Miraculous Stories of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Miraculous Stories of the Blessed Virgin Mary
and of Her Intercession
From St Alphonsus De Liguori, The Glories of Mary,
Arranged and edited by Br. Sean, a choir monk, 2009
from an etext at www.archive.org
(page numbers as in book)

[679] Some persons, boasting of being free from
prejudices, take great credit to themselves for
believing no miracles but those recorded in the
holy Scriptures, esteeming all others as tales
and fables for foolish women. But it will be
well to repeat here a just remark of the learned
and pious Father John Crasset, who says that
the bad are as ready to deride miracles as the
good are to believe them; adding, that as it is
a weakness to give credit to all things, so, on the
other hand, to reject miracles which come to us
attested by serious and pious men, either savors
of infidelity, which supposes them impossible to
God, or of presumption, which refuses belief to
such a class of authors. We give credit to a Tac-
itus and a Suetonius, and can we deny it with
out presumption to Christian authors of learning
and upright life? There is less risk, says Father
Canisius, in believing and receiving what is re-
lated with some probability by honest persons,
and not rejected by the learned, and which
serves for the edification of our neighbor, than in
rejecting it with a disdainful and presumptuous
spirit.

1ST EXAMPLE. A certain man in Germany had
[680] committed a great sin, and was ashamed
to confess it, yet on the other hand he could not
endure the remorse which he felt, and went to
cast himself into the river; but just as he was on
the point of doing so, he stopped, and bursting
into tears, prayed God to pardon him without
confession. One night in his sleep he felt some-
one waking him, and heard a voice saying: "Go
and make your confession." He went to the
church, but yet did not make his confession.
He heard the same voice a second night; again
he went to the church, but after he had entered
it, said that he would rather die than confess
that sin. He was about to return home, when
he yought he would go and recommend himself
to the most holy Mary, before her image which
was in the church. He had hardly kneeled be-
fore it, when he felt himself entirely changed.
He immediately arose, called for a confessor,
and weeping bitterly, through grace received
from the Virgin, made a sincere confession; and
he afterwards said that he felt greater satisfac-
tion than if he had gained all the gold in the
world.

2. A young nobleman was reading one day,
while at sea, an obscene book, in which he took
great pleasure. A religious said to him: "Now
come, would you give something to our Lady?"
"Yes," he answered; and the other said, "I wish
that, for love of the holy Virgin, you would tear
that book in pieces and cast it into the sea."
"Here it is, Father," said the young man. "No,"
[681] said the religious, "I wish that you yourself
would make this offering to Mary." He did so,
and when he returned to Genoa, his native place,
the mother of God so inflamed his heart with
the love of God that he became a religious.

3. A hermit of Mount Olivet had in his cell
a holy image of Mary, and frequently offered
up prayers before it. The devil could not en-
dure such devotion to the holy Virgin, and tor-
mented him continually with temptations against
purity; and the poor old hermit finding him-
self still pursued by them, notwithstanding all
his prayers and mortifications, said one day to
the enemy: "What have I done to you, that you
will not leave me in peace?" And the demon
appeared to him and answered: "You torment
me more than I torment you;" and then he added:
"Now come, and swear secrecy to me, and I will
tell you what you must cease to do, if you wish
me not to molest you any more." The hermit
took the oath, and then the devil said to him:
"I wish you never again to approach that image
that you have in your cell." The hermit was
greatly perplexed, and went to take counsel of
the Abbot Theodore, who told him that he was
not bound by his oath, and that he must not
cease to recommend himself to Mary before
that image, as he had done before. The hermit
obeyed, and the devil was put to shame and
conquered.

4. A woman who had been guilty of a crim-
inal connection with two young men, one of
[682] whom had killed the other, came one day
in great terror to Father Onefrio d'Anna, a pious
missionary in the kingdom of Naples, to make
her confession. She told the Father that in the
same hour in which that wretched youth had
died, he appeared to her, clothed in black, load-
ed with chains, and cast fire on every side. He
had a sword in his hand, and raised it to cut her
throat. In terror she exclaimed: "What have I
done to you, that you wish to kill me?" And in
a rage he answered: "Wretch, do you ask what
you have done to me? You have caused me to
lose God." Then she invoked the blessed Virgin;
and that damned soul, on hearing the most holy
name of Mary pronounced, disappeared and
was seen no more.

5. When St. Dominic was preaching at
Carcassone, in France, an Albigensian heretic,
who was possessed by demons, was brought to
him, because he had publicly spoken against the
devotion of the most holy Rosary. The saint
then ordered the demons, in the name of God,
to declare whether those things which he had
said concerning the most holy Rosary were true;
and howling with rage they said: "Hear, oh
Christians, all that this our enemy has said of
Mary and of the most holy Rosary is entirely
true." They added, moreover, that they had
no power against the servants of Mary; and
that many who at death invoked Mary were
saved, contrary to what they deseved. And fin-
ally they said: "We are constrained to declare,
that [683] no one is lost who perseveres in de-
votion to Mary, and in the devotion of the most
holy Rosary, for Mary obtains for sinners a true
repentance before death. St. Dominic made
the people immediately repeat the Rosary; and,
oh miracle! at every "Hail Mary," many devils
went out from that wretched man, in the shape
of burning coals, so that when the Rosary was
finished, he was entirely freed from them, and
many heretics became converted.

6. The daughter of a certain prince had en-
tered a monastery, where the discipline was so
relaxed, that, although she was a young person
of good dispositions, she advanced but little in
virtue. By the advice of a good confessor, she
began to say the Rosary with the mysteries, and
became so changed that she was an example to
all. The other religious, taking offence at her
for withdrawing from them, attacked her on all
sides, to induce her to abandon her newly-begun
way of life. One day while she was repeating
the Rosary, and praying Mary to assist her in that
persecution, she saw a letter fall from above.
On the outside were written these words: "Mary,
mother of God, to her daughter Jane, greeting;"
and within : "My dear child, continue to say my
Rosary ; withdraw from conversation with those
who do not help you to live well ; beware of idle-
ness and vanity ; take from your cell two super-
fluous things, and I will be your protectress with
God." The abbot of that monastery soon after
visited it, and attempted to reform it, but he did
[684] not succeed ; and one day he saw a great
number of demons entering the cells of all the nuns
except that of Jane, for the heavenly mother, before
whose image he saw her praying, banished them
from that. When he heard from her of the devotion
of the Rosary which she practiced, and the letter
she had received, he ordered all the others to
repeat it, and it is related that this monastery
became a paradise.

7. There lived in Rome a woman, called
Catherine the beautiful, who led a very sinful
life. Hearing St. Dominic once preach on the
devotion of the most holy Rosary, she had her
name inscribed in the book of the confraternity,
and began to recite it, but did not abandon her sin-
ful life. One evening a youth, apparently a noble,
came to her house, whom she received cour-
teously. When they were at supper, she saw
drops of blood falling from his hands while he
was breaking a peace of bread, and then she ob-
served that all the food he took was tinged with
blood. She asked him what that blood meant?
And the youth answered, that a Christian should
take no food that was not tinged with the blood
of Jesus Christ, seasoned with the memory of his
passion. Amazed at this, she asked him who he
was. "Soon," he answered, " I will show you";
and when they had withdrawn into another
apartment, the appearance of the youth changed,
and he showed himself crowned with thorns, his
flesh torn, and said to her: Do you wish to know
who I am? Do you not know me? I am your Re-
[685] deemer. Catherine, when will you cease to
offend me? See how much I have suffered for
you. You have grieved me enough, change your
life." Catherine began to weep bitterly, and
Jesus, encouraging her, said: "Now begin to
love me as much as you have offended me; and
know that you have received this grace from me,
on account of the Rosary you have been accus-
tomed to recite in honor of my mother." And
then he disappeared. Catherine went in the morn-
ing to make her confession to St. Dominic;
and giving to the poor all she possessed, led so
holy a life that she attained to great perfection.
The Virgin often appeared to her; and Jesus
himself revealed to St. Dominic, that this pen-
itent had become very dear to him.

