Stories

He went inside, knelt before her altar, and wept, begging her to obtain pardon for his sins. Mary at once began to plead with her Son for the wretched young man. Jesus said at first, "But this ungrateful youth has denied me, mother." Yet seeing that she kept on interceding, he finally said, "Oh, my mother, I have never refused you anything.

Then, seeing the Virgin beckon him to follow her, he said, "I come, oh Lady, I come." He tried to rise, and though his body could not follow her, he gently breathed his last and followed her with his soul, as we may hope, to the kingdom of glory.

He had hardly finished when Mary freed him all at once from the temptation. His peace came back, and with it his health, and from then on he lived as a devoted servant of Mary, proclaiming her mercies in his preaching and his writing for the rest of his life.

Jesus answered that he could deny her nothing, and that for love of her he would pardon the man, telling him to come and kiss his wounds. The man came forward weeping, and as he kissed the wounds they were healed. Then Jesus embraced him as a sign of pardon. From that day he changed his life and was always full of love for the Blessed Virgin.

She threw herself at his feet in tears, begged his pardon, and said that the Mother of God, through his prayer, had delivered her from hell. They went together to give thanks, and the next day she told the whole story to their relatives, showing the mark of the wound, and all of them were stirred to a greater love of Our Lady.

The priest was awed and hesitated at the door, but Our Lady motioned him in and showed him to a seat to hear the woman's confession. The poor woman confessed, received the sacrament with great devotion, and died peacefully in the arms of Mary.

A lion came and dug her grave, the abbot buried her, and he went back to tell of the wonders of God's mercy toward this happy penitent.

With Mary's help she gave all she owned to the poor and took up a hard penance. She was tormented by dreadful temptations, but she kept turning to the Mother of God and always overcame them with her aid. She was favored with many graces, including visions and prophecies.

He was condemned to die at once, without even being given time for confession. He commended himself to Mary. He was hanged, but the Virgin held off his death, freed him herself, and told him to return to the monastery.