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THE CORONATION 367
of both these Sovereigns, one of the heavenly spirits there
present hastened to liberate saint Peter from his prison in
Jerusalem.
408. The angel executed these orders very swiftly.
Coming to the dungeon, he found saint Peter fastened
with two chains, guarded by two soldiers at his side and
by a number of other soldiers at the entrance of the prison.
The Pasch had already been celebrated and it was the
night before he was to be executed according to the
sentence passed upon him. But the Apostle was so little
disturbed that he was sleeping with as much unconcern
When the angel arrived, he
as his guards (Acts 12, 6).
was obliged to wake him by force and while saint Peter
was still
drowsy, said to him : "Arise quickly put on thy
;
girdle and thy shoes, take thy mantle and follow me."
Saint Peter found himself free of the chains and, without
understanding what was happening to him and ignorant
of what this vision could mean, followed the angel. Having
conducted him through some streets, the angel told him,
that the Almighty had freed him from prison through
the intercession of his most blessed Mother, and thereupon
disappeared. Saint Peter, coming to himself understood
the mystery and gave thanks to the Lord for this favor.
409. Saint Peter thought it best first to give an account
of his liberation and consult with James the Less and
others of the faithful, before seeking safety in flight.
Hastening his steps he came to the house of Mary, the
mother of John, who was also called Mark. This was
the house of the Cenacle, where many of the disciples had
gathered in their affliction. Saint Peter called to them
from the street, and a servant-maid, by the name of Rhode,
descended to see who was calling. As she recognized the
voice of Peter, she left him standing at the door outside
and fled excitedly to the disciples, telling them that it was
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