8. The blessed Alan de la Roche relates of a lady,
named Dominica, who was accustomed to recite
the Rosary, that she gave up this devotion, and
afterwards became so poor, that in desperation
she stabbed herself in three different places.
But just as she was breathing her last, and the
devils came to take her to hell, the most holy
Mary appeared to her, and said to her: "My
daughter, you have forgotten me, but I have
not been willing to forget you, on account of
that Rosary which you have for a time recited
in my honor. And now," she added, "if you
will continue to recite it, I will restore life to
you, and also the possessions you have lost."
Dominica was restored to health, and continuing
the practice of reciting the Rosary, recovered
[686] her possessions, and at her death was again
visited by Mary, who commended her fidelity,
and she died a holy death.

9. There lived in Saragossa a certain noble,
a very bad man; his name was Peter, and he was
a relation of St. Dominic. One day when the
saint was preaching, he saw Peter enter the
church, and he prayed the Lord that he would
make known to the audience the condition of
that miserable sinner. And, behold, Peter then
appeared like a monster from hell, surrounded
and dragged along by many devils. The con-
gregation fled, even his wife who was in the
church, and the servants who accompanied him.
Then St. Dominic directed him, through one of
his companions, to recommend himself to Mary,
and to begin to recite the Rosary which he sent
him. Peter received the message, humbled him-
self, sent to thank the saint, and received him-
self the grace to see the demons that surround
ed him. He afterwards went to make his con-
fession to the saint himself, from whom he re-
ceived the assurance that he was already par-
doned, and continuing to recite the Rosary, he
attained to so happy a state that one day the
Lord made him appear in church, in the presence
of the whole congregation crowned with three
crowns of roses.

10. In the mountains of Trent lived a notorious
[687] robber, who, when he was one day admon-
ished by a religious to change his course of life,
answered, that for him there was no remedy.
"Do not say so," said the religious ; "do what I
tell you ; fast on Saturday in honor of Mary, and
on that day do no harm to any one, and she will
obtain for you the grace of not dying under the
displeasure of God." The obedient robber fol-
lowed this advice, and made a vow to continue
to do so. That he might not break it, he from
that time went unarmed on Saturdays. It hap-
pened that on a Saturday he was found by the
officers of justice, and that he might not break
his oath, he allowed himself to be taken with-
out resistance. The judge, when he saw that
he was a gray-haired old man, wished to pardon
him ; but, through the grace of compunction
which he had received from Mary, he said that
he wished to die in punishment of his sins.
He also made a public confession of all the sins
of his life in that same judgment-hall, weeping
so bitterly that all present wept with him. He
was beheaded, and buried with but little cere-
mony, in a grave dug nearby. But afterwards
the mother of God appeared, with four holy vir-
gins, who took the dead body from that place,
wrapped it in a rich cloth embroidered with
gold, and bore it themselves to the gate of the
city; there the blessed Virgin said to the guards:
"Tell the bishop from me, to give an honorable
burial, in such a church, to this dead person,
for he was my faithful servant." And this was
[688] done. All the people of the place thronged
to the spot, where they found the corpse with the
rich pall, and the bier on which it was placed.
And from that time, says Cesarius, all persons in
that region began to fast on Saturdays.

11. A devout servant of Mary, who lived in
Portugal, fasted on bread and water every
Saturday of his life, in honor of Mary, and chose
for his advocates with the blessed Virgin, St.
Michael and St. John the Evangelist. At the
hour of his death the queen of heaven appeared
to him, with those saints, who were praying for
him, and the holy Virgin, looking upon her ser-
vant with a joyful countenance, said to those
saints: "I will not depart from here without taking
this soul with me."

12. In one of our missions, after the sermon
on Mary which it is our custom to preach, a
very old man came to one of the Fathers of our
congregation, to make his confession. He was
full of consolation, and said : "Our Lady has
done me a favor." "And what favor has she
done you?" asked the confessor. "For thirty-five
years, Father, I have made sacrilegious confes-
sions, because I was ashamed of one sin, and yet
I have passed through many dangers, and have
been several times at the point of death, and if
I had died then I certainly would have been
lost; and now our Lady has done me the favor
to touch my heart;" and when he said this he
wept so bitterly, that he seemed to be all tender-
ness. After the Father had heard his confesion,
[689] he asked him what devotion he had practic-
ed, and he answered that he had never failed on
Saturday to keep a strict fast in honor of Mary,
and therefore the Virgin had taken pity on him,
aud he gave the Father permission to publish
the fact in his sermons.

13. In the country of Normandy a certain
robber was beheaded, and his head was thrown
into a trench; but afterwards it was heard cry-
ing: "Mary, give me confession." A priest went
to him and heard his confession; and question-
ing him as to his practices of devotion, the rob-
ber answered that he had no other except that
of fasting one day of the week in honor of the
holy Virgin, and that for this our Lady had ob-
tained for him the grace to be delivered from
hell by that confession.

14. There were two young noblemen living
in the city of Madrid who encouraged each
other in their sinful life. One of them saw one
night, in a dream, his companion seized by some
Moors and carried to the shore of a stormy sea.
They were about to do the same with him, but
he had recourse to Mary, and made a vow that
he would become a religious at once, and thus
he was rescued from these Moors; then he saw
Jesus seated on a throne, and as if in anger, and
the holy Virgin supplicating and obtaining
mercy for him. When his friend came to visit
him he related to him the vision, but he laughed
at it; and shortly after was stabbed with a dag-
ger and died. When the other youth saw the
[690] vision verified he made his confession, and
was strengthened in his resolution of becoming
a religious. In view of that, he sold all that he
had, but instead of giving the money to the
poor, as he had intended, he spent it all in
debauchery. He afterwards fell ill, and had
another vision; he yought he saw hell opened
and the divine Judge in the act of condemning
him. Again he had recourse to Mary, and
Mary again delivered him. He was restored to
health and led a worse life than before. He
went to Lima, in South America, where he fell
ill, and in the hospital of that place was again
touched by the grace of God. He confessed to
Father Francis Perlino, a Jesuit, to whom he
promised to change his life, but went back to
his evil courses. At length the same Father,
visiting one day another hospital in a distant
place, saw that wretched man extended on the
earth, and heard him exclaim: "Ah, I am lost;
and for my greater torment this Father has
come here to witness my punishment. I came
here from Lima, and am brought to this end by
my vices, and now I am going to hell." With
these words on his lips he died, before the
Father had time to give him any assistance.

15. There was once in Germany a certain
criminal condemned to death; but he was ob-
stinate and refused to make his confession,
yough a Jesuit father did his utmost to con-
vert him. He entreated him, he wept, he cast
himself at his feet; but seeing that all was in
[691] vain, he finally said: "Let us recite a Hail
Mary." No sooner had the criminal recited it
than he began to cry bitterly, made his con-
fession with much compunction, and wished
to die clasping the image of Mary.1

16. In a city of Spain there lived a sinful man
who had given himself to the devil, and had nev-
er been to confession. He did nothing good
but say a "Hail Mary" every day. Father Eu-
sebius Nierembergh relates that when this man
was at the point of death the most holy Virgin
appeared to him in a dream and looked on him;
her kind eyes so changed him that he immediate-
ly sent for a confessor, made his confession
with a voice broken by sobs, made a vow to be-
come a religious if he should live, and then died.

