Temptations of St Vincent Ferrer

Once towards the fourth hour of the night as Vincent was reading St. jerome’s treatise on the perpetual virginity of our Blessed Lady, and praying that he, too, might preserve fidelity to the same holy state, he heard, as if in answer to his thought, a voice say: ”we cannot be all virgins, and although thou hast kept thy virginity up to this hour, I will no longer suffer thee to enjoy this privilege.” At these words, the saint was filled with trouble and sadness, and kneeling to invoke the Mother of fair love whom he had always cherished, he begged that She would tell him their meaning. After a while, he was rewarded with a vision of Our Lady, who comforted him saying: “the words which thou hast just heard were spoken by the devil, who puts before thee the difficulty of goodness in order to deter thee from anylonger pursuing virtue. But do thou only be cautious and thou shalt persevere. For although, the devil will lay many snares for thee, and strive to endanger thy virginity, be not discouraged. Hope in God, He will be the shield whereby thou shalt not only easily despise the devil’s weapons, but overcome him and his artifices.

St. Vincent Ferrer, Ora Pro nobis.