m to the Emperor of having
disturbed their festival; that he must make up his mind at once,
because they were obliged to be in the Temple by ten o'clock at night.
The cry, 'Crucify him! Crucify him!' resounded on all sides; it re-echoed
even from the flat roofs of the houses near the forum, where many
persons were assembled. Pilate saw that all his efforts were vain, that
he could make no impression on the infuriated mob; their yells and
imprecations were deafening, and he began to fear an insurrection.
Therefore he took water, and washed his hands before the people,
saying, 'I am innocent of the blood of this just man; look you to it.' A
frightful and unanimous cry then came from the dense multitude, who
were assembled from all parts of Palestine, 'His blood be upon us, and
upon our children.'

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Reflections on the Visions.

Whenever, during my meditations on the Passion of our Lord, I
imagine I hear that frightful cry of the Jews, 'His blood be upon us, and
upon our children,' visions of a wonderful and terrible description
display before my eyes at the same moment the effect of that solemn
curse. I fancy I see a gloomy sky covered with clouds, of the colour of
blood, from which issue fiery swords and darts, lowering over the
vociferating multitude; and this curse, which they have entailed upon
themselves, appears to me to penetrate even to the very marrow of their
bones,--even to the unborn infants. They appear to me encompassed on all
sides by darkness; the words they utter take, in my eyes, the form of
black flames, which recoil upon them, penetrating the bodies of some,
and only playing around others.

The last-mentioned were those who were converted after the death of
Jesus, and who were in considerable numbers, for neither Jesus nor Mary
ever ceased praying, in the midst of their sufferings, for the
salvation of these miserable beings.

When, during visions of this kind, I turn my thoughts to the holy
souls of Jesus and Mary, and to those of the enemies of Christ, all
that takes place within them is shown me under various forms. I see
numerous devils among the crowd, exciting and encouraging the Jews,
whispering in their ears, entering their mouths, inciting them still
more against Jesus, but nevertheless trembling at the sight of his
ineffable love and heavenly patience. Innumerable angels surrounded
Jesus, Mary, and the small number of saints who were there. The
exterior of these