19. Of the temptation of a certain man, delivered by the advice of the Virgin from the snare of the devil

A certain citizen, an honourable man and a counsellor of the town of Schiedam, was grievously tempted by the devil to cast violent hands upon himself by hanging himself. But he had a priest and a good chaplain, John by name, adorned by the grace of God, who was wont to celebrate Masses before him, and pray for him. As often then as he knew him to be tempted he could scarcely persuade him not to inflict a cruel death upon himself. But since he could not resist the violence of the temptation and his confessor could not keep back the tempted man from the rope, the priest, very anxious because of the danger, came to the virgin for advice ST. LYDWINE of SCHIEDAM and asked what he should do with the tempted man. Then she, knowing that the devil could not bear that the arts of his malice should be turned into arms of salvation, counselled the priest that if the tempted man could not resist the suggestion of the devil he should place upon him as a penance that which the evil enemy suggested for his ruin. Hearing which the confessor, fearing lest he should be the cause of his perdi tion, did not dare tell the tempted man what he was advised. But she, trusting in God, bade him do it with all confi dence in his conscience. When then on one occasion, the priest finding an oppor tunity, did with the tempted man as the virgin advised, the tempted one gave thanks on bended knees that now at length he merited to obtain what he had so long desired. And at once re turning home, fastening a rope to a beam and passing it round his neck he mounted a seat, that being tied he might hang himself. But, O wondrous clemency of God and unspeakable provi dence of divine mercy Who turned the snares of the devil unto the deliverance of His servant on account of the obedi ence of the priest consenting to the ST. LYDWINE of SCHIEDAM advice of the virgin of Christ. The demons therefore, seeing and grudging that he should depart by such a death, violently seizing him with the rope and snatching him away, said, "You shall not hang yourself now." And being furiously enraged they threw him and forced him down behind a chest, between the wall and the chest. And after being much sought for by his servants for the space of nearly three hours, and at length found there to the great astonish ment of all, he was drawn out only by the removal of the chest, and thereafter he remained freed from that temptation.