17. A devout servant of Mary always inculcated
it upon her daughter that she should often re-
cite the "Hail Mary," especially when she was
in any danger. One day when this girl was rest-
ing after a ball, she was attacked by a demon,
who in a visible form, bore her off with him.
He had already seized her, but she began
"Hail Mary," and the enemy disappeared.

18. A woman of Cologne who had criminal
intercourse with an ecclesiastic, found him one
day hanging in her room dead. After this she
entered into a monastery, where the devil assail-
ed her in a bodily form, so that she knew not
what to do in order to be delivered from him.
A companion suggested to her to say the "Hail
[692] Mary;" and when she did so the demon said:
"Accursed may she be who has taught you this,"
and appeared no more.

19. A certain baron who led a very sinful life
was accidentally visited in his castle by a re-
ligious, who, enlightened by God, begged him
to assemble together all his servants. They all
came except the chamberlain. He at last was
forced to come in, and the Father said to him:
"Now, I command you in the name of Jesus
Christ to tell who you are." And he answered:
"I am a devil from hell, who for fourteen years
have served this villain, waiting until some day
he should omit those seven "Hail Marys" which
he is in the habit of reciting, that I might then
strangle him and take him to the flames of hell."
The religious then commanded the devil to de-
part. He obeyed, and disappeared. The baron
then threw himself at his feet, was converted,
and led a holy life.2

20. The blessed Francis Patrizii, who greatly
loved the devotion of the "Hail Marys," recited
five hundred every day. Mary made known to
him the hour of his death. He died as a saint; and
after forty years a most beautiful lily sprung
from his mouth, which was then transported
into France, and on the leaves of it was written
the "Hail Mary," in letters of gold.

21. Cesarius relates that a Cistercian lay-
brother could say no other prayer but the" Hail
[698] Mary," and recited it continually with the
greatest devotion. After his death there sprung up
from the place where he was buried a tree, on
whose leaves were written these words: Hail
Mary, full of grace: "Ave Maria, gratia plena."

22. Three devout virgins, by the advice of
their confessor, recited one year, for forty days,
the whole Rosary, as a preparation for the feast
of the purification of Mary. On the vigil the heav-
enly mother appeared to the first of these three
sisters with a rich garment, embroidered with
gold, thanked her, and blessed her. Then she ap-
peared to the second with a simple garment, and
also thanked her. But she said to her: "Oh
Lady, why have you brought my sister a richer
garment?" "Because she has clothed me,"
said Mary, "more richly than you have done."
She afterwards appeared to the third with a
canvas garment, and she at once asked pardon
for her tepidity in honoring her. The next
year all three fervently prepared for the same
feast, saying the Rosary with great devotion,
when behold, on the evening preceding the
festival, Mary appeared to them in glory, and
said to them: "Be prepared, for tomorrow
you shall come to paradise." And, in fact, the
next day they went to church, related to the
confessor what had occurred, and received com-
munion in the morning. At the hour of compline
they saw again the most holy Virgin, who came
to take them with her, and amid the songs of
[694] angels, one after the other sweetly expired.

23. Father Crasset relates that a certain
military officer told him, that after a battle he
found a soldier on the battle-ground who held
in his hand a Rosary and the scapular of Mary,
and asked for a confessor. His forehead had
been pierced by a musket-ball, which had passed
through the head and came out behind, so that
the brain was visible and protruded through
each opening, and he could not live without a
miracle. He however raised himself, made his
confession to the chaplain with great com-
punction, and after receiving absolution, expired.

24. The same author adds that this very
captain told him of being present when a trum-
peter of his company received a pistol-shot from
some one near, and when he examined his breast
where he said that he had been hit, he found
that the ball had been stopped by the scapular
of the Virgin, which the man wore, and that it
had not even touched the flesh. He took it and
exhibited it to the whole company.

25. A noble youth, named Eschylus, being
sent by the prince, his father, to Hildesheim, a
city of Saxony, to study, abandoned himself to
a dissolute life. He fell ill, and was near dying,
and while in that state he had a vision. He saw
himself shut up in a furnace of fire, and believed
himself to be already in hell; and then he escap-
ed from it through a hole and took refuge in a
great place, where he found the most holy Mary
[695] in the hall, and she said to him: "Rash man,
do you dare to appear before me? Depart
from here and go to the flames which you
merit." The young man besought the Virgin
to have mercy on him, and then turned to some
persons who were near, and implored them to
recommend him to Mary. They did so, and
the heavenly mother answered: "You do not know
the sinful life he has led, and that he had not
even yought of saying a Hail Mary in my
honor." But his advocates answered: "Oh
Lady, he will change his life;" and the youth
added: "Yes, I promise really to amend, and
I will be your servant." Then the Virgin's anger
was appeased, and she said to him: "Well, I ac-
cept your promise, be faithful to me, and mean-
while with my blessing, be delivered from hell
and death." When she had said this, the Virgin
disappeared. Eschylus came to himself, and
blessing Mary, related to others the grace he
had received. He led ever after a holy life,
always preserving a great affection towards the
blessed Virgin, and was made Archbishop of
the Church of Lude, in Denmark, where he con-
verted many to the faith. Towards the close
of his life, being old, he resigned the arch-
bishopric and became a monk of Clairvaux,
where he lived four years, and died a holy death.
Hence he has been numbered by some writers
among the saints of the Cistercian order.

26. A member of the brothers of the con-
fraternity of Mary was invited one morning by
[696] a friend to dine with him. He promised to go
but went first to the meeting of the confraternity,
and after that he forgot his promise. His friend
was so much offended by this, that one day when
he met him he attempted to kill him; but, by a
just judgment of God, he killed himself. His
friend was immediately taken before the court,
found guilty of the murder, and was condemned
to death. He recommended himself to the Vir-
gin, and, inspired by her, begged to be led into
the presence of the dead body, and then asked
him how he had died. He confessed that he died
by his own hands, and his friend was set at
liberty.

27. In the year 1604, at Dola, a member of the
same confraternity was very ill. On a feast-day
he said to himself: "At this hour my brothers
are assembled and occupied in praising Mary,
and am I here"? He rose from his bed and went
to the assembly, when suddenly the fever left
him, and he was restored to health.

28. A fisherman, belonging to the same con-
fraternity in Naples, had been ill for several
days through the severe discipline he had prac-
tised in the meeting of the confraternity. Being
somewhat better, as he was poor and had a
family, he returned to his fishing, saying to the
most holy Virgin: "Oh, my Lady, for you I have
suffered this evil, do help me;" and our blessed
Lady allowed him to take as many fish as he
would have taken in all the time he had lost.

[697] 29. Another member was going to be im-
prisoned for debt; he recommended himself to
Mary, and the most holy Virgin inspired his
creditors to release him from his debt, and so
they did.

30. A young man who had been a member of
the confraternity of the Virgin, left it, and
abandoned himself to a dissolute life. One night
the devil appeared to him in a frightful form.
He began to invoke the blessed Virgin. "In
vain," said his enemy to him, "do you invoke
her whom you have abandoned; your sins have
made you mine." The youth in terror fell on
his knees, and began to recite the formula of the
brothers: "Oh most holy Virgin mother," etc.
Then the mother of God appeared to him, at
whose presence the demon fled, leaving behind
him a great stench, and an opening in the wall.
And Mary then turned to the youth, and said:
"You did not merit my help, but I wish to
take pity on you, that you may change, and
return to the confraternity."

