V. A Collection of Various Examples Pertaining to the Most Holy Mary

Some persons, priding themselves on being free-thinkers, consider it a credit not to believe any miracles except those recorded in Sacred Scripture, reckoning all others practically as tales and old wives' fables. But it is useful here to note a just observation by the learned and pious Father Giovanni Crasset, who says that the more readily good people believe in miracles, the more readily the wicked mock them; adding that just as it is a weakness to give credence to everything, so on the other hand to reject miracles attested by serious and pious men savors either of unbelief -- if one thinks they are impossible to God -- or of rashness, in denying credibility to that sort of author. Can we give credence to a Tacitus and a Suetonius, and deny it without rashness to learned and upright Christian authors? "There is less danger," said Father Canisius, "in believing and receiving what is reported with some probability by honest persons, and not disapproved by the learned, and serves for the edification of our neighbor, than in rejecting it with a contemptuous and rash spirit."

1. *

In Germany a certain man fell into a grave sin. Not wishing to confess it out of shame, yet unable to bear the remorse of his conscience, he went to throw himself into the river; but then he held back and wept, praying God to forgive him without confession. One night while he slept he felt himself shaken by the shoulder with a voice that said to him: "Go, confess." He went to the church but did not confess. Another night he heard the same voice. He returned to the church, but on arriving said that he would rather die than confess that sin. But wanting to go home, he first wished to commend himself to the Most Holy Mary, whose image stood in the same church, and he had scarcely knelt down when he felt himself entirely changed. He rose at once, called the confessor, and weeping abundantly for the grace received from the Virgin, he confessed everything; and afterwards he said he had felt greater joy than if he had gained all the gold in the world.

2. *

A noble young man, traveling by sea, began to read an obscene book to which he was very attached. A religious said to him: "Come, would you give something to Our Lady?" He said yes. "Well then," the other added, "I would like you, for the love of the Holy Virgin, to tear up that book and throw it into the sea." "Here it is, Father," said the young man. "No, I want you yourself to make this gift to Mary." He did so, and the Mother of God, as soon as he returned to Genoa, his homeland, inflamed his heart in such a way that he went and became a religious.

3. *

A hermit on Mount Olivet had in his cell a devout image of Mary, before which he offered many prayers. The devil, unable to bear so much devotion to the Holy Virgin, tormented him continually with impure temptations; so that the poor old hermit, seeing himself unable to be freed from them despite all the prayers and mortifications he practiced, one day said to the enemy: "What have I done to you, that you will not let me live in peace?" Then the devil appeared to him and answered: "The torment you give me is greater than what I give you. Come now," he added, "swear me to secrecy and I will tell you what you must stop doing, and I will trouble you no more." The hermit gave his oath, and then the devil said: "I want you never again to turn to that image you have in your cell." The confused hermit went to take counsel with Abbot Theodore, who told him that he was not bound by the oath, and that he should take care not to leave off commending himself to Mary before that image as he had done before. The hermit obeyed, and the devil was left confounded and defeated.

4. *

There once came to confess to Father Onofrio d'Anna, a pious worker in the Kingdom of Naples, a woman greatly terrified, who had kept a sinful relationship with two young men, one of whom had killed the other out of jealousy. She told the Father that at the very hour that wretched young man died, he had appeared to her dressed in black, bound with chains, sending forth fire from every part, with an iron weapon in his hand; and that raising his arm to cut her throat, she trembled and said: "Ah, so-and-so" -- calling him by name -- "what have I done to you, that you want to kill me?" To this the damned soul, full of rage, answered: "Wretch, wretch, wretch, you ask me what you have done? You have made me lose God!" Then she invoked the Blessed Virgin, and at the sound of the Most Holy Name of Mary, that shade vanished and was seen no more.

5. *

While St. Dominic was preaching in Carcassonne, France, an Albigensian heretic was brought there who, because he publicly discredited the devotion of the Most Holy Rosary, had been possessed by demons. Then the saint commanded the demons in the name of God to declare whether the things he had said about the Most Holy Rosary were true. Howling, they said: "Listen, Christians, all that this enemy of ours has said about Mary and the Most Holy Rosary is entirely true." And they added that they had no power against the servants of Mary, and that at death many, invoking Mary beyond their own merits, were saved. Finally they said: "We are forced to declare that no one who perseveres in the devotion of Mary and of the Most Holy Rosary is damned, because Mary obtains for sinners a true repentance before death." Then St. Dominic had the people recite the Rosary, and -- oh, wonder! -- at each Hail Mary, many demons came out of that wretched man's body in the form of burning coals, until the Rosary was finished and he was completely freed. At this event many heretics converted.

6. *

In a monastery there lived the daughter of a certain prince. Although she was of good disposition, because the spirit in that place was lax, she made little progress in virtue. But having then begun to say the Rosary with the mysteries, as a good confessor had suggested to her, she changed so much that she became the example of all. The other nuns, however, taking offense at her recollection, gave her great trouble to make her abandon the life she had begun. One day, while she was reciting the Rosary, praying Mary to assist her in that persecution, she saw a letter fall from above. On the outside was written: "Mary, Mother of God, to her daughter Joan -- greetings." Inside it read: "My beloved daughter, continue to say my Rosary; withdraw from the company of those who do not help you to live well; guard yourself from idleness and vanity, and remove from your cell two superfluous things, and I will protect you before God." Then the abbot of that monastery came to visit it and tried to reform it, but accomplished nothing. And one day he saw many demons entering every cell of the nuns, but not that of Joan; for the divine Mother was driving them away from there, and he saw Joan praying before her. Learning from her about the devotion of the Rosary and the letter received, he ordered all to say the Rosary; and the story tells that that monastery became a paradise.

7. *

In Rome there lived a woman of ill repute named Catherine the Beautiful. One day, hearing St. Dominic preach the devotion of the Most Holy Rosary, she had herself enrolled in the book of the sisters; she began to say it, but did not give up her sinful life. One evening a young man who appeared to be noble came to visit her. She received him courteously, and while they were at supper together, she saw certain drops of blood fall from the young man's hands as he broke the bread; and then she noticed that all the food he took was stained with blood. She asked him what that blood was. The young man answered that no Christian should take any food that is not stained with the blood of Jesus Christ and seasoned with the memory of his Passion. Amazed at this, she asked who he was. "Presently," he answered, "I will let you know." Then having gone apart into another room, the young man changed his appearance and let himself be seen crowned with thorns, with his flesh all torn, and he said: "Do you wish to know who I am? Do you not know me? I am your Redeemer. Catherine, when will you stop offending me? See how much I have suffered for you. Come now, enough of grieving me; change your life." Then Catherine burst into great weeping, and Jesus said to encourage her: "Come now, love me henceforth as much as you have offended me; and know that you have received this grace from me through the Rosary recited to my Mother." And he vanished. -- Catherine went the next morning to confess to St. Dominic; then she gave to the poor all she had, and she led so holy a life that she reached a high degree of perfection. The Virgin appeared to her several times; and Jesus himself revealed to St. Dominic that this penitent had become very dear to him.

