times with his staff, after which the monster disappeared. I had had
this same vision many times before the Resurrection, and I saw just
such a monster, appearing to endeavour to hide itself, at the time of
the conception of our Lord: it greatly resembled the serpent which
tempted our first parents in Paradise, only it was more horrible. I
thought that this vision had reference to the prophetic words, that 'by
the seed of the woman the head of the serpent should be crushed,' and
that the whole was intended to demonstrate the victory of our Lord over
death, for at the same moment that I saw him crush the head of the
monster, the tomb likewise vanished from my sight.

I then saw the glorified body of our Lord rise up, and it passed
through the hard rock as easily as if the latter had been formed of
some ductile substance. The earth shook, and an angel in the garb of a
warrior descended from Heaven with the speed of lightning, entered the
tomb, lifted the stone, placed it on the right side, and seated himself
upon it. At this tremendous sight the soldiers fell to the ground, and
remained there apparently lifeless. When Cassius saw the bright light
which illuminated the tomb, he approached the place where the sacred
body had been placed, looked at and touched the linen clothes in which
it had been wrapped, and left the sepulchre, intending to go and inform
Pilate of all that had happened. However, he tarried a short time to
watch the progress of events; for although he had felt the earthquake,
seen the angel move the stone, and looked at the empty tomb, yet he had
not seen Jesus.

At the very moment in which the angel entered the sepulchre and the
earth quaked, I saw our Lord appear to his holy Mother on Calvary. His
body was beautiful and lightsome, and its beauty was that of a
celestial being. He was clothed in a large mantle, which at one moment