were six soldiers on guard, who were either seated or
standing before the door, and Cassius was among them. His appearance
was that of a person immersed in meditation and in the expectation of
some great event. The sacred body of our Blessed Redeemer was wrapped
in the winding-sheet, and surrounded with light, while two angels sat
in an attitude of adoration, the one at the head, and the other at the
feet. I had seen them in the same posture ever since he was first put
into the tomb. These angels were clothed as priests. Their position,
and the manner in which they crossed their arms over their breasts,
reminded me of the cherubim who surrounded the Ark of the covenant,
only they were without wings; at least I did not see any. The whole of
the sepulchre reminded me of the Ark of the Covenant at different
periods of its history. It is possible that Cassius was sensible of the
presence of the angels, and of the bright light which filled the
sepulchre, for his attitude was like that of a person in deep
contemplation before the Blessed Sacrament.

I next saw the soul of our Lord accompanied by those among the
patriarchs whom he had liberated enter into the tomb through the rock.
He showed them the wounds with which his sacred body was covered; and
it seemed to me that the winding-sheet which previously enveloped it
was removed, and that Jesus wished to show the souls the excess of
suffering he had endured to redeem them. The body appeared to me to be
quite transparent, so that the whole depth of the wounds could be seen;
and this sight filled the holy souls with admiration, although deep
feelings of compassion likewise drew tears from their eyes.

My next vision was so mysterious that I cannot explain or even
relate it in a clear manner. It appeared to me that the soul and body
of Jesus were taken together out of the sepulchre, without, however,
the former being completely reunited to the latter, which still
remained inanimate. I thought I saw two angels who were kneeling and
adoring at the head and feet of the sacred body, raise it--keeping it in
the exact position in which it was lying in the tomb--and carry it
uncovered and disfigured with wounds across the rock, which trembled as
they passed. It then appeared to me that Jesus presented his body,
marked with the stigmas of the Passion, to his Heavenly Father, who,
seated on a throne, was surrounded by innumerable choirs of angels,
blissfully occupied in pouring forth h