8. *

Blessed Alan relates that there was a lady named Dominica who had formerly recited the Rosary, but having left it off, she fell into such poverty that one day in despair she stabbed herself three times. But while she lay dying and the demons were preparing to carry her to hell, the Most Holy Mary appeared to her and said: "Daughter, you have forgotten me, but I have not wished to forget you, because of that Rosary which for a time you recited to me. Come now," she added, "if you continue to recite it, I will restore your life and also the goods you have lost." Then she rose up healed, and continuing the Rosary, she recovered her possessions; and at death she was visited again by Mary, who praised her faithfulness, and she died a holy death.

9. *

In Saragossa there lived a certain nobleman, but a very wicked man, named Peter, a relative of St. Dominic. While the saint was preaching one day, he saw Peter enter the church and prayed the Lord to show that audience the state of that wretched sinner. And behold, Peter appeared like a monster from hell, dragged and surrounded by many devils. All took to flight -- even his wife, who was in the church, and the servants who accompanied him.

Then St. Dominic sent word to him through a companion to commend himself to Mary and to begin reciting the Rosary he was sending him. When the message was delivered, Peter humbled himself, sent his thanks to the saint, and then he himself was given the grace to see the demons surrounding him. Then he went to confess with many tears to the saint himself, by whom he was assured that he had already been forgiven. And continuing to say the Rosary, he reached so happy a state that one day the Lord caused him to appear in church, in the sight of all, crowned with three wreaths of roses. -- Whoever desires further examples of the Rosary may read those placed in the first part at pages 60, 81, 115, 238, and 273.

10. *

In the mountains of Trent there lived a notorious robber who, when one day admonished by a religious to change his life, answered that there was no longer any remedy for him. "No," said the religious, "do what I tell you: fast on Saturday in honor of Mary, and on that day molest no one, and she will obtain for you the grace of not dying in disgrace with God." The robber followed the good counsel and made a vow of it; and to avoid breaking it, on Saturdays he went unarmed. It happened that on a Saturday he fell in with the officers of the law, and rather than break his vow he let himself be taken without resistance. The judge, seeing him old and white-haired, wished to spare him from death; but he, already touched with compunction through the grace of Mary, said that he wanted to die in punishment for his sins. Then in the very hall of the tribunal he wished to confess in public all the sins of his life, and with such tears that everyone wept for tenderness. He was beheaded, and a grave being dug, he was buried with little ceremony. But then the Mother of God was seen, who through four holy virgins had the body taken from that place and wrapped in a rich cloth embroidered with gold; and she herself having carried it to the gate of the city, the Madonna said to the guards: "Tell the bishop in my name to give an honorable burial in such-and-such a church to this deceased man, for he was my faithful servant." And so it was done, the whole population having gathered at that place, where they found the body with the rich pall and bier where it lay. And from then on, Caesarius says, all in that region began to fast on Saturdays.

11. *

A devoted servant of Mary in Portugal practiced throughout his life the fast of bread and water every Saturday in honor of Mary, and took as his advocates before her St. Michael and St. John the Evangelist. When he came to die, the Queen of Heaven appeared to him with those saints who prayed for him, and the Holy Virgin, looking at her servant with a cheerful face, replied to those saints: "I will not depart from here without taking this soul with me."

12.

To one of the Fathers of our Congregation, during a mission, after the sermon on Mary that we customarily give, an old man of many years came to confess, all consoled, saying: "Father, Our Lady has given me the grace." "What grace has she given you?" the confessor asked. "Know, Father," he answered, "that for thirty-five years I have confessed sacrilegiously, being ashamed of a sin, although I have passed through so many dangers and have been several times at the point of death, and if I had died then I would certainly have been damned; and now Our Lady has given me the grace of touching my heart." And he said this weeping with so many tears that it was moving. The Father, having now heard his confession, asked him what devotion he had practiced. He said he had never failed on Saturdays to abstain from dairy products in honor of Mary, and that for this the Virgin had taken pity on him. And he gave the Father permission to preach the story.

13. *

In Normandy a certain robber had his head cut off by his enemies, but the head, after being thrown into a valley, was heard to cry: "Mary, let me have confession!" A priest came running and heard his confession, and on asking him what devotion he had practiced, the robber answered that he had done nothing else than always fast on one day of the week in honor of the Holy Virgin, and that for this the Madonna had obtained for him the grace of being delivered from hell by that confession.

14. *

Two noble young men lived in the city of Madrid, and one helped the other to lead a foul and vice-ridden life. One of them saw in a dream one night that his friend was seized by certain dark men and carried to a tempestuous sea. They wanted to do the same with him, but he had recourse to Mary, making a vow to become a religious, and he saw himself freed from those Moors. Then he saw Jesus on his throne in anger, and the Holy Virgin who obtained mercy for him. When the other friend came to see him, he told him the vision, and his friend made fun of it; but at that very moment he was killed with daggers. The young man, seeing the vision come true, went to confession and confirmed his resolution to become a religious; and to that end he sold all he had. But instead of giving the money to the poor as he had proposed, he spent it on feasting and impurity. He then fell ill and had another vision: he seemed to see hell opened and the divine Judge already condemning him to it. He had recourse again to Mary, and Mary again freed him. He recovered and went on worse than before. He then went to Lima in the Indies, where relapsing into illness and lying in a hospital, he was again touched by God and confessed to Father Francisco Perlino, a Jesuit, to whom he promised to change; but he did not keep his promise either. Finally one day the same Father, entering another distant hospital, saw that wretch stretched out on the ground, who exclaimed: "Ah, wretched me! To my greater punishment this Father has come here to witness my chastisement. From Lima I came here, where on account of my vices I am reduced to this state, and now I am going to hell." And so saying, he breathed his last, without the Father even having time to help him.

15. *

In Germany a certain criminal was condemned to death, but he obstinately refused to confess. A Jesuit Father -- what did he not do to convert him? He begged him, wept, threw himself at his feet; but he saw he was wasting his time. Finally he said to him: "Come, let us recite together a Hail Mary." The condemned man did so, and behold, he began to weep bitterly, confessed with great sorrow, and wished to die clasping an image of Mary.