31. In Braganza there lived another youth
who left the confraternity and abandoned him-
self to such vicious ways, that one day in de-
spair he was going to throw himself into a river.
But first he turned to our Lady and said: "Oh
Mary, I have served you in the confraternity,
will you help me?" The most holy Virgin ap-
peared to him and said: "What are you doing?
Do you wish to destroy both soul and body ?
Go, make your confession, and return to the con-
[698] fraternity." The youth, encouraged by this,
thanked the Virgin, and amended his life.

32. There was once a religious in Spain, who
in a fit of passion killed his superior. After
committing this crime he fled into Barbary,
where he renounced his faith and married, lead-
ing afterwards so bad a life that he did nothing
good but say a "Hail, Holy Queen," daily. One
day, being alone, he repeated this devotion, and
behold Mary appeared to him, rebuked him, and
encouraged him to amend his life, promising
him her assistance. He then returned to his
house, and was so sorrowful that his wife
questioned him as to the cause, and he in tears
told her his condition, and the vision he had
seen. She took compassion on him, gave him
money to enable him to return to his own
country, and also consented that he should take
one of their children with him. He returned to
the monastery, where he shed so many tears of
compunction that he was again received, to
gether with his son. He persevered in his holy
life, and died with the reputation of a saint.

33. A pupil had been instructed by his master
to salute the most holy Virgin in these words:
"Hail, oh mother of mercy." When he was at
the point of death Mary appeared to him, and
said: "My son, do you not know me? I am
that mother of mercy whom you have saluted so
many times." Then this servant of the Virgin
extended his arms as if to follow her, and gently
breathed his last.

[699] 34. There was once a sinner who was so
abandoned, that he practiced no other devotion
than that of reciting daily "To your patronage...,"
"Sub tuum presidium...." The Virgin one day
so greatly enlightened him, that he abandoned
his sins, entered religion, led for fifty years an
exemplary life, and thus died.

35. In the year 1610, there lived in Turin an
obstinate heretic, who even on his death-bed
would not be converted by all that was said to
him by the various priests who were with him
for eight successive days. At length one of them,
almost by force, brought him to have recourse to
Mary, with these words: Mother of Jesus, help
me: "Mater Jesu, assiste mihi." And the heretic,
as if awakened from sleep, exclaimed, "I will die
a Catholic;" and indeed he became reconciled to
the Church, and died in two hours.

36. Another infidel, who was living in India,
was about to die, abandoned by all, but as he had
heard the Christians so much extol the power of
Mary, he had recourse to her, and the blessed
Virgin appeared to him, and said: "Behold I
am she whom you invoke; become a Christian."
He was immediately restored to health, and bap-
tized, and many were converted by the prodigy.

37. There lived in Madrid, in the year 1610, a
very devout servant of Mary, who had a special
devotion to an image of her called "Mary of
Antioch." He married a woman, who through
suspicion and jealousy left him no rest. Every
[700] Saturday he went barefoot, and early in the
morning, to visit that image; but his wife, who
suspected him of going elsewhere, once in par-
ticular, attacked him so violently, that blinded by
impatience, he took a rope and hung himself.
But just as his soul was departing, when he
could no more help himself, he invoked the help
of Mary; and behold a most beautiful lady ap-
peared, who approached him and cut the rope.
The people without saw this, and then he narra-
ted the fact. By this the wife was so filled with
compunction, that ever afterwards they lived in
peace, and devoted to the heavenly mother.

38. Another person, of Valentia, in 1613, com-
mitted a great crime, which he was ashamed
to confess, and therefore made sacrilegious con-
fessions. But, being troubled with great remorse
of conscience, he went one day to visit the altar
of Our Lady of Halle, that he might obtain re-
lief. When he arrived at the door of the church,
which stood open, he felt himself thrust back by
an invisible power. Then he determined to make
his confession, and immediately entered. After
making a general confession, he went home
entirely consoled.

39. The blessed Adam, a Cistercian, went one
evening to visit an altar of the most blessed Vir-
gin in a church; but finding the doors closed, he
knelt outside to make his devotions. He was
hardly on his knees when he saw the door open-
ing of itself, and he entered. There he beheld the
[701] Queen of Heaven, in the midst of great splen-
dor, and she said to him: "Adam, approach; do
you know who I am?" Adam answered: "No,
Lady; who are you?" "I am," she said, "the
mother of God. Know, that as a reward for your
devotion to me, I will always take care of you."
And then she placed her blessed hand upon his
head, and cured him of the great pain he was
suffering there.

40. A servant of Mary went one day to visit
a church of our blessed Lady, without the knowl-
edge of her husband, and she was prevented by
a severe storm from returning that night to her
own house. She felt a great fear lest her hus-
band should be very angry with her ; but she
recommended herself to Mary, and when she re-
turned home, her husband was very kind and
gracious to her. Upon questioning him, she
found that the evening before, the heavenly mother
had taken her form, and attended to all the little
affairs of the household like a servant. She then
related the occurrence to her husband, and they
both afterwards practiced great devotion to the
blessed Virgin.

41. A certain cavalier, of the city of Doul, in
France, named Ansaldo, received in the battle
a wound from an arrow, which entered so deep
into the jaw-bone, that it was not possible to
extract the iron. After four years of suffering,
the afflicted man could endure the pain no long
er, and being besides very ill, he thought he
would again try to have the iron extracted. He
[702] recommended himself to the blessed Virgin,
and made a vow to visit every year a sacred image
of her which was in that place, and make an
offering of a certain sum of money upon her altar
if she granted this request. He had no sooner
made the vow than the iron, without being
touched, fell into his mouth. The next day, ill
as he was, he went to visit the image, and scar-
cely had he placed the promised gift upon the
altar, when he felt himself entirely restored to
health.

42. There was once a Spaniard who held sin-
ful intercourse with a relative. A devout vir-
gin, while she was at prayer, saw Jesus on his
throne, who was on the point of sending that
criminal to hell; but his holy mother obtained
thirty days grace for him, because he once had
honored her. By the command of the heavenly
mother herself, his female companion told the
whole to her confessor, who made it known to the
young man, and he at once made his confession,
with many tears and promises of amendment.
But because he did not remove the temptation
from him, he fell again into sin, went again to
confession, again made a resolution, and again
relapsed. As he did not go to see the Father
again, the Father went to his house to find him,
but was very rudely dismissed. The last of the
thirty days had arrived, the Father went to the
house again, but in vain ; he desired the servant,
however, to give him notice if there was any ac-
cident; and indeed at night that miserable sinner
[703] was attacked with violent pains. The Father
was called, and endeavored to relieve him, but
the unhappy man exclaimed : "My heart has been
pierced with a lance, and I am dying. Then
giving a groan of despair, he expired.

43. There lived once in Milan a man named
Masaccio, so addicted to gambling, that one
day he lost at play the very clothes he wore. In
a violent rage at his loss, he took a knife and
struck an image of the blessed Virgin, and blood
burst forth from it into his face. He was so
much moved that he burst into tears, and offer-
ed thanks to the Virgin that she had obtained
for him time for repentance. He afterwards
entered a Cistercian monastery, and led such a
holy life that he even received the gift of proph-
ecy; after being forty years a religious, he died
a holy death.

44. A very sinful man, once kneeling in tears
at the foot of the cross, prayed that he might re-
ceive a sign of pardon. But when he found
that his prayer was not granted, he turned to an
image of the sorrowful Mary, who then appear-
ed to him, and he saw her present his tears to
her Son, saying: My Son, shall these tears be lost?
"Fili, istae lacrymae peribunt?" And then he
was given to understand that Christ had already
pardoned him, and from that time be led a holy
life.

