ought of her, and turned his eyes in her direction, as if
to seek her assistance. I beheld the spiritual communication which they
had with each other, under the form of rays passing to and fro between
them. Our Divine Lord thought also of Magdalen, was touched by her
distress, and therefore recommended his Apostles to console her; for he
knew that her love for his adorable Person was greater than that felt
for him by any one save his Blessed Mother, and he foresaw that she
would suffer much for his sake, and never offend him more.

About this time, the eight Apostles returned to the arbour of
Gethsemani, and after talking together for some time, ended by going to
sleep. They were wavering, discouraged, and sorely tempted. They had
each been seeking for a place of refuge in case of danger, and they
anxiously asked one another, 'What shall we do when they have put him to
death? We have left all to follow him; we are poor and the offscouring
of the world, we gave ourselves up entirely to his service, and now he
is so sorrowful and so defected himself, that he can afford us no
consolation.' The other disciples had at first wandered about in various
directions, but then, having heard something concerning the awful
prophecies which Jesus had made, they had nearly all retired to
Bethphage.

I saw Jesus still praying in the grotto, struggling against the
repugnance to suffering which belonged to human nature, and abandoning
himself wholly to the will of this Eternal Father. Here the abyss
opened before him, and he had a vision of the first part of Limbo. He
saw Adam and Eve, the patriarchs, prophets, and just men, the parents
of his Mother, and John the Baptist, awaiting his arrival in the lower
world with such intense longing, that the sight strengthened and gave
fresh courage to his loving heart. His death was to open Heaven to
these captives,--his death was to deliver them out of that prison in which
they were languishing in eager hope! When Jesus had, with deep emotion,
looked upon these saints of antiquity, angels presented to him all the
bands of saints of future ages, who, joining their labours to the
merits of his Passion, were, through him, to be united to his Heavenly
Father. Most beautiful and consoling was this vision, in which he
beheld the salvation and sanctification flowing forth in ceaseless
streams from the fountain of redemption opened by his death.

The Apostles, disciples, virgins, and holy women, the mar