principal work of love, the Holy Communion, in which men should have
been made wholly one, was become, by the malice of false teachers, the
subject of separation. I beheld whole nations thus snatched out of his
bosom, and deprived of any participation in the treasure of graces left
to the Church. Finally, I saw all who were separated from the Church
plunged into the depths of infidelity, superstition, heresy, and false
worldly philosophy; and they gave vent to their fierce rage by joining
together in large bodies to attack the Church, being urged on by the
serpent which was disporting itself in the midst of them. Alas! it was
as though Jesus himself had been torn in a thousand pieces!

So great was my horror and terror, that my Heavenly Spouse appeared
to me, and mercifully placed his hand upon my heart, saying: 'No one has
yet seen all these things, and thy heart would burst with sorrow if I
did not give thee strength.'

I saw the blood flowing in large drops down the pale face of our
Saviour, his hair matted together, and his beard bloody and entangled.
After the vision which I have last described, he fled, so to speak, out
of the cave, and returned to his disciples. But he tottered as he
walked; his appearance was that of a man covered with wounds and
bending beneath a heavy burden, and he stumbled at every step.

When he came up to the three Apostles, they were not lying down
asleep as they had been the first time, but their heads were covered,
and they had sunk down on their knees, in an attitude often assumed by
the people of that country when in sorrow or desiring to pray. They had
fallen asleep, overpowered by grief and fatigue. Jesus, trembling and
groaning, drew nigh to them, and they awoke.