45. A man of advanced age, during one of our
missions, after the usual sermon on the power-
[704] ful intercession of Mary, which it is our cus-
tom always to preach in the missions, came to
make his confession to one of our Fathers, named
Father Cesar Sportelli, who lately died in the
fame of sanctity, and was found uncorrupted
many months after his death. Kneeling at the
feet of his confessor, he said: "Father, our Lady
has had pity on me." "This is her office," an-
wered the Father. "But you cannot give me
absolution," said the other, "for I have never
made my confession." And, in fact, although
he was a Catholic, he had never made his con-
fession. The Father encouraged him, heard
his confession, and gave him absolution with
great consolation.

46. The blessed Bernard Tolomeo, founder of
the Olivetan Fathers, who, from his childhood,
had a great devotion to Mary, was one day great-
ly tormented in his hermitage at Accona, called
Mt. Olivet, with the fear that he would not be
saved, and that God had not yet pardoned him;
but the heavenly mother appeared to him, and
said: "What do you fear, my son? Take courage;
God has already pardoned you, and is pleased
with the life you lead; go on, and I will help
and save you." The blessed religious contin-
ued to lead a holy life till he died a happy death
in the arms of Mary.

47. There lived in Germany a young girl, call-
ed Agnes, who had been guilty of incest in the
first degree. She fled into a desert, and there
gave birth to a child. The devil, in the form of
[705] a religious, appeared to her, and persuad-
ed her to throw the child into a pond. But after-
wards, when he proposed to her to throw herself
in also, she said: "Mary, help me," and the dev-
il disappeared.1

48. A soldier once made a compact with the
devil, that he would sell his wife to him for a
certain sum of money. He was taking her to a
wood to fulfil his promise, when he passed be-
fore a church dedicated to the Virgin. His wife
begged him to allow her to pay her devotion to
Mary in that church; but as she entered it,
Mary came forth from it, and taking the form
of the woman, accompanied the husband. When
they reached the wood, the demon said to the
man: "Traitor, why have you brought me, in
stead of your wife, my enemy, the mother of
God?" "And you," said Mary, "how have
you dared to think of injuring my servant?
Go, flee to hell." And then turning to the
man, she said: "Amend your life, and I will aid
you." She disappeared, and that wretched man
repented, and amended his life.

49. A very sinful woman who lived in Mes-
sico, having fallen ill, repented of her life, and
made a vow to Mary, that if she would restore
her to health she would present her with her
hair. She was cured, and she cut off her hair,
making an offering of it to the statue of the
Virgin. But the woman again fell into sin,
again fell ill, and died impenitent. Then Mary
[706] one day afterwards spoke from that statue
to Father Giaramaria Salvaterra, and said: Take
those locks from my head, for they belong to
a lost and sinful soul, and are not befitting
the head of the mother of purity. The Father
obeyed her, and threw them himself instantly
into the flames.1

50. A Saracen, named Petran, made captive
several Christians in Spain, who recommended
themselves to the holy Virgin. Mary appeared
to the Saracen, and said to him: "Petran, how
dare you to hold my servants slaves? Release
them immediately - obey." And the Moor an-
swered: "Who are you whom I am to obey?"
"I am," said she, "the mother of God; and
because they have had recourse to me, I wish
you to give them their liberty." Then the heart
of Petran was changed, he set the Christians free,
and presented himself to the Virgin. She first
instructed him, and then she herself baptized
him in a fountain, near which a church was built,
and a Benedictine monastery.

51. A certain canon, while he was repeating
some devotions in honor of the heavenly mother,
fell into the river Seine and was drowned, and
being in mortal sin, the devils came to take him
to hell. But Mary appeared at the same time,
and said to them: "How have you dared to
take possession of one who died praising me?"
Then turning to the sinner, she said: "Repent,
and be particularly devout to my Conception."
[707] He was restored to life, became a religious,
and never ceased to thank his deliverer, and every-
where to propagate the devotion to her immac-
ulate Conception.

52. Whilst the monks of Clairvaux were
reaping in the fields, and praising the queen of
heaven, most holy Mary was seen caressing them,
and two other saints wiping their sweat.

53. The brother of the King of Hungary re-
cited every day the office of Mary. Once when
he was very ill, he made a vow of chastity to
the Virgin, if she would restore him to health:
and he immediately recovered. But his brother
having died, he was about to be married, and
just as the nuptials were to be celebrated, he
retired apart to recite his accustomed office.
When he came to the words: Thou art fair
and comely, etc. : "Quam pulchra es et decora,"
etc., he saw Mary, who said to him: "If I am
fair as you say, why do you leave me for another
spouse? Know, that if you leave her, you shall
have me for a spouse, and the kingdom of heaven
instead of the kingdom of Hungary." After
this the prince withdrew into a desert near
Aquileia, where he lived a holy life.

54. St. John Climacus relates that there was
a devout religious, named Carcerio, who was
accustomed often to repeat little songs in praise
of Mary, and always saluted her images with a
"Hail Mary." He was once afflicted with so
painful a malady, that in the paroxysms of his
[708] suffering he bit his lips and tongue. He lost
his speech, and was at the point of death. While
the religious were recommending his soul to
God, the mother of God appeared to him and
said: "I have come to cure you, for I do not
wish that mouth should suffer with which you
have so often praised me. Arise, you are healed,
continue to praise me. Having said this, she
sprinkled him with some drops of her milk, and
immediately he was cured, and never ceased to
praise her, until, visited again by his Lady at his
death, he sweetly expired in her arms.

55. When St. Francis Borgia was in Rome,
an ecclesiastic came to speak with him; but the
saint being much occupied, sent Father Acosta
to him. The ecclesiastic said to him: "Father,
I am a priest and a preacher, but I live in sin,
and distrust the divine mercy. After preaching
a sermon one day against the obstinate, who
afterwards despair of pardon, a person came
to me to make his confession, who narrated
to me all my sins, and at length told me that he
despaired of the divine mercy. In order to do
my duty, I told him that he must change his
life, and trust in God; then that penitent rose
to his feet and reproached me, saying: And
you, who preach thus to others, why do you
not amend, and why do you distrust? Know,
said he, that I am an angel come to your aid;
amend and you will be pardoned. And when
he had said this he disappeared. I abstained
for several days from my sinful practices, but
when [709] temptation came I again returned
to my sins. On another day, as I was celebrat-
ing Mass, Jesus Christ sensibly spoke to me
from the host, and said: 'Why do you thus mal-
treat me, when I treat you so well?' After this I
resolved to amend, but at the next temptation fell
again into sin. A few hours ago, a youth came
to me in my apartment, and drew from under
his mantle a chalice, and from this a consecrated
host, saying: 'Do you know this Lord whom I
hold in my hand? Do you remember how
many favors he has done you? Now behold
the punishment of your ingratitude', and saying
this he drew a sword to kill me. I then cried:
'For the love of Mary do not kill me, for I will
indeed amend'. And then he said: 'This was
the only thing that could save you: make a good
use of this grace, for this is the last mercy for
you'. When he had said this he left me, and I
came immediately here, praying you to receive
me among you." Father Acosta consoled him,
and the priest, by the advice also of St. Francis,
entered another order of strict observance,
where he persevered in holiness till his death.

56. In the year 1228, while a priest was cel-
ebrating Mass on a Saturday, in honor of the
most holy Mary, some Albigensian heretics
came and cruelly cut out his tongue. In this
condition he went to the monastery of Cluny,
where the good religious received him with much
charity, greatly compassionating the suffering
he endured from the loss of his tongue. But what
[710] caused the greatest suffering to this devout
priest was that he could no longer say Mass and
recite the divine office, and that of the blessed
Virgin, as he had been accustomed to do. The
feast of Epiphany having arrived, he begged to
be carried into the church, and before the altar
of the holy Virgin prayed her to restore the
tongue which he had lost through love of her,
that he might sing her praises as he did before.
Then Mary appeared to him with a tongue in her
hand, and said to him: "Since you have lost the
tongue for the faith, and for the honor you
have paid me, I give you in return a new one."
Having said this, with her own hands she plac-
ed the tongue in his mouth, and immediately
the priest, raising his voice, recited the "Hail
Mary." The religious quickly assembled, and
the priest wished to remain with them, and to
become himself a religious, that there he might
always praise his benefactress. The mark of the
scar was always seen on his tongue.

