Already St. Matthew, the first of the Evangelists, had said that at the death of Jesus on Golgotha, in addition to the splitting of the veil of the temple in two parts, the moving of the earth and stones, the tombs also opened
et multa corpora sanctorum qui dormierant surreoerunt, et exeuntes de monumentis post resurrectionem eius venerunt in sanctam civitatem et apparuerunt multis [
2 ].
…
Among the Fathers and Doctors who variously interpret this passage of St. Matthew, Aquinas in his
Commentary takes a decisive place
among those who assert that
corpora sanctorum qui dormierant surreoerunt - he adds -
tamquam intraturi cum Christo in coelum [
3 ].
It is therefore up to the dead of the Old Testament, the closest to Jesus - let us name two of the most intimate in his life, John the Baptist the Precursor and Joseph of Nazareth, his nourisher and custodian - it is up to them - so piously we can believe - l honor and privilege to open this admirable accompaniment through the ways of heaven:…