16. *

In a city of Spain there was a wicked man who had given himself wholly to the devil and had never confessed; the only good thing he did was to say a Hail Mary every day. Father Eusebio Nieremberg relates that when this man was dying, the Holy Virgin appeared to him in a dream and gazed at him, and the merciful eyes of Mary changed him so that he immediately sent for a confessor, to whom he confessed with a flood of tears, and he made a vow to become a religious if he lived, and so he died.

17. *

A mother devoted to Mary always urged her daughter to recite the Hail Mary often, especially in any danger. It happened that this daughter, while resting one day after leaving a dance, was assailed by the devil, who visibly sought to carry her away and had already seized her; but on her saying the Hail Mary, the enemy vanished.

18. *

A woman in Cologne, keeping up a sinful friendship with a priest, one day found him hanged in his room. After this she entered a monastery, where the devil troubled her, even visibly, and she no longer knew what to do to free herself. A companion suggested that she say the Hail Mary, and on doing so, the devil said: "Cursed be the one who taught you that!" And he appeared no more.

19. *

A certain captain of evil life was in his castle when a good religious happened to come there. Enlightened at that moment by God, the religious asked the captain to have all his servants brought there. All came, but the valet was missing. When this man was finally brought by force, the Father said to him: "Come now, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to say who you are." He answered: "I am a devil from hell, who for fourteen years have served this wretch, waiting for the day when he would leave off those seven Hail Marys he has been accustomed to recite, so as to strangle him and carry him to the fire." Then the religious commanded the demon to depart, which he did, vanishing at once; and the captain threw himself at his feet, converted, and afterwards led a holy life.

20. *

Blessed Francesco Patrizi, most devoted to the Hail Mary, recited five hundred every day. Mary gave him advance notice of the hour of his death, so that he died a saint. And after forty years, a most beautiful lily was seen to grow from his mouth -- which was later taken to France -- on whose petals the Hail Mary was inscribed in letters of gold.

21. *

Caesarius relates that a Cistercian lay brother could say nothing but the Hail Mary, and he recited it continuously with great devotion. After his death, a tree grew from the place where he was buried, on whose leaves was written: Ave Maria, gratia plena.

22. *

Three devout virgins, in preparation for the feast of the Purification of Mary and on the counsel of their confessor, recited the entire Rosary for forty days during one year. When the vigil came, the divine Mother appeared to the first sister in a rich garment embroidered with gold, and thanking her, she blessed her. Then she appeared to the second sister in a plain garment and also thanked her. But that one said: "And why, my Lady, did you come to my sister in a richer garment?" "Because," Mary replied, "she clothed me more richly than you did." Then she appeared to the third sister in a garment of sackcloth, and that one asked pardon for her lukewarmness in honoring her. -- The following year all three prepared themselves well for the feast, saying the Rosary with great devotion. And behold, on the night before the feast, Mary appeared to them in full splendor and said: "Prepare yourselves, for tomorrow you will come to paradise." As indeed, on the following day, having told their confessor in church, where they received communion in the morning, at the hour of Compline they again saw the Most Holy Virgin who came to take them, and amid the songs of the angels, one after the other, they gently breathed their last.

23. *

Father Crasset relates that a certain military commander told him that once, after a battle, he found on the field a soldier holding a rosary and a scapular of Mary in his hand, asking for a confessor. He had a musket ball through his forehead, which had come out the back of his head, so that the brain could be seen oozing from both sides; thus naturally he could not have been alive. He rose, confessed to the chaplain with great feeling, and after receiving absolution, he immediately expired.

24. *

The same author adds that the same captain told him that, being present when a pistol was fired at a trumpeter of the company by someone standing near him, he went to see the wound in the man's chest where he said he was hit, and found that the ball had stopped on the scapular of the Virgin that he wore, without touching the flesh; so he took it and showed it to everyone.

25. *

A noble young man named Eschillus, having been sent by his father the prince to the city of Hildesheim in Saxony to study, gave himself over to a dissolute life. He then fell gravely ill, to the point that he received the last sacraments. In this extremity he had a vision. He found himself shut up in a furnace of fire and already believed himself to be in hell; but then he seemed to escape by chance through a hole and take refuge in a great palace, in whose hall he saw the Most Holy Mary, who said to him: "Rash man, you dare to appear before me? Go away, leave this place and go to the fire as you deserve." The young man then begged the Virgin for mercy and turned to some persons he saw in that place, asking them to commend him to Mary. They did so, and the divine Mother replied: "But do you not know the dissolute life this man has led, and that he has not deigned to say even one Hail Mary to me?" The advocates replied: "Lady, he will change his life." And the young man added: "Yes, I promise to amend truly, and I will be your devoted servant." And then the Virgin, calming her displeasure, said to him: "Very well, I accept your promise; be faithful to me, and in the meantime, with my blessing, be free from hell and from death." And with that, the vision vanished; and Eschillus, coming to himself, blessing Mary, told the others of the grace received; and leading from that time forward a holy life, always preserving a great devotion to the Madonna, he was made Archbishop of the Church of Lund in Denmark, where he converted many to the faith; and at the end of his life, being old, he resigned the archbishopric and became a monk at Clairvaux, where he lived four years and died a holy death. Whence he was numbered by authors among the saints of Citeaux.

26. *

A certain brother of the Congregation of Mary was invited by a friend to dine with him one morning. He promised to go, but wished first to attend the Congregation; afterwards he forgot the promise. The friend took such offense that on meeting him he went to kill him, but by the just judgment of God he killed himself. The brother was at once arrested by the law, believed guilty of the man's death, and was condemned to die. He commended himself to the Virgin, and inspired by her, he had himself brought before the dead man, to whom he asked how he had died; and the dead man confessed that he had killed himself, and the brother was set free.

27. *

In the year 1604, at Dole, a brother lay gravely ill. One feast day, he said: "At this hour my brothers are in the Congregation praising Mary, and I am here?" He rose, went to the Congregation, and at once the fever left him, and he returned home well.

28. *

Another brother, a fisherman in Naples, was bedridden for many days because of the disciplines practiced in the Congregation. Having somewhat recovered, being poor and with a family, he returned to fishing, saying to the Most Holy Virgin: "My Lady, I have suffered this loss on your account; help me." The Madonna caused him to catch as much fish as he could have caught in all the time he had lost.

29. *

Another brother was about to be thrown in prison for being unable to pay his creditors. He commended himself to Mary, and the Most Holy Virgin inspired six of his creditors to release him from his debt, and so it happened.