57. It was in 589 that the famous plague pre-
vailed in Rome, when men were attacked with
sneezing, andfell down dead. St. Gregory the
Great, when he was carrying in procession
through the city an image belonging to the church
of St. Mary Major, in the place now called the Cas-
tle of St. Angelo, saw an angel in the air, who was
replacing in its scabbard a sword dripping with
blood. Then he heard the angels singing: Oh,
Queen of heaven rejoice, Alleluia; for he whom
you didst deserve to bear, Alleluia, is risen again,
[711] as he said, Alleluia: "Regina coeli, laetare,
Alleluia; quia querm meruisti portare, Alleluia;
resurrexit, sicut dixit, Alleluia." And St. Gregory
responded: "Ora pro nobis Deum, Alleluia." Im-
mediately the plague ceased, and they then began
to celebrate the greater Litanies every year on the
25th of April.

58. A city of France, called Avignon, was
once besieged by enemies. The citizens prayed
to Mary to defend them, and placed an image of
her which they had taken from the church, at
the gate of the city. One of the citizens having
concealed himself behind the image, a soldier
shot an arrow at him, saying: "This image shall
not save you from death." But the image pre-
sented her knee, and the arrow remained fixed in
it, and may be seen there even to this day; and
thus she saved the life of her servant. And the
enemy, moved by this prodigy, raised the siege.

59. There was in Naples a Moor, a slave of
Don Octavius del Monaco, who, although he
had often been exhorted to leave his Mahometan
sect, remained obstinate, but yet never failed
every evening to keep lighted, at his own ex-
pense, a lamp before an image of Mary which
was in the house. And he said: "I hope that this
Lady will grant me some great favor." One night
the blessed Virgin appeared to him and told him
he must become a Christian. Still the Turk resist-
ed, but she placed her hand upon his shoulder,
and said to him: "Now no longer resist, Abel;
[712] be baptized and called Joseph." In the
morning he immediately went to be instructed,
and was baptized August 10th, 1648, with eleven
other Turks. Let it be observed that when the
heavenly mother appeared to him, after she had
converted him, she was about to depart, but the
Moor seized her mantle, saying : "Oh Lady,
when I find myself afflicted, I pray you to let
me see you." In fact she one day promised him
this, and when he was in affliction he invoked
her, and Mary appeared again to him, saying :
"Have patience," and he was consoled.

60. A certain parish priest of Asella, named
Baldwin, became a Dominican, and when he
was in his novitiate there came to him the temp-
tation that he could do greater good in the
world in his parish, and he resolved to return.
But going to take his leave of the altar of the
Rosary, Mary appeared to him with two vessels
of wine ; she gave him to drink of the first, but
the novice had hardly tasted it, when he turned
away his mouth, for although the wine was good,
yet it was full of dregs ; the second he pro-
nounced good, and free from dregs : "Now,"
said the most holy Virgin, "there is the same
difference between the life in the world, and the
life in religion, which is under obedience."
Baldwin persevered, and died a good religious.

61. Another novice, also overcome by temp-
tation, was about to leave his monastery, but
stopping to say a "Hail Mary" before an image
[713] of the Virgin, he felt himself nailed, as it were,
to the floor, from which he could not rise. He re-
pented, and made a vow of persevering. He then
recovered his liberty, asked pardon of the master
of novices, and persevered.

62. The blessed Clement, a Franciscan, one
morning delayed going to the common table,
that he might stop and recite certain accustomed
devotions to the most holy Virgin; but she
spoke from her image, and directed him to go
with the others, because obedience pleased her
more than all other devotions.

63. While Angela, a daughter of the King
of Bohemia, was in a monastery, Mary appeared
to her, and an angel said to her: "Arise, Angela,
and fly to Jerusalem, for your father wishes to
give you in marriage to the prince of Hungary."
The devout virgin immediately set on her jour-
ney, and again the heavenly mother appeared to
her and encouraged her to continue her journey.
She was received in Jerusalem among the Car-
melites, and afterwards was commanded by the
blessed Virgin herself to return to her own
country, where she lived a holy life till her
death.

64. St. Gregory relates that there was a
young woman named Musa, who had great de-
votion to the mother of God; but being, through
the evil example of her companions, in danger
of losing her innocence, one day Mary appeared
to her with many saints, and said to her: "Musa,
[714] do you too wish to be one of these? " Musa
answered, "Yes;" and Mary added: "Withdraw
from your companions, and prepare, for in one
month from now you shall come with me."
Musa retired from her companions, and related
the vision. On the thirtieth day she was at the
point of death, and the most holy Virgin again
appeared to her and called her. She answered:
"Behold, Lady, I come," and sweetly expired.

65. Anna Caterina Gonzaga was married to
Ferdinand I, Archduke of Austria, but her hus-
band dying, she entered the religious order of the
Servites, and had a crown made, on the globes of
which were carved the sorrows of the Virgin.
She said that for this crown she renounced all
the other crowns of earth; and, in fact, refused
marriage with the Emperor Rodolph II When
she heard that her younger sister had been
crowned empress, she said: "Let my sister enjoy
her imperial crown; for these garments with
which Mary my queen has clothed me are to me
a thousand-fold dearer." The most holy Virgin
appeared to her many times during her life, and
at last this good religious died a holy death.

66. A young clerical student playing one
day at ball with other young men, and fearing
he should lose a ring in his play, which had been
given him by a lady, he placed it on the finger
of an image of Mary which was near; and he
immediately felt impelled to make a promise to
the Virgin to quit the world and choose her
for his spouse. He made the promise, and Mary
[715] pressed his finger in token that she accepted
it. But after some time he wished to marry another,
and Mary appeared to him and reproached him
for his infidelity; wherefore he fled into a desert
and led to the last a holy life.

67. About the year 850, Berengarius, Bishop
of Verdun, in Lorraine, having entered a church
where a certain priest named Bernerio was say-
ing the office of Mary prostrate before the choir,
stumbled against him, and in his vexation struck
him with his foot. In the night the most holy
Virgin appeared to him, and said: How is it
that you struck with your foot my servant who
was engaged in praising me? Because I love
you," she added, "you must pay the penalty."
Then his leg became withered, but he lived and
died a saint; and after many years his body, ex-
cept that leg, remained uncorrupted.

68. A young man who was left wealthy at the
death of his parents, by play and dissipation with
his friends, lost all that he had, but always pre-
served his chastity. An uncle, who found him
reduced to such poverty by his vices, exhorted
him to say every day a part of the Rosary, prom-
ising him that if he would persevere in this de
votion he would procure for him a good mar-
riage. The youth persevered, and having amend-
ed his life, he was married. On the evening of
his nuptials he rose from the table to go and
recite his Rosary, and when he had finished it,
Mary appeared to him and said: Now I will re-
ward you for the honor you have paid me: I do
[716] not wish that you should lose your chastity;
in three days you shall die, and shall come to me
in paradise. And this really happened, for immed-
iately a fever attacked him. He related the vision,
and on the third day died in perfect peace.

69. The devout author of the book in honor
of the most holy Rosary, entitled, "The Secret
of every Grace," relates that St. Vincent Ferrer
once said to a man dying in despair: "Why will
you ruin yourself when Jesus Christ wishes to
save you?" And he answered, that in spite of
Christ he would be damned. The saint replied:
"And you, in spite of yourself, shall be saved."
He began to recite the Rosary with the persons
of the house, and behold, the sick man asked to
make his confession, made it weeping, and then
died.

