midnight
Thus did a year roll on . Traces of his sufferings were visible in his failing strength . He could scarcely crawl ; but he meekly declined assistance . He appeared not , as had been his wont , at the midnight mass ; the door of his cell was thrown open at that hour ; the light streamed down like a glory upon his reverend head ; he heard the distant reverberations of the deep _ Miserere _ ; and breathed odors as if wafted from Paradise . One morn it chanced that they who sought his cell found him with his head upon his bosom , kneeling before the image of the virgin patroness of his shrine . Fearing to disturb his devotions , they stood reverently looking on ; and thus silently did they tarry for an hour ; but , as in that space he had shown no signs of motion , fearing the worst , they ventured to approach him . He was cold as the marble before which he knelt .