O! There can be no words to describe what His Sacred Body endured for us. Death’s grip squeezes life from Him. His Body contorts in awful spasms leaving each muscle and nerve lifeless. His feet convulse, and the convulsions spread up His limbs, pass to His abdomen and distort His chest as every bone is made visible. The arms, too, tremble and convulse, and His head is thrown back against the cross, driving the thorns even deeper.
The wave of convulsions leaves Him hanging lifeless upon the cross and I hear the Blessed Mother sob, "O! Son!"
Jesus’ head lifts. His eyes now covered by death’s veil look upward toward Heaven. And now there is one breath left, one ounce of will which collects and is released in one awesome cry of power, love, obedience, and victory. Into the darkness Jesus Christ cries out, "It is consummated!
Immediately His head bends forward, leaning slightly upon the right shoulder, and upon the chest which no longer struggles to breathe. And Mary, with John, moves even closer, embracing now the feet of Jesus, and the other Marys now come and begin the anointing of His Sacred Body with their holy tears.
This all occurs in a few seconds, before any Roman soldiers can protest. And even then, seeing the women and John gathered around Jesus, they cannot intervene for God’s Awesome Power strikes at that moment. I see the soul of Jesus leave His Body. It appears to me as a light more dazzling than the sun, and its movement is so swift that words cannot describe it.
All the heavens are opened. The earth and all nature revolt at the deicide. There is a sound of awesome power and the very mount is shaken as a terrible earthquake strikes. Large fissures split the hard ground, and bolt down the side of the mount into Jerusalem itself. Wind whips at the people who scream and throw themselves upon the ground in hysterical fear. Rain and hail strike everywhere, while great peels of thunder and awesome streaks of lightning completely rent the sky and reveal in a luminous moment of stasis, the Crucifix, the Mother, the Disciple, and the Holy Women in vigil at the feet of the Master.
All else is chaos. Screams of terror, even cries of pain can be heard in the far distance. I do not leave Calvary. Rather, our Heavenly Mother says to me: "Scripture is fulfilled, that the sign be given to testify to His Kingship. Come, watch and pray, for the Font of Mercy is now opened."
And as I look again upon Jesus I am able to see Him more clearly for the thick blackness has dissipated somewhat, although the sky still thunders, and lightning flashes are intense, sending torrents of rain upon the ground now awash in blood.
One Roman soldier, truly at wit’s end because of the awesome display of power from Heaven and Earth, motions to the captain. "This one (meaning Jesus) is dead. Let us dispatch the others quickly and be quit of this place, for by gods of Olympus, it is a bad omen."
The mounted officer considers. He summons a fellow officer on horseback. "Report at once to Pilate. Inform him of the situation, and return with written approval to be done with the remaining criminals. Be quick!"
As one soldier rides off the other now rides closer to the cross. He surveys the Corpse of Jesus. Nothing stirs except His hair blown by gusts of wind, yet the officer must be certain. This Man - criminal or not - was no ordinary human. This officer is in charge and so he must discharge his duty with care and certainty, lest he himself face Rome’s justice.
He draws his lance and aims it expertly, taking the perfect angle to strike from horseback. And with power and deftness he drives the weapon deep into Jesus’ right side. The spear’s point emerges from between the ribs on the left side having made its way through the Sacred Heart.
The soldier is satisfied. There is no gush of fresh blood, but a stream of blood and water which the heart had not passed through before its last beat. This, then, is true mortal death. No trickery here. This "King of the Jews" has expired, and the Roman is grateful because he, too, has grown uneasy because of the earthquake, storm, wind, rain and hail at the moment when the Man expired. He wants to understand, but does not know where to begin.
It is as he is turning away that our Heavenly Mother, who has caressed her Son’s feet, sees the lance being pulled from her Son’s side, leaving a gaping wound on the right and a smaller hole where the lance point exited.
I am given to see that from this gaping wound into which I could place my hand, rays of light - golden and intense - flood forth and spill upon the Holy Women and John, who look upon Jesus through their tears and seek to comfort themselves by comforting His Mother.
This, then, is the font of Divine Mercy. Opened for all whose own hearts are opened to receive it.
FINAL INSTALLMENT: Part two: Our Lady's Meditation on IT IS CONSUMMATED!