interior arrangement.


MEDITATION II.

The Supper-Room.



On the southern side of Mount Sion, not far from the ruined Castle
of David, and the market held on the ascent leading to that Castle,
there stood, towards the east, an ancient and solid building, between
rows of thick trees, in the midst of a spacious court surrounded by
strong walls. To the right and left of the entrance, other buildings
were to be seen adjoining the wall, particularly to the right, where
stood the dwelling of the major-domo, and close to it the house in
which the Blessed Virgin and the holy women spent most of their time
after the death of Jesus. The supper-room, which was originally larger,
had formerly been inhabited by David's brave captains, who had there
learned the use of arms.

Previous to the building of the Temple, the Ark of the Covenant had
been deposited there for a considerable length of time, and traces of
its presence were still to be found in an underground room. I have also
seen the Prophet Malachy hidden beneath this same roof: he there wrote
his prophecies concerning the Blessed Sacrament and the Sacrifice of
the New Law. Solomon held this house in honour, and performed within
its walls some figurative and symbolical action, which I have
forgotten. When a great part of Jerusalem was destroyed by the
Babylonians, this house was spared. I have seen many other things