30. *

A young man who used to attend the Congregation of the Virgin left it and gave himself over to a dissolute life. One night the devil appeared to him in a terrifying form; he invoked the Madonna. "In vain," said the enemy, "do you invoke the one you have abandoned; you are mine on account of your sins." The young man, trembling, knelt down and began to recite the formula of the brothers: "Most Holy Virgin Mother," and so forth. Then the Mother of God appeared, at whose sight the devil fled, leaving a great stench and an opening in the wall. And Mary, turning to the young man, said to him: "You did not deserve my help, but I have wished to show you mercy, provided you change your life and return to the Congregation." The next morning he confessed with great tears and returned to the Congregation.

31. *

In Braganza there was another young man who, having left the Congregation, abandoned himself to so many vices that one day in despair he went to throw himself into a river. But before throwing himself in, he turned to the Madonna, saying: "O Mary, I served you in the Congregation; help me." The Most Holy Virgin appeared to him and said: "And what are you about to do now? Do you wish to lose your soul and your body? Go, confess, and return to the Congregation." The young man, thus brought to his senses, thanked the Virgin and changed his life.

32. *

A certain religious in Spain, one day driven by anger, killed his superior. After this crime he fled to Barbary, where he renounced the faith and took a wife. Leading so unworthy a life, the only good thing he did was to say a Salve Regina every day. One day, while alone, he said his Salve, and behold, Mary appeared to him, reproached him and encouraged him to change his life, promising him her help. He then went home, where his wife, seeing him afflicted, questioned him, and weeping he told her of his state and the vision he had had. She, taking pity on him, gave him money for the return journey and also one of the children she had by him. He returned to the monastery, where he wept so much that he was received back into the religious life together with his son; and he persevered and died with the reputation of a saint.

33. *

A student, at the instruction of his teacher, began to greet the Holy Virgin with these words: "God save you, O Mother of Mercy." When he came to die, Mary appeared to him and said: "My son, do you not know me? I am that Mother of Mercy whom you have greeted so many times." And then the devotee of the Virgin stretched out his arms as if to follow her and gently expired.

34. *

A certain sinner lived in sin and had no other devotion than to recite every day the Sub tuum praesidium. One day the Virgin so enlightened him that, leaving his evil life, he entered a religious order where he lived fifty years an exemplary life, and so he died.

35. *

In Turin in 1610 there was a stubborn heretic who, though at the point of death, would not even convert, no matter what the many priests who attended him for eight straight days said. Finally one of them practically forced him to have recourse to Mary with these words: Mater Iesu, assiste mihi. Then the heretic, as if awakened from sleep, said: "I wish to die a Catholic." And indeed, reconciled with the Church, he died within two hours.

36. *

Another infidel in the Indies, lying at death, abandoned by all, and having heard Christians praise the power of Mary so highly, had recourse to her. The Virgin appeared to him and said: "Here I am; I am the one you invoke. Go, become a Christian." He immediately felt himself healed and was baptized; and many were converted by this prodigy.

37. *

A certain man in Madrid in the year 1610, being most devoted to Mary and especially to an image called Our Lady of Antioch, married a woman who, out of jealousy and suspicion, gave him no rest. Every Saturday he would go barefoot in the early morning to visit that image; but his wife, believing he went elsewhere, on one occasion in particular loaded him with so many insults that he, blinded by impatience, took a rope and hanged himself. But as he was about to breathe his last, when perhaps he could no longer help himself, he invoked Mary, and behold, he saw before him a most beautiful lady who drew near and cut the rope. The people outside the door noticed, and then he told the story. At this the wife too was changed, and from then on they lived in peace and devoted to the divine Mother.

38. *

A certain man of Valencia in the year 1613 fell into a sin that he was then too ashamed to confess; so he made sacrilegious confessions. But unable to bear the remorse of his conscience, one day he went to visit Our Lady of Halle to obtain help. Arriving at the door of the church, which stood open, he found himself pushed back by an invisible force. He then resolved to confess, and immediately entered; he confessed completely and went home all consoled.

39. *

Blessed Adam, a Cistercian, going one evening to visit the Holy Virgin in a church, found the doors closed. He knelt outside to salute her; but he had scarcely knelt down when he saw the doors open. He entered and saw the Queen of Heaven in the midst of a great splendor, who said to him: "Adam, come here; do you know who I am?" Adam answered: "No, my Lady; who are you?" "I am," she said, "the Mother of God. Know that for the service you render me, I will always care for you." And placing her blessed hand on his head, she freed him from a great pain that the blessed man had been suffering there.

40. *

A woman devoted to Mary, having gone one day to visit a church of the Madonna without her husband's knowledge, was prevented by a great storm from returning home that night. She feared greatly that her husband would be very angry. She therefore commended herself to Mary; she returned home and found her husband all kindly and in good spirits. In short, inquiring and asking around, she discovered that the divine Mother had taken her form the evening before and had done all the housework like a servant. She then told her husband everything that had happened, and both lived ever after most devoted to the Blessed Virgin.

41. *

A certain knight of the city of Doul in France named Ansaldo received in battle an arrow that so entered the bone of his jaw that it was impossible to extract the iron. After four years, being unable to bear the pain any longer and being besides gravely ill, he was thinking of reopening the wound to extract the iron. He then commended himself to the Blessed Virgin and made a vow to visit a devout image in that place and to give a certain sum annually if he received the grace. He had scarcely made the vow when he felt the iron fall of itself into his mouth. The next day, ill as he was, he went to visit the image, and no sooner had he placed the promised money on the altar than he found himself completely cured of his illness as well.

42. *

In Spain there was a man who kept sinful company with a relative. While a devout virgin was at prayer, she saw Jesus enthroned, about to send the guilty man to hell; but his Holy Mother, saying that this man had formerly honored her, obtained for him thirty days to repent. So the woman, by order of the divine Mother herself, went and told everything to her confessor, who, revealing all to the young man, made him at once confess with many tears and promise to amend. But because he did not remove the occasion of sin, which was in his own house, he returned to his vomit. He came to confess again, again promised, but again fell. The Father, not seeing him anymore, went to find him at home; but the man dismissed him rudely. On the last of the thirty days, the Father returned, but in vain; so he asked the servants to inform him of any trouble. And behold, that night the wretch was seized with great pains. The Father was called, came running, and tried to help him, but the unhappy man, saying: "Ah, I am dying of a lance thrust in the heart!" gave a despairing cry and so expired.

43. *

A certain gambler lived in Milan, named Masaccio, so lost that one day he even gambled away his clothes; and in his fury he struck with a knife an image of the Virgin. From the wound there burst a jet of blood that splashed his face. He was so moved that he began to weep, thanked Mary who had obtained for him time for repentance, and became a Cistercian; reaching, by the good life he led from then on, even the gift of prophecy. And after forty years of religious life, he died a holy death.

