The Rosary rescues a wicked nobleman from hell, Mary: Day 295

The Rosary rescues a wicked nobleman from hell

St. Dominic once prayed for a wicked nobleman to be converted, and God intervened. When the man began praying the Rosary, his heart was trans- formed. St. Alphonsus tells the story.

In Saragossa, Spain, there was once a nobleman named Peter. He was a relative of St. Dominic, but he was a most wicked man. One day when the saint was preaching he saw Peter enter the church, so he begged our Lord to reveal the state of that miserable sinner to the congregation.

Suddenly, Peter’s appearance changed so that he looked like a monster from hell, surrounded and dragged about by many demons. Everyone in the church, even his wife and the servants who accompanied him, fled away.

St. Dominic then sent word to Peter that he should entrust himself to Mary and begin to pray the Rosary. He also sent Peter a rosary with which to pray.

When Peter received the message, he humbled himself and sent someone to thank the saint. Then he himself was given the grace to see the demons who surrounded him. Peter then confessed his sins with many tears to St. Dominic, from whom he received the assurance that they were already forgiven.

Peter persevered in saying the Rosary. He became so holy that one day in church, in the presence of the whole congregation, our Lord allowed them to see him crowned with a triple crown of roses.

—St. Alphonsus Liguori, The Glories of Mary 

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . .  .

When I pray the Rosary, do I have as one of my intentions my own continuing conversion?

CLOSING PRAYER

From a prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas: O Mary, my Queen, my hope, and my Mother! I love you; I confide in you. I beg you by the love of Jesus, obtain from God for me a great sorrow for my sins and pardon for them, perseverance in a good life, and a pure love toward God with a perfect conformity to his holy will.

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