hard a fall on the rough stone floor. I most distinctly heard his
groans of pain, but they closed the door quickly, and placed guards
before it, and the archers continued their preparations for the
crucifixion. The centre of the platform mentioned above was the most
elevated part of Calvary,--it was a round eminence, about two feet high,
and persons were obliged to ascend two of three steps to reach its top.
The executioners dug the holes for the three crosses at the top of this
eminence, and placed those intended for the thieves one on the right
and the other on the left of our Lord's; both were lower and more roughly
made than his. They then carried the cross of our Saviour to the spot
where they intended to crucify him, and placed it in such a position
that it would easily fall into the hole prepared for it. They fastened
the two arms strongly on to the body of the cross, nailed the board at
the bottom which was to support the feet, bored the holes for the
nails, and cut different hollows in the wood in the parts which would
receive the head and back of our Lord, in order that his body might
rest against the cross, instead of being suspended from it. Their aim
in this was the prolongation of his tortures, for if the whole weight
of this body was allowed to fall upon the hands the holes might be
quite torn open, and death ensue more speedily than they desired. The
executioners then drove into the ground the pieces of wood which were
intended to keep the cross upright, and made a few other similar
preparations.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

The Departure of Mary and the holy Women of Calvary.

Although the Blessed Virgin was carried away fainting after the sad
meeting with her Son loaded with his cross, yet she soon recovered
consciousness; for love, and the ardent desire of seeing him once more,
imparted to her a supernatural feeling of strength. Accompanied by her
companions she went to the house of Lazarus, which was at the bottom of
the town, and where Martha, Magdalen, and many holy women were already
assembled. All were sad and depressed, but Magdalen could not restrain
her tears and lamentations. They started from this house, about
seventeen in number, to make the way of the cross, that is to say, to
follow every step Jesus had taken in this most painful journey. Mary
counted each footstep, and being interiorly enlightened, pointed out to
her companions those places which had been consecrated by peculiar
suffer