Christian, and, in all probability, she is the Claudia named by St. Paul in his epistle to Timothy and saluted by the Apostle as a friend. The Oriental Church celebrates her feast October 27. under the title: Saint Procula, wife of Pilate. WOMEN ACCOMPANY JESUS TO CALVARY. JOSANNA to the Son of David! Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord!" was the cry of the people of the city and the crowds of strangers that had flocked to Jerusalem for the celebration of the Passover. And the "Carpenter's Son" had made His triumphal entry over a carpet of leaves and flowers and vestments. Five days later, covered with wounds and blood, crowned with thorns, and laden with a cross, the Triumpher marches to His execution through the same streets, accompanied by the vociferous clamor of the populace: "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" As God and man, as Saviour and victim, Jesus wished to receive from men such inconsistent treatment. It served both to establish brilliantly His divine and human nature, and to finish the work of Redemption. Up to His last days He had withdrawn from honors and homage; but then He sought it; up till then, He had lived to teach men by word and example; now He wants to atone for them. "His hour," the hour of our Redemption, has come. The dreary cortège is formed: the centurion on horseback at the head of his cohort; next come the two robbers and Jesus, surrounded by the executioners and followed by the priests and ancients, Scribes and Pharisees, and an innumerable rabble. Only those that have witnessed the horrible sights of the Revolution can form a picture of this mob. The evil inclinations and passions of the people, to which the hatred of the chiefs had appealed, show themselves in their whole ignoble violence, since they feel themselves protected and shielded by their superiors. It is a frightful spectacle, this populace with the eyes of wild beasts, their cries of fury, their cynicism and brutality towards the spotless Victim. According to Roman custom, every malfactor sentenced to death, had to carry his own cross: thus Jesus carried His; he likewise carried the customary wooden tablet, on which his "crime" was written. Tormented by fever and thirst, bleeding still from the cruel scourging and crown of thorns, He bends under the heavy load, suffering agonies which alone the God-made-Man could enable nature to endure . . . Now He falls. The soldiers double their stripes and the populace its cries of hatred and vengeance! An illustrious Catholic wrote in the days of his youth: "Had it been granted to us to live in the days of the Saviour and to pick out a moment in which to behold Him, we should have chosen that one in which, crowned with thorns and reeling and falling under the heavy cross, He marched to Calvary."*) Since He had left Gethsemani, Jesus had been surrounded by persecutors only. Not a friendly word had been heard among all the injuries and stripes, not a glance of sympathy had He received in the midst of those ferocious looks of hatred. *) The Count of Montalembert. His disciples had fled; Peter had denied Him. Who shall show Him compassion? The road from the hill of Sion to Golgatha is two Roman miles long. Continuing its march through the narrow streets of Jerusalem, the cortège followed the long road that leads to the Judicial gate, when, suddenly, a woman came forth from a house of splendid appearance and mixed up with the crowd. Her dignity imposed respect. With a resolute mien and the air of authority she forces a passage through the crowd of soldiers and executioners. Standing before Jesus, she wipes His face covered with spittle and dust and sweat and blood. And behold, the features of a dying God are traced indelibly on the napkin she had unfolded. It shall be a sublime souvenir of the Saviour's gratitude and of the agony He suffered at that moment of His bitter passion. Oh heroic woman, take home thy treasure! It is not thine alone, but, thanks to thee, it belongs to the entire Church!*) *) It is believed that the woman who performed this heroic act was Berenice, wife of Zacheus. Later on the name of Veronica - true image was given her. According to tradition, Berenice took the napkin with the sacred image to Rome in the year 37. The galley, |