44. *

A great sinner, weeping one day at the feet of a Crucifix, begged him for a sign of pardon. But not receiving the desired sign, he turned to Mary in her sorrows, who then appeared; and he saw her present his tears to her Son, saying: Fili, istae lacrimae peribunt? -- "My Son, shall these tears be in vain?" And then he heard that Christ was already forgiving him; and from that time he lived a holy life.

45. *

To a Father of ours named Don Cesare Sportelli -- recently deceased with a reputation for sanctity and found incorrupt after many months -- during a mission, a man of advanced age came to confess after our customary sermon on the powerful intercession of Mary, which we always give during missions. Kneeling before the confessor, he said: "Father, Our Lady has given me the grace." "That is her way," the Father answered. "But," the man replied, "you will not be able to absolve me, because I have never confessed in my life." And indeed, though he was a Catholic, he had never confessed. The Father encouraged him, heard his confession, and absolved him with great consolation.

46. *

Blessed Bernard Tolomei, founder of the Olivetan Fathers, who was most devoted to Mary from childhood, was one day greatly distressed in his hermitage of Accona, called Mount Olivet, fearing that he would not be saved and that God had not yet forgiven him. The divine Mother appeared to him and said: "Why do you fear, my son? Be glad; God has already forgiven you and is pleased with the life you lead. Continue, for I will help you and you will be saved." The blessed man continued to live a holy life until he had a happy death in the arms of Mary.

47. *

In the region of Teutonia a young woman named Agnes fell into sin with her own father. She left while pregnant and fled to a desert, where she gave birth. Then the devil appeared to her in the form of a religious and made her throw the child into a pond. He then urged her to throw herself in too. Hearing this, the woman said: "Mary, help me!" -- and the devil vanished.

48. *

A soldier was taking his wife to the devil in a forest, according to the promise he had made him, on condition that the devil would provide him with money. They passed before a church of the Virgin. The woman then begged her husband to let her greet Mary in that church. She went in, but instead of her, the divine Mother came out; having taken on the woman's likeness, she mounted the horse. When they reached the forest, the devil said to the husband: "Traitor, instead of your wife, you bring me the Mother of God, my enemy!" "And you," Mary replied, "how did you dare to wish to harm my devoted servant? Go, flee to hell." And turning to the man, she said: "Change your life, and I will help you." And she vanished. The wretched man then came to his senses and changed his life for the better.

49. *

In Mexico there was a sinful woman who, having fallen ill, repented and made a vow to Mary that if she recovered she would offer her hair as a gift. She recovered, brought the hair, and they made a wig for the statue of the Virgin. But the woman, relapsing into sin, fell ill again and died impenitent. A day later Mary spoke from that image to Father Giammaria Salvaterra, a Jesuit, in the presence of a great crowd, and said: "Take from my head this hair, which belongs to a damned and impure soul, and is not fitting on the head of the Mother of purity." And so the Father did, throwing it then and there into the fire.

50. *

Many Christians in Spain, having been made slaves by a Saracen named Petran, commended themselves to the Holy Virgin. And Mary appeared to the Saracen and said to him: "Petran, how dare you hold my devoted servants as slaves? Release them at once; obey." "And who are you, that I should obey you?" the Moor answered. "I am," she said, "the Mother of God; and because those men have had recourse to me, I wish you to give them their freedom." Then Petran felt himself changed. He went and freed the Christians, and then offered himself to the Virgin; and Mary, first instructing him, baptized him herself in a fountain, where a church and a Benedictine monastery were afterwards built.

51. *

A certain canon, while reciting praises to the divine Mother, fell into the river Seine and drowned; and because he was in mortal sin, the demons came to carry him to hell. But Mary appeared at that same moment and said to them: "How dare you carry off this man, who died while he was praising me?" Then, turning to the sinner, she said: "Amend your life, and be devoted to my Conception." He returned to life, became a religious, and never ceased to thank his deliverer and to spread everywhere devotion to her Immaculate Conception.

52. *

While the monks of Clairvaux were harvesting in the fields and praising the Queen of Heaven, the Most Holy Mary was seen caressing them, and two other saints were wiping their sweat.

53. *

The brother of the King of Hungary recited the Office of Mary every day. Once, having fallen gravely ill, he made a vow to the Virgin of chastity if she would spare his life, and immediately recovered. But when his brother died, he married a young woman; and while the wedding was about to be celebrated, he withdrew to a room to say his usual Office. Coming to the words Quam pulchra es et decora, he saw Mary, who said to him: "And if I am as beautiful as you say, why do you now leave me for another bride? Know that if you leave this one, you will have me for your bride, and the kingdom of heaven instead of the kingdom of Hungary." After this, the prince fled to a desert near Aquileia, where he lived a holy life.

54. *

St. John Climacus relates that there was a devout religious called Carcerius who used to sing songs in praise of Mary and always greeted all her images with a Hail Mary. Then he fell into so painful an illness that in his agony he bit his lips and tongue. Having lost the power of speech, he was already at the end of his life. But while they were commending his soul, the Mother of God appeared and said: "I have come to heal you, for I cannot bear that you should suffer in that mouth with which you have praised me so much. Be well now and continue to praise me." And saying this, she sprinkled a few drops of her milk on him. He immediately recovered, and for the rest of his life he never ceased to praise her, until visited again by his Lady at his death, he died gently in her hands.

55. *

While St. Francis Borgia was in Rome, an ecclesiastic came to speak with him. The saint, being busy, sent Father Acosta, to whom the man said: "Father, I am a priest and preacher; but living in sin and despairing of the divine mercy, one day after having preached a sermon against the obstinate who then despair of pardon, a man came to confess to me and told me all my own sins, and finally said that he despaired of the divine mercy. To fulfill my duty, I told him to change his life and trust in God. Then that penitent rose to his feet and rebuked me: 'And you who preach thus to others, why do you not amend and stop despairing? Now know,' he said, 'that I am an angel come for your help; amend and you will be forgiven.' And saying this, he vanished. I abstained from my impure vices for a few days, but when the occasion came I returned to sin. Another day, while I was celebrating Mass, Jesus Christ spoke to me audibly from the Host: 'Why do you maltreat me so, while I treat you so well?' After this I resolved to amend, but at the next occasion I fell again. A few hours ago, while I was in my room, a young man came to me, drew from under his cloak a chalice, and from this a consecrated Host, saying: 'Do you know this Lord I hold in my hand? Do you remember the many graces he has given you? Here then is the punishment for your ingratitude.' And saying this, he drew a sword to kill me. Then I cried out: 'For the love of Mary, do not kill me, for I truly wish to amend!' And he said to me: 'This means alone has been able to save you; know how to use it, for this is the last mercy for you.' And saying this, he left me, and I have come at once and beg to be received among you." Father Acosta consoled him, and the priest, on the advice also of St. Francis, entered another observant religious order, where he persevered a holy life until death.

