[Meditationes seu Contemplationes devotissimae]

"Whence is this one so strong, so splendid, so preeminent, and so terrible? That world which was always subject to us and paid the tributes of death to our uses, never sent us such a dead man, never destined such gifts to the underworld. Who, therefore, is this one who enters our borders so intrepidly and not only does not fear our punishments, but furthermore releases others from our chains? He himself puts to flight all darkness with his splendor, he broke all prisons, he cast out captives, he released the bound, he changed their mourning into joy." Attend, furthermore, faithful soul, how after those voices of the cruel hellish ones, without any delay at the command of our Lord and Savior, all the iron bars were broken. And behold, the numberless peoples of the saints who were held captive in death, fallen at the knees of their Savior with tearful entreaty, say: "You have arrived, whom desiring we daily hoped for! You have arrived, whom the Law had announced to us would come! You have arrived, bestowing indulgence to the sinners of the world while living in the flesh! You have descended into hell to release the dead captives for us. Do not be lacking to us when you have returned to the heavens! Place the title of glory in heaven, place the sign of victory in hell." Consider, faithful soul, how after the heard prayers,