On the morning of the Sabbath they remained within, with closed doors — the Blessed Virgin, her companions, and John, in deep affliction, as orphaned children, hardly speaking a word, but sitting together and absorbed in the thought of what had passed. Now and then they raised their faces for a moment and glanced at each other, as people do when suffering from some great and overwhelming calamity. A knock, we may imagine, is heard at the door, and they are thereby filled with fear and apprehension, and all security seemed gone. However, John went to the door, and on opening it discovered Peter ; and turning to those who were within, said, “It is Peter.” The Blessed Virgin said at once, “Admit him.” Whereupon Peter entered, suffused with shame, weeping and sobbing greatly ; and this renewed the grief of all, who wept in silence. Then the other disciples. one after another, came to the house, weeping. At length, subduing their grief, they began to speak of their Lord. Then Peter says, “I am ashamed of myself ; I ought not to speak in your presence, nor to appear before men, because I forsook and denied my Lord, Who loved me so greatly.” The rest also smote their breasts, and wept, charging themselves with leaving their sweetest Lord Then the Virgin Mother says, “The Good Master and Faithful Shepherd has left us, and we remain as orphans ; but I firmly trust that we shall soon have Him again ; you know how gracious He is, and how dearly He loves you alL Doubt not that He will be gracious and forgive every offence or fault freely. But so great was their fury — permitted by the Eternal Father — against Him, and to such a pitch did they carry their malice and daring, that you could not have helped Him, whatever you had done. Therefore do not be disturbed.” “Indeed, lady,” replied Peter, “it is as you say. For I, who saw the beginnings of things, was so overcome with terror in the hall of Caiaphas, that I hardly thought I should have been able to escape their vengeance, and so I denied Him. I did not remember the words of warning, by which He foretold me of this, till His Face was turned upon me.” Then Magdalen asked about the warnings, and he told all about them, and his denial of his Master, adding other circumstances which he related to her, and what had passed at the Paschal Supper. Then says the Blessed Virgin, “I wish to hear of those things which were said and done at this Supper by Him.” Then Peter makes signs to John, that he would tell her. And John begins and narrates the whole; and thus they all conversed together about what our Lord had done. First one, and then another, has something to say, and thus the day passed. O how attentively did Magdalen listen ! And Mary was more attentive still. How often, during the relation of His words and actions, did she exclaim, “Blessed be my Son, Jesus !”
Regard them, then, diligently, and compassionate them, for their affliction is great — yes, as great as can be conceived. For what is it to see the most blessed of all creatures in heaven and earth, and the princes of Churches and of all peoples, the leaders of the whole divine army, thus shut up in a little room, and timorous, not knowing what to do, save only to comfort one another, conversing together on the actions and sayings of their dearest Lord. Yet the Blessed Virgin maintained a calm and peaceful mind, for she had most sure hope of the Resurrection of her Son ; in her alone faith held its ground on that Sabbath, and this is commemorated on Saturdays. Nevertheless, she could not feel joyful at the death of her sweetest Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
But in the evening, after the sun was set, when work was permitted, Mary Magdalen and the other Mary went to buy spices, with which to make ointments. Late, too, the evening before, when they returned from the sepulchre of our Lord, they began preparations, and continued them till sunset; afterwards they ceased. For the Sabbath had to be observed from sunset on Friday till sunset on the following day. Now, then, they are going forth to buy the spices. Behold them attentively, as they go with mournful countenances, like widows, and apply at the shop for the spices, kept, it may be, by some devoted person who takes pity on them, and grants them at once all they require. They want spices, and the best they can get ; and having paid for them they return, and begin to make ready the ointments for their Lord. Regard them diligently, how humbly, how devoutly, and faithfully they labour for their Lord, with much weeping and deep sighing. But the Blessed Virgin and the Apostles look on, and perhaps offer them help. And thus the day ended, and they go. to rest This, then, is the meditation for Holy Saturday, upon the Virgin Mother, her companions, and the disciples.