so. This veil obtained for her the
name of Veronica, and it is still shown for the veneration of the
faithful.

CHAPTER XXXV.

The Fourth and Fifth Falls of Jesus.

The Daughters of Jerusalem.

The procession was still at some distance from the south-west gate,
which was large, and attached to the fortifications, and the street was
rough and steep; it had first to pass under a vaulted arch, then over a
bridge,