Thanks Incred! Yes, I recall reading something along those lines as well. The following passage, for example, is taken from an article found here: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2020/08/15/102302-the-dormition-of-our-most-holy-lady-the-mother-of-god-and-ever-v
Unbelieving inhabitants of Jerusalem, taken aback by the extraordinarily grand funeral procession and vexed at the honor accorded the Mother of Jesus, complained of this to the High Priest and scribes. Burning with envy and vengefulness toward everything that reminded them of Christ, they sent out their own servants to disrupt the procession and to set the body of the Mother of God afire.
An angry crowd and soldiers set off against the Christians, but the circular cloud accompanying the procession descended and surrounded them like a wall. The pursuers heard the footsteps and the singing, but could not see any of those accompanying the procession. Indeed, many of them were struck blind.
The Jєωιѕн priest Athonios, out of spite and hatred for the Mother of Jesus of Nazareth, wanted to topple the funeral bier on which lay the body of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, but an angel of God invisibly cut off his hands, which had touched the bier. Seeing such a wonder, Athonios repented and with faith confessed the majesty of the Mother of God. He received healing and joined the crowd accompanying the body of the Mother of God, and he became a zealous follower of Christ.
And this in turn reminds me of how the remains of body of Pius IX almost got tossed into the Tiber. See
https://catholicartblog.wordpress.com/2019/08/13/36-horrible-outrage-on-ponte-s-angelo-at-the-funeral-of-pope-pius-ix-2/
Horrible Outrage on Ponte S. Angelo at the Funeral of Pope Pius IXPosted by
catholicartblogAugust 13, 2019Posted in
Uncategorized 36. —
HORRIBLE OUTRAGE ON PONTE S. ANGELO AT THE FUNERAL OF POPE PIUS IX.At midnight, July 12 (13), 1881, the mortal remains of Pius IX were transferred without pomp or ceremony in a simple hearse, followed by three mourning coaches, to S. Lorenzo outside the walls. The Prefect of the city had recommended that the funeral should be at midnight, and it was understood that he and his police would be there to prevent any disorder on the part of the enemies of the Papacy. Alongside the hearse and behind the coaches followed several thousand persons on foot with lighted candles reciting the Rosary and other prayers.
On reaching the Ponte S. Angelo the funeral cortege was suddenly and savagely attacked by some three or four hundred ruffians, Freemasons, Garibaldians, and other apostates, with the avowed object of seizing the body and casting it into the Tiber. The Catholic young men, who were following in the procession, quickly closed around the hearse, resolved to defend it at the cost of their lives. A sharp struggle ensued, and many were severely wounded, but the Catholics succeeded in beating off their savage assailants, and the procession moved on its course. The whole Catholic world was shocked at the news of this sacrilegious outrage, and ever since that time it has been considered unsafe for the Holy Father to set foot outside the Vatican.