70. The same author also relates that a poor
woman, who was buried by an earthquake under
the ruins of a house, was found alive and unin-
jured, with her children in her arms, by some
persons who were employed by a priest to remove
the stones. When she was asked what devotion
she had practised, she said she had never failed
to say the Rosary and visit a chapel of the most
holy Mary.

71. He also relates that another woman who
led a wicked life because she thought it the only
means by which she could gain a livelihood was
counseled to recommend herself to Mary by say-
ing the Rosary; she did so, and behold one night
[717] the Blessed Mother appeared and said to her:
"Quit your sinful life: as for your support, trust
in me, and I will think of that." The next morn-
ing she went to confession, and Mary most holy
provided for her wants.

72. A person of impure life who had not the
courage to quit his sins, began to say the Ro-
sary, and was delivered from his vices.

73. Another person who maintained a sinful
friendship was seized with abhorrence of his
sin by saying the Rosary. He yielded again to
temptation, but by means of the Rosary finally
freed himself from it.

74. A good priest who was attending a wom-
an on her death-bed, who bitterly hated her hus-
band, not knowing by what means to convert
her, withdrew to say the Rosary, and at the last
moment that woman saw her sinfulness, repent
ed, and forgave her husband.

75. Finally, the same author relates, that once
making a mission to the convicts in the galleys
of Naples, he found some who obstinately refus-
ed to make their confession. He suggested to
them that at least they should have themselves
enrolled in the confraternity of the Rosary, and
begin to recite it. They consented to do so, and
they had no sooner recited one than they desir-
ed to make their confession, and did so, the first
time for many years. These modern examples
serve to revive our confidence in Mary, seeing
that she is at the present time the same that she
always has been towards those who have recourse
to her.

[718] 76. St. Gregory relates (Dial. Bk. 1, ch. 9)
that a holy Bishop of Ferento was from childhood
devoted to relieving the poor. It happened one day
that a certain priest, his nephew, sold a horse for
ten crowns of gold, and took the money and lock-
ed it up. The bishop not having anything to give
when some poor persons came to beg of him,
broke open the chest and distributed the money
to them. His nephew made such a disturbance
when he discovered it, that the holy prelate, not
knowing what to do, went for help to a church
dedicated to Mary. When behold, he saw ten
crowns lying on the drapery of the statue; he
took them and gave them to his nephew.

77. A Lutheran lady of Augsburg in Germany,
who was a very obstinate heretic, happening
to pass one day a small Catholic chapel, went in
through curiosity. She saw there an image of
Mary with the infant Jesus in her arms, and
felt moved to make an offering to it. She accord-
ingly went home, took a silk cloth, and brought
it to the altar of the Virgin. When she had
returned home the most holy Virgin enlightened
her to see the errors of her sect, and she went
immediately to seek some Catholics, abjured
heresy, and was converted to God.

78. In the city of Cesena there lived two
very bad men who were friends. One of them,
named Bartholomew, in the midst of all his vi-
ces practised the devotion of reciting everyday
the "Stabat Mater" in honor of the sorrowful
Mary. Once when he was repeating this hymn
[719] Bartholomew had a vision, in which he
seemed to stand with his sinful companion in a
lake of fire, and saw the most holy Virgin, moved
to pity, offer her hand and take him from the
flames. She directed him to seek pardon from
Jesus Christ, who showed himself willing to par-
don him through the prayers of his mother.
The vision ended, and Bartholomew at the
moment heard the report that his friend had
been mortally wounded and was dead. Then he
knew the truth of the vision, and quitting the
world, entered the order of Capuchins, where he
led a most austere life, and died in the fame of
sanctity.

79. The blessed Jerome, founder of the Som-
maschian Fathers, being governor of a cer
tain place, was taken by the enemy, and con-
fined in the dungeon of a tower. He recom-
mended himself to Mary, and made a vow to
make a pilgrimage to Treviso in her honor, if
she would rescue him. Then the most holy
Virgin appeared to him surrounded by a great
light, and with her own hands undid his chains,
and gave him the keys of the prison. He fled
from the prison, and, setting out for Treviso to
fulfil his vow, he found himself immediately
surrounded by the enemy. Again he had re-
course to his deliverer, and she again appeared
to him, took him by the hand, and led him safe-
ly through the midst of his enemies, accompany
ing him even to the gates of Treviso, where she
disappeared. He made the visit, deposited his
[720] chains at the foot of the altar of Mary, and
then devoted himself to a holy life, by which he
has merited recently to be ranked by the holy
Church among the number of the blessed.

80. A priest who had a special devotion to
the sorrows of Mary often remained alone in a
chapel to commiserate the sorrows of his Lady,
and, moved by compassion, was accustomed
with a little cloth to wipe, as it were, the tears
of a statue of the sorrowful Virgin which was
in that place. Now this good priest, in a severe
illness, when he was given up by his physicians,
and was going to breathe his last, saw a beauti-
ful lady by his side, who consoled him with her
words, and with a handkerchief gently wiped
the sweat from his brow, and with this cured
him. When he found himself well, he said:
"But, my Lady, who are you who practice
such charity towards me?" "I am she," an-
swered Mary, "whose tears you have so often
dried," and she disappeared.

81. A noble lady, who had an only son, was
informed one day that he was killed, and that
his murderer had by chance taken refuge in her
own palace; but when she called to mind that
Mary pardoned the executioners of her Son, she
wished also to pardon that criminal for love of
the sorrowful Mary; and not only did she par-
don him, but provided him with a horse, money,
and clothes, that he might make his escape.
Then her son appeared to her, and told her that
he was saved, and that for her generous act
[721] done towards his enemy, the heavenly mo-
ther had delivered him from purgatory, where he
should otherwise have had to suffer for a long
time, but that he was then already entering
paradise.

82. The blessed Bionda performed a similar
heroic act. Some enemies also killed her only
son, though he was innocent, solely by reason
of the hatred they bore to his father, who was
dead; and with unheard-of cruelty gave the
heart of the murdered youth to his mother to
eat. Now she, according to the example of the
most holy Mary, began to pray for her son's mur-
derers, and to do them all the good she could.
These acts so pleased the heavenly mother, that
she called her to join the third order of the Ser-
vites, where she merited to lead so holy a life,
that both before and after her death many
miracles were performed through her.

83. St. Thomas of Canterbury, when he was
a young man, found himself one day in conver-
sation with several other youths, each of whom
boasted of some foolish love affair. The holy
youth declared that he, too, loved a great lady,
and was beloved by her, meaning the most holy
Virgin. Afterwards, he felt some remorse at
having made this boast; but behold, Mary ap-
peared to him in his trouble, and with a gra-
cious sweetness said to him: "Thomas, what do
you fear? You had reason to say that you loved
me, and that you are beloved by me. Assure
your companions of this, and as a pledge of the
[722] love I bear you, show them this gift that I
make you." The gift was a small box, containing
a chasuble, of a blood-red color, as a sign that
Mary, for the love she bore him, had obtained
for him the grace to be a priest and a martyr,
which indeed happened, for he was first made
priest and afterwards Bishop of Canterbury, in
England, where he was at one time persecuted
by the king, and fled to the Cistercian monas-
tery at Pontignac, in France. While he was there,
wishing one day to mend his hair-cloth shirt that
he usually wore, which was ripped, and not being
able to do it well, his beloved queen appeared to
him, and, with especial kindness, took the hair-
cloth from his hand, and repaired it as it should
be done. After this he returned to Canterbury,
and died a martyr, having been put to death on
account of his zeal for the Church.

