The story is thus related:—­Mary, when all was “finished,” retired to her chamber, and remained alone with her grief—­not wailing, not repining, not hopeless, but waiting for the fulfilment of the promise.  Open before her lay the volume of the prophecies; and she prayed earnestly, and she said, “Thou, didst promise, O my most dear Son! that thou wouldst rise again on the third day.  Before yesterday was the day of darkness and bitterness, and, behold, this is the third day.  Return then to me thy Mother; O my Son, tarry not, but come!” And while thus she prayed, lo! a bright company of angels, who entered waving their palms and radiant with joy; and they surrounded her, kneeling and singing the triumphant Easter hymn, Regina Coeli laetare, Alleluia![1] And then came Christ partly clothed in a white garment, having in his left hand the standard of the cross, as one just returned from the nether world, and victorious over the powers of sin and death.  And with him came the patriarchs and prophets, whose long-imprisoned spirits he had released from Hades.[2] All these knelt before the Virgin, and saluted her, and blessed her, and thanked her, because through her had come their deliverance.  But, for all this, the Mother was not comforted till she had heard the voice of her Son.  Then he, raising his hand in benediction, spoke and said, “I salute thee, O my Mother!” and she, weeping tears of joy, responded, “Is it thou indeed, my most dear Son?” and she fell upon his neck, and he embraced her tenderly, and showed her the wounds he had received for sinful man.  Then he bid her be comforted and weep no more, for the pain of death had passed away, and the gates of hell had not prevailed against him.  And she thanked him meekly on her knees, for that he had been pleased to bring redemption to man, and to make her the humble instrument of his great mercy.  And they sat and talked together, until he took leave of her to return to the garden, and to show himself to Mary Magdalene, who, next to his glorious Mother, had most need of consolation.[3]

[Footnote 1: 

  “Regina Coeli laetare Alleluia! 
  Quia quem meruisti portare, Alleluia! 
  Resurrexit sicut dixit, Alleluia! 
  Ora pro nobis Deum, Alleluia!”]

[Footnote 2:  The legend of the “Descent into Hades” (or limbo), often treated of in art, will be given at length in the History of our Lord.]

[Footnote 3:  I have given the legend from various sources; but there is something quite untranslatable and perfectly beautiful in the naivete of the old Italian version.  After describing the celestial music of the angels, the rejoicing of the liberated patriarchs, and the appearance of Christ, allegro, e bello e tutto lucido, it thus proceeds:  “Quando ella lo vidde, gli ando incontro ella ancora con le braccia aperte, e quasi tramortita per l’allegrazza.  Il benedetto Gesu l’abbraccio teneressimamente, ed ella glidesse; ’Ahi, figliuolo