56. *

In the year 1228, while a priest was celebrating Mass on a Saturday in honor of the Most Holy Mary, some Albigensian heretics came and cut out his tongue. In this condition he went to the monastery of Cluny, where those good religious received him with much charity, pitying the pain he continued to suffer from the severed tongue. But the greatest sorrow of the devout priest was that he could no longer say Mass or recite the Divine Office and the Office of the Virgin as he used to. When Epiphany came, he had himself carried to the church, where before the altar of the Holy Virgin he begged her to restore the tongue he had lost for love of her, so that he might praise her as before. And behold, Mary appeared to him with a tongue in her hand and said: "Since you lost your tongue for the faith and to give honor to me, I give you a new one." And saying this, with her own hands she placed the tongue in his mouth; and at once the priest, raising his voice, recited the Hail Mary. The monks came running, and the priest, now become a religious, wished to stay among them, to continue always praising his benefactress. And all could see the mark of the scar remaining on his tongue.

57. *

In the year 589 there was in Rome that famous plague in which men, upon sneezing, would fall dead. St. Gregory the Great, carrying in procession the image of St. Mary Major through the city, at the place now called Castel Sant'Angelo, saw an angel in the air sheathing a sword dripping with blood. Then he heard the angels singing: Regina caeli, laetare, alleluia, quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia, resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia. And then St. Gregory added: Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia. The plague ceased at once, and from that time the Greater Litanies began to be celebrated every year on the 25th of April.

58. *

A small city of France called Avenon was once besieged by enemies. The citizens, praying Mary to defend them, placed at the city gate an image of hers taken from a church. One of the citizens had hidden behind the image, and an enemy soldier shot an arrow at him, saying: "Now that image will not save you from death." But the image bent its knee, on which the arrow stuck fast (as may be seen to this day), and so saved the life of its devotee. And at this prodigy the enemies also raised the siege.

59. *

In Naples there was a Moorish slave of Don Ottavio del Monaco who, despite being urged to leave the Mohammedan sect, remained obstinate; but he never failed every evening to light at his own expense a lamp before an image of Mary that was in that house. And he would say: "I hope that this Lady will grant me a great grace." One night the Blessed Virgin appeared to him and told him to become a Christian. The Turk still resisted; but she, placing her hand on his shoulder and saying: "Come now, Abel, resist no more; be baptized and take the name Joseph" -- the next morning he immediately had himself instructed and was baptized on the 10th of August 1648, together with eleven other Turks. Note: when the divine Mother appeared to him, after converting him, she made as if to leave, but the Moor took hold of her mantle and said: "My Lady, when I find myself afflicted, I beg you to let me see you." And she promised him this; and indeed, once when he was in trouble he called her, and Mary again let herself be seen and consoled him entirely, saying: "Be patient."

60. *

A certain parish priest of Asella named Baldwin became a Dominican. While in the novitiate, he was tempted to think that he could do more good in the world in his parish, and he had already resolved to return there. But going to take his leave before the altar of the Rosary, Mary appeared to him with two vessels of wine. She gave him the first to drink, but the novice, having scarcely tasted it, turned his mouth away, because although the wine was good, it was full of sediment. The second, he said, was good wine and without sediment. "Just so," said the Most Holy Virgin, "the life in the world differs from the life in religion that you lead under obedience." And Baldwin persevered and died a good religious.

61. *

Another novice, also overcome by temptation, went to leave the monastery, but pausing to say a Hail Mary before an image of the Virgin, he found himself nailed down, unable to rise. Then, coming to his senses, he made a vow to persevere; and then freely he rose, asked pardon of the master, and persevered.

62. *

Blessed Clement, a Franciscan, one morning left off going to the common table in order to stay and recite certain devotions of his to the Most Holy Virgin; but she said to him from an image: Go with the others, for obedience pleases me more than all other devotions.

63. *

While Angela, daughter of the King of Bohemia, was in a monastery, Mary appeared to her, and an angel said: "Rise, Angela, and flee to Jerusalem, for your father wishes to give you as wife to the Prince of Hungary." The devout maiden departed at once, and during the journey the divine Mother appeared to her again and encouraged her to continue. She was then received among the Carmelites in Jerusalem, and afterwards the Blessed Virgin herself commanded her to return to her homeland, where she lived a holy life until death.

64. *

St. Gregory relates that there was a young woman named Musa, very devoted to the Mother of God; but because the bad example of her companions put her in danger of losing her innocence, one day Mary appeared to her with many women saints and said: "Musa, do you also wish to come with these?" When she answered yes, the Virgin added: "Very well, withdraw from your companions and prepare, for in one month you will come." Musa indeed withdrew and told of the vision. When the thirtieth day came, she was reduced to the point of death; and behold, the Most Holy Virgin appeared to her once more, and calling her, and she responding: "Here I am, my Lady, I come," she gently expired.

65. *

Anna Caterina Gonzaga was first the wife of Ferdinand I, Archduke of Austria. After her husband's death, she entered the religious order of the Servants of Mary and had a rosary made on whose beads were carved the sorrows of the Virgin, and she used to say that for this rosary she renounced all other crowns of earth. And indeed she refused the marriage offer of Rudolf II, Emperor. And when told that her younger sister had been crowned Empress, she replied: "Let my sister enjoy her imperial crown, for a thousand times dearer to me is this habit with which my Queen Mary has honored me." The Most Holy Virgin appeared to her several times during her life, and at last this good religious made a holy death.

66. *

A certain cleric, playing ball with other young men and fearing he might lose a ring given him by a woman, went and placed it on the finger of an image of Mary that stood there. He then felt himself urged to promise the Virgin that he would renounce the world and choose her as his bride. He made the promise, and behold, Mary closed her finger as if to accept the promise. But some time later, wishing to marry another woman, Mary appeared to him and reproached him for his infidelity; so he fled to a desert, where he lived a holy life until the end.

67. *

About the year 850, Berengarius, Bishop of Verdun in Lorraine, going one day into the church where a certain priest named Bernerius was reciting the Office of Mary prostrate before the choir, stumbled over him; and overcome by impatience, he gave him a kick. That night the Most Holy Virgin appeared to him and said: "How is it that you kicked my servant while he was praising me? Come now," she added, "because I love you, I want you to pay the penalty." And then his leg withered. He lived and died a saint; and after many years his body was found entirely incorrupt, except for that leg.