84. A young woman in the Papal States, who
was very devout towards Mary, met in a certain
place a chief of the bandits. Fearing some out-
rage, she implored him, for love of the most holy
Virgin, not to molest her. "Do not fear," he
answered, "for you have prayed me in the name
of the mother of God; and I only ask you to re-
commend me to her." And, in fact, he accom-
panied her himself along the road to a place
of safety. The following night Mary appeared
in a dream to the bandit, and thanking him for
the act he had performed for love of her, told
him she would remember it, and would one day
[723] reward him. The robber, at length, was ar-
rested, and condemned to death; but behold, the
night previous to his execution, the blessed Vir-
gin visited him again in a dream, and first asked
him: "Do you know who I am?" He answered,
"It seems to me I have seen you before." "I am
the Virgin Mary," she continued, "who have
come to reward you for what you have done for
me. You will die tomorrow, but you will die
with so much contrition that you will come at
once to paradise." The convict awoke, and felt
such contrition for his sins that he began to
weep bitterly, all the while giving thanks aloud
to our blessed Lady. He sent immediately for
a confessor, to whom he made his confession
with many tears, relating the vision he had seen,
and begged him to make public this grace that
had been bestowed on him by Mary. He went
joyfully to execution, after which, as it is relat-
ed, his countenance was so peaceful and happy,
that all who saw him believed that the promise
of the heavenly mother was fulfilled.

85. The blessed Joachim Piccolomini, who
had a very great devotion to Mary, even from
childhood, used to visit three times a day an
image of the sorrowful mother, which was in a
neighboring church, and abstained from all food
on Saturday in her honor. Moreover, he rose
at midnight to meditate upon her sorrows. But
let us see how Mary rewarded him. At first
she appeared to him when he was young, and
directed him to enter into religion in the order
[724] of her Servants, which he did. Towards the
close of his life, she again appeared to him, with
two crowns in her hand : one of rubies, as the
reward of the compassion he had cherished for
her sorrows; and the other of pearls, as the reward
of his chastity which he had consecrated to her.
Finally, at death she appeared to him again,
when he asked of her the favor to die on the
day on which Jesus Christ died, and the most
holy Virgin consoled him by telling him : "Make
ready now, for tomorrow (Friday) you will
die suddenly, as you desire, and tomorrow you
shall be with me in paradise." And thus it hap-
pened, for while they were chanting in the
church the passion according to St. John, at the
words : There stood near the cross of Jesus his
mother : "Stabat juxta crucem Jesu mater ejus,"
he was attacked with the faintness of death;
at the words : And bowing his head he gave
up his spirit: "Et inclinato capite tradidit
spiritum," this blessed one also gave up his
spirit to God; and at the same moment the
church was filled with a great splendor, and
a most sweet fragrance.

86. Father Alphonso Salmerone, of the Society
of Jesus, being a most devout servant of the
blessed Virgin, died saying : "To pardise, to
paradise; blessed be the hour that I have served
Mary! Blessed the sermons, the toils, the thoughts
that I have had for you, oh my Lady! To paradise."

87. A youth named Guido, who wished to join
[725] the order of Camaldoli, was presented to
St. Romuald by the prince, his father, whose
name was Farnulf. The holy founder received
him with pleasure. One day Mary appeared to
this good youth, her servant, with the infant
Jesus in her arms. Esteeming himself unworthy
of such a favor, he stood trembling, but the heav-
enly mother drawing near to him, said : "Why-
do you doubt? What do you fear, Guido? I
am the mother of God, this is my son Jesus, who
wishes to come to you;" and saying this, she
placed him in his arms. Guido had not been
three years in religion when he fell dangerously
ill. St. Romuald saw the poor youth writhing
and trembling, and heard him saying : "Oh
Father, do you see all the Moors in this cell"?
"My son," said the saint to him, "do you remem-
ber any thing you have not confessed?" "Yes,
Father," he answered, " I remember having dis-
obeyed the prior, by not picking up certain
brooms, and now I confess it." St. Romuald
absolved him, and then the scene changed; the
devils fled, and the Virgin again appeared with
Jesus, at the sight of whom Guido died in per-
fect peace.1

88. A Cistercian nun in Toledo, called Mary,
being at the point of death, the Blessed Mother
appeared to her, and Mary said to her: "Oh
Lady, the favor you do me of visiting me em-
boldens me to ask you another favor, namely,
that I may die at the same hour that you died
and entered into heaven. "Yes," answered
[726] Mary. "I will satisfy you; you shall die at
that hour, and you shall hear the songs and
praises with which the blessed accompanied my
entrance into heaven; and now prepare." When
she had said this she disappeared. The religious
who heard the nun talking to herself, believed
her wandering in mind, but she related to them
the vision, and the promised grace, and awaited
the desired hour; and when she knew it had ar-
rived, by the striking of the clock (the writer
does not tell us what hour it was), she said:
"Behold, the predicted hour has come; I hear
the music of the angels; at this hour my queen
ascended into heaven; rest in peace, for I am
going now to see her;" and saying this she expir-
ed, while her eyes became bright as stars, and
her face glowed with a beautiful color.

89. In the city of Sens, in France, there lived
towards the eighth century St. Opportuna, the
daughter of a prince of royal blood. This holy
virgin, who had a great devotion to Mary, be-
came a religious in a neighboring monastery,
and being at the point of death, she saw St. Ce-
cilia and St. Lucia standing beside her in the
dawn of the morning. "My sisters, be welcome,
she said to them; "what message do you bring
me from my queen?" And they answered:
"She is waiting for you in paradise." After
this the devil appeared to her, and the saint
boldly sent him away, saying: "Brute beast,
what have you to do with me who am the ser-
vant of Jesus? " The hour of her death, which
[727] she herself had predicted, having arrived,
after receiving the holy viaticum, she turned tow-
ards the door, and said: "Behold the mother
of God who comes to take me. Sisters, I com-
mend you to her. Adieu, we shall see each oth-
er no more." Thus saying, she raised her arms,
as if to embrace her Lady, and gently expired.

TWO OTHER STORIES

In India a young man who was just about to
[559] leave his apartment in order to commit
sin, heard a voice saying: "Stop, where are you
going? He turned around and saw an image, in
relief, of the sorrowful Mary, who drew out the
sword which was in her breast, and said to him:
"Take this dagger and pierce my heart rather
than wound my Son with this sin." At the sound
of these words the youth prostrated himself on
the ground, and with deep contrition, bursting
into tears, he asked and obtained from God and
the Virgin pardon of his sin.

A young man in Perugia once promised the
devil that if he would help him to commit a sin-
ful act which he desired to do, he would give
him his soul; and he gave him a writing to that
effect, signed with his blood. The evil deed was
committed, and the devil demanded the perfor-
mance of the promise. He led the young man to
a well, and threatened to take him body and soul
[576] to hell if he would not cast himself into it. The
wretched youth, thinking that it would be impos-
sible for him to escape from his enemy, climbed the
well-side in order to cast himself into it, but terri-
fied at the yought of death, he said to the devil
that he had not the courage to throw himself in,
and that, if he wished to see him dead, he himself
should thrust him in. The young man wore
about his neck the scapular of the sorrowing
Mary; and the devil said to him: "Take off that
scapular, and I will thrust you in." But the youth,
seeing the protection which the Mother of God
still gave him through that scapular, refused to
take it off, and after a great deal of altercation,
the devil departed in confusion. The sinner re-
pented, and grateful to his sorrowful mother,
went to thank her, and presented a picture of
this case, as an offering, at her altar in the new
church of Santa Maria, in Perugia.