flasks, containing sweet unctions and water of spikenard, were standing
near, as also bunches of natural flowers, among which I remarked one in
particular, which was like a streaked iris or a lily. Magdalen, Mary
the daughter of Cleophas, Salome, Johanna, and Mary Salome, had bought
all these things in the town during the absence of Mary. Their
intention was to go to the sepulchre before sunrise on the following
day, in order to strew these flowers and perfumes over the body of
their beloved Master.

CHAPTER LVI.

Joseph of Arimathea miraculously set at large.



A short time after the return of the Blessed Virgin to the holy
women, I was shown the interior of the prison in which the enemies of
Joseph of Arimathea had confined him. He was praying fervently, when
suddenly a brilliant light illuminated the whole place, and I heard a
voice calling him by name, while at the same moment the roof opened,
and a bright form appeared, holding out a sheet resembling that in
which he had wrapped the body of Jesus. Joseph grasped it with both
hands, and was drawn up to the opening, which closed again as soon as
he had passed through; and the apparition disappeared the instant he
was in safety at the tope of the tower. I know not whether it was our
Lord himself or an angel who thus set Joseph free.

He walked on the summit of the wall until he reached the
neighbourhood of the Cenaculum, which was near to the south wall of
Sion, and then climbed down and knocked at the door of that edifice, as