weight of the body, which, being now supported by the cloths, no longer
hung on the nails. The lower part of the body, which since our Lord's
death had sunk down on the knees, now rested in a natural position,
supported by a sheet fastened above to the arms of the Cross. Whilst
Joseph was taking out the nail from the left hand, and then allowing
the left arm, supported by its cloth, to fall gently down upon the
body, Nicodemus was fastening the right arm of Jesus to that of the
Cross, as also the sacred crowned head, which had sunk on the right
shoulder. Then he took out the right nail, and having surrounded the
arm with its supporting sheet, let it fall gently on to the body. At
the same time, the centurion Abenadar, with great difficulty, drew out
the large nail which transfixed the feet. Cassius devoutly received the
nails, and laid them at the feet of the Blessed Virgin.

Then Joseph and Nicodemus, having placed ladders against the front
of the Cross, in a very upright position, and close to the body, untied
the upper strap, and fastened it to one of the hooks on the ladder;
they did the same with the two other straps, and passing them all on
from hook to hook, caused the sacred body to descend gently towards the
centurion, who having mounted upon a stool received it in his arms,
holding it below the knees; while Joseph and Nicodemus, supporting the
upper part of the body, came gently down the ladder, stopping at every
step, and taking every imaginable precaution, as would be done by men
bearing the body of some beloved friend who had been grievously
wounded. Thus did the bruised body of our Divine Saviour reach the
ground.

It was a most touching sight. They all took the same precautions,
the same care, as if they had feared to cause Jesus some suffering.
They seemed to have concentrated on the sacred body all the love and