ormed by her dying Son that she was to become the
spiritual mother of another son, should repeat the same words with
humble obedience, and immediately adopt as her children all the
children of God, the brothers of Jesus Christ. These things are much
easier to feel by the grace of God than to be expressed in words. I
remember my celestial Spouse once saying to me, 'Everything is imprinted
in the hearts of those children of the Church who believe, hope, and
love.'

CHAPTER XLIV.

The Fear felt by the Inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Fourth Word of Jesus on the Cross.

It was about half-past one o'clock when I was taken into Jerusalem to
see what was going on there. The inhabitants were perfectly overcome
with terror and anxiety; the streets dark and gloomy, and some persons
were feeling their way about, while others, seated on the ground with
their heads veiled, struck their breasts, or went up to the roofs of
their houses, looked at the sky, and burst forth in bitter
lamentations. Even the animals uttered mournful cries, and hid
themselves; the birds flew low, and fell to the ground. I saw Pilate
conferring with Herod on the alarming state of things: they were both
extremely agitated, and contemplated the appearance of the sky from
that terrace upon which Herod was standing when he delivered up Jesus
to be insulted by the infuriated rabble. 'These events are not in the
common course of nature,' they both exclaimed: 'they must be caused by the
anger of the gods, who are displeased at the cruelty which has been
exercised towards Jesus of Nazareth.' Pilate and Herod, surrounded by
guards, then directed their hasty trembling steps through the forum to
Herod's palace. Pilate turned away his head when he passed Gabbatha, from
whence he had condemned Jesus to be crucified. The square was almost
empty; a few persons might be seen re-entering their houses as quickly
as possible, and a few others running about and weeping, while two or
three small groups might be distinguished in the distance. Pilate sent
for some of the ancients and asked them what they thought the
astounding darkness could possible portend, and said that he himself
considered it a terrific proof of the anger of their God at the
crucifixion of the Galilean, who was most certainly their prophet and
their king: he added that he had nothing to reproach himself with on
that head, for he had washed his hands of the whole affair, and was,
therefore, quite innoce