68. *

A young man, left rich after his parents' death, through gambling and feasting with friends squandered all he had -- though he always preserved his virginity. An uncle, seeing him reduced to poverty by his vices, urged him to say a part of the Rosary every day, promising that if he persevered in this, he would arrange a good marriage for him. The young man persevered, and having already changed his life, on the evening of the wedding he rose from the table to recite his Rosary. At the end of it, Mary appeared to him and said: "I wish to repay you for the homage you have offered me. I do not want you to lose your virginity; in three days you will die and come with me to paradise." And so it happened; a fever immediately overtook him; he told of the vision; and on the third day he died with the utmost joy.

69. *

The devout author of the book Secret for Every Grace, in praise of the Most Holy Rosary, relates that when St. Vincent Ferrer said to a dying man in despair: "Why do you wish to damn yourself, when Jesus Christ wishes to save you?" the man answered that in spite of Christ he wished to be damned. And the saint replied: "And you, in spite of yourself, shall be saved." He began the Rosary with those in the house, and behold, the sick man asked for confession, confessed weeping, and so died.

70. *

He further relates that in the last earthquake a poor woman was buried under a house that fell on her. A priest had the stones removed, and underneath they found this mother with her children in her arms, all safe and sound. When asked what devotion she had practiced, she said she had never failed to say the Rosary and to visit its chapel.

71. *

He further relates that another woman was in a sinful relationship, thinking she could not otherwise support herself. She was advised to commend herself to Mary through the Rosary. She did so, and one night the divine Mother appeared to her and said: "Leave the sin, and as for your livelihood, trust in me; I will see to it." The next morning she went to confession, left the sin, and the Most Holy Mary provided well for her.

72. *

A sinner could not bring himself to abstain from the sin of impurity; he began to say the Rosary and was freed from it.

73. *

Another person, keeping a sinful friendship, by saying the Rosary felt a horror of the sin. He relapsed a few more times, but through the Rosary he was finally freed from it entirely.

74. *

Another woman lay dying, hating her husband. A good priest who attended her, no longer knowing what to do to convert her, withdrew to say the Rosary. At the last decade, the woman came to herself, repented, and forgave her husband.

75. *

Finally, the aforesaid author relates that having once preached a mission to the convicts in the galleys of Naples, some were obstinate in refusing to confess. He urged them to at least have themselves enrolled in the Confraternity of the Rosary and to begin reciting it. They did so, and having scarcely finished one Rosary, they asked to confess and did confess, after not having confessed for many years. -- These modern examples serve to revive our confidence in Mary, seeing that she is at present the same as she has always been toward those who have recourse to her.

76. *

St. Gregory relates that a holy prelate, Bishop of Ferentino, was inclined to almsgiving from childhood. It happened one day that a certain priest, his nephew, having sold a horse for ten gold pieces, took the money and locked it in a chest. But the bishop, asked by the poor and having nothing to give, broke open the chest and distributed the money to them. On learning this, the nephew made such an uproar that the holy prelate, not knowing what to do, had recourse to a church of Mary. And behold, on the garment of the image he saw ten gold pieces; he took them and gave them to his nephew.

77. *

A Lutheran woman in Augsburg, Germany, who was extremely obstinate, passing one day by a little Catholic chapel, was moved by curiosity to enter. She saw there an image of Mary with the Infant Jesus in her arms and felt moved to make her a gift. She went home, took a silk cloth, and brought it to her. After returning home, the Most Holy Virgin enlightened her to recognize the falseness of her sect; so she went at once to find the Catholics, abjured heresy, and converted to God.

78. *

In the city of Cesena there were two sinful friends. One of them, named Bartholomew, amid all his vices preserved the devotion of reciting every day to Our Lady of Sorrows the hymn Stabat Mater. One day, while reciting this hymn, Bartholomew had a vision in which he found himself in a lake of fire together with his evil companion, and he saw the Most Holy Virgin who, moved with pity, held out her hand, drew him out of the fire, and counseled him to seek pardon of Jesus Christ, who showed that he forgave him through the prayers of his Mother. When the vision ended, Bartholomew at that very moment received the news that his friend had been killed by a gunshot, and so he knew the truth of the vision. He then left the world and entered the Capuchin order, where he led a most austere life and died with the reputation of sanctity.

79. *

Blessed Jerome, founder of the Somascan Fathers, while serving as governor of a certain place, was captured by enemies and shut up in the depths of a tower. He turned to Mary, making a vow to visit her in Treviso if she freed him. Then the Most Holy Virgin appeared to him in the midst of a great light and with her own hands unchained him and gave him the keys of the prison. Having come out and set off for Treviso to fulfill his vow, after a few steps he found himself in the midst of enemies. Again he had recourse to his liberator, and she, again appearing, took him by the hand and led him through the midst of the enemies, accompanying him to the very gates of Treviso, and vanished. He made his visit, left at the foot of the altar of Mary the chains of his imprisonment, and from then on gave himself to a holy life; whence he has recently merited to be placed by Holy Church among the number of the blessed.

80. *

A priest very devoted to Our Lady of Sorrows used to shut himself alone in a little church, spending time in solitude compassionating the sorrows of his Lady, and out of compassion he would with a cloth wipe the tears of a statue of the sorrowful Virgin that stood there. Now this priest, during a grave illness, was given up by the doctors; but while near death, he saw before him a beautiful lady who consoled him with her words, and with a handkerchief gently wiped the sweat from his brow, and by this healed him. Then the priest, finding himself well, said: "But, my Lady, who are you that show me such charity?" "I am," replied Mary, "the one whose tears you have so often wiped." And she vanished.

81. *

A noble lady who had an only son was one day informed that her son had been killed and the killer had by chance taken refuge in her own palace. Considering that Mary forgave the crucifiers of her Son, she too wished to forgive that man for the love of Our Lady of Sorrows. And not only did she forgive him, but she provided him with a horse, money, and clothing so that he might escape. Then her son appeared to her and told her he had been saved, and that for that generous act toward his enemy, the divine Mother had freed him from purgatory, where he would otherwise have suffered for a long time, and that he was now going to paradise.

82. *

A similar heroic act was performed by Blessed Bionda. Certain enemies killed the only son she had, who was innocent, solely out of hatred for his already deceased father. And with unheard-of barbarity they secretly gave the poor mother the heart of the slain youth to eat. She, after the example of the Most Holy Mary, set herself to pray for the murderers and to do them as many kindnesses as she could. The divine Mother so appreciated this act that she called her to join the Third Order of the Servants, where she merited to lead so holy a life that both in life and in death she wrought many miracles.

