and writhed as he fell on his knees, with clasped hands, as it were annihilated beneath the weight of his suffering.  So violent was the struggle which then took place between his human will and his repugnance to suffer so much for such an ungrateful race, that from every pore of his sacred body there burst forth large drops of blood, which fell trickling on to the ground.  In his bitter agony, he looked around, as though seeking help, and appeared to take Heaven, earth, and the stars of the firmament to witness of his sufferings.

Jesus, in his anguish of spirit, raised his voice, and gave utterance to several cries of pain.  The three Apostles awoke, listened, and were desirous of approaching him, but Peter detained James and John, saying:  ‘Stay you here; I will join him.’  Then I saw Peter hastily run forward and enter the grotto.  ‘Master,’ he exclaimed, ’what has befallen thee?’ But at the sight of Jesus, thus bathed in his own blood, and sinking to the ground beneath the weight of mortal fear and anguish, he drew back, and paused for a moment, overcome with terror.  Jesus made him no answer, and appeared unconscious of his presence.  Peter returned to the other two, and told them that the Lord had not answered him except by groans and sighs.  They became more and more sorrowful after this, covered their heads, and sat down to weep and pray.

I then returned to my Heavenly Spouse in his most bitter agony.  The frightful visions of the future ingratitude of the men whose debt to Divine Justice he was taking upon himself, continued to become more and more vivid and tremendous.  Several times I heard him exclaim:  ’O my Father, can I possibly suffer for so ungrateful a race?  O my Father, if this chalice may not pass from me, but I must drink it, thy will be done!’

Amid all these apparitions, Satan held a conspicuous place, under various forms, which represented different species of sins.  Sometimes he appeared under the form of a gigantic black figure, sometimes under those of a tiger, a fox, a wolf, a dragon, or a serpent.  Not, however, that he really took any of these shapes, but merely some one of their characteristics, joined with other hideous forms.  None of these frightful apparitions entirely resembled any creature, but were symbols of abomination, discord, contradiction, and sin—­ in one word, were demoniacal to the fullest extent.  These diabolical figures urged on, dragged, and tore to pieces, before the very eyes of Jesus, countless numbers of those men for whose redemption he was entering upon the painful way of the Cross.  At first I but seldom saw the serpent:  soon, however, it made its appearance, with a crown upon its head.  This odious reptile was of gigantic size, apparently possessed of unbounded strength, and led forward countless legions of the enemies of Jesus in every age and of every nation.  Being armed with all kinds of destructive weapons, they sometimes tore one another in pieces, and then renewed