83. *

St. Thomas of Canterbury, finding himself one day as a young man in the company of other youths, each of whom was perhaps boasting of some foolish love, the saintly young man declared that he too loved a great lady and was loved by her -- meaning the Most Holy Virgin. Then he felt some remorse for having boasted of it. While in this distress, Mary appeared to him and with gentle grace said: "Thomas, why do you fear? You were right to say that you love me and that you are loved by me. Confirm it to your companions, and as a token of the love I bear you, show them this gift I make you." The gift was a small case containing a chasuble of blood-red color, as a sign that Mary, for the love she bore him, had obtained from God the grace that he was to be a priest and a martyr. As indeed came to pass, for first he was made priest and then Bishop of Canterbury in England, where, persecuted by the king, he fled to France to the Cistercian monastery of Pontigny. There, wishing to mend the hairshirt he used to wear, which had come unstitched, and being little practiced in doing it well, his beloved Queen appeared to him and with extraordinary tenderness took the hairshirt from his hands and repaired it as it should be. Then, returning to Canterbury, he died a martyr, killed out of hatred for the zeal he had for his Church.

84. *

In a place in the Papal States a certain young woman devoted to Mary encountered a bandit chief. Fearing some outrage, she begged him in the name of the Most Holy Virgin not to molest her. "Fear not," he then replied, "since you have entreated me in the name of the Mother of God. I only ask that you commend me to her." And indeed he himself accompanied her along the road and saw her to safety. The following night Mary appeared to the bandit in a dream and, thanking him for that act done for her love, told him she would remember it and in due time would reward him. Later the robber was captured by the law and condemned to death. On the night before the appointed day of execution, the Blessed Virgin again appeared to him in a dream. First she asked: "Do you know who I am?" He answered: "It seems to me that I have seen you once before." "I am," she replied, "Mary the Virgin, who have come to repay you for what you did for me. Tomorrow you will die, but you will die with such contrition that you will go straight to paradise." The condemned man awoke and felt such sorrow for his sins that he burst into bitter tears, thanking the Madonna aloud. He quickly sent for a confessor, to whom he confessed with many tears, telling of the vision, and begged him to publish this grace bestowed by Mary everywhere. He went to his death with great joy, and after his execution it is related that his face wore an air of blessedness, making all believe that the promise of the divine Mother had been fulfilled.

85. *

Blessed Joachim Piccolomini, most devoted to Mary from childhood, visited three times a day an image of Our Lady of Sorrows in a church, and on Saturdays in her honor he tasted no food of any kind. Moreover, at midnight he would rise to meditate on her sorrows. But let us see how Mary rewarded him. First, she appeared to him as a young man and told him to enter the religious order of her Servants, as the blessed man did. Then, toward the last years of his life, she appeared again with two crowns in her hand -- one of rubies, in reward for the compassion he had shown for her sorrows, and the other of pearls, in reward for the purity he had consecrated to her. At his death, finally, she appeared again, and the blessed man asked her for the grace of dying on the day that Jesus Christ died. The Most Holy Virgin consoled him, saying: "Come now, prepare yourself, for tomorrow, Good Friday, you will die as you desire, and tomorrow you will be with me in paradise." And so it happened, for while the Passion of St. John was being sung in church, at the words Stabat iuxta crucem Iesu mater eius, he had his last fainting spells. And at the words Et inclinato capite tradidit spiritum, the blessed man too gave up his spirit to God; and at that very moment the church was filled with a great splendor and a most sweet fragrance.

86. *

Father Alfonso Salmeron of the Society of Jesus, who had been most devoted to the Blessed Virgin, died saying: "To paradise, to paradise! Blessed the hour that I served Mary; blessed the sermons, the labors, the thoughts I had for you, my Lady! To paradise!"

87. *

To St. Romuald there was presented by a prince named Farnulfo his young son Guido, who wished to become a Camaldolese. The holy founder accepted him with pleasure. One day Mary appeared to this good young man, her devoted servant, with the Infant Jesus in her arms. Thinking himself unworthy of so great a grace, he stood fearful. "Why do you hesitate," the divine Mother then said, drawing near to him, "why do you fear, Guido? I am the Mother of God; this is my Son Jesus, who wishes to come to you." And so saying, she placed him in his arms. Not yet three years had passed since Guido entered religious life when he came to the point of death. Then St. Romuald saw the poor young man all convulsed and trembling, saying: "Oh Father, do you not see how many Moors are in this cell?" "My son," said the saint, "do you recall anything not confessed?" "Yes, Father," he answered, "I recall not having obeyed the prior's order to gather up certain brooms; now I confess it." St. Romuald absolved him, and then the scene changed: the demons fled, and the Virgin appeared again with Jesus, at whose sight Guido, all consoled, died.

88. *

A Cistercian nun in Toledo named Maria, while dying, was visited by the divine Mother. She then said to her: "My Lady, the grace you do me in visiting me emboldens me to ask you another grace: to die at the same hour in which you died and entered heaven." "Yes," Mary answered, "I wish to grant you this; at that hour you will die, and you will hear the songs and praises with which the blessed accompanied my entry into heaven. Come, prepare yourself." And saying this, she vanished. The other nuns, hearing her talking to herself, suspected she was delirious; but she told them of the vision and the promised grace. She was therefore awaiting the desired hour, and when it came -- the writer does not say which hour it was -- on hearing the clock strike, she said: "Behold the hour foretold to me; behold, I already hear the music of the angels; at this hour my Queen ascended to heaven. Remain in peace, for now I go to see her." And saying this, she expired. And as she expired, her eyes became bright like two stars, and her face took on a beautiful color.

89. *

In the city of Sees in France, about the eighth century, there lived St. Opportuna, daughter of parents of royal blood. This holy virgin, most devoted to Mary, became a religious in a monastery not far from there. When she came to die, one morning near dawn she saw before her St. Cecilia and St. Lucy. "Sisters," she said, "welcome; what word does my Queen send me?" They answered: "She awaits you in paradise." After this the devil appeared to her, and the saint courageously drove him away, saying: "Ugly beast, what have you to do with me, who am a servant of Jesus?" When the hour she herself had foretold of her death arrived, after receiving the Most Holy Viaticum, she turned toward the door and said: "Behold the Mother of God, who comes to take me. Sisters, to her I commend you; farewell, we shall not see each other again." And so saying, she raised her arms as if to embrace her Lady, and gently breathed her last.