bed, he tried to recite three Hail Marys in honor of the Blessed Virgin as was his nighttime
habit. Struggling, he finally succeeded and then fell into his bed. A short time later, his
deep, exhausted sleep was shattered by a sudden loud knocking at his door. Before he fully
awoke he was suddenly confronted by his sinful companion, who now appeared horribly
disfigured and monstrous.
“Who are you?” he demanded.
“What? Don’t you know me?” replied the poor wretch.
“But how can it be you? What happened? You look like a devil!”
“Ah, pity me! There is a hell, and I am damned,” the pitiful soul howled. “I left that accursed
house tonight shortly after you. Almost immediately, some cursed devil took me by surprise
and strangled me. Though my body lies still warm in the street, my soul has already been
condemned forever - imprisoned in the eternal flames of hell. Moreover, this same fate is
what you deserve, but the Holy Virgin preserved you from it thanks to your habit of honoring
her each day with a few Hail Marys. It is she who obtained my appearance here. Happy
are you if you know how to profit from what you have been shown.” As he hissed his final
statement, the damned companion opened his garment to reveal the flames and serpents
that had already begun their endless, unceasing cycle of torments. Then he vanished.
The horror of what he had just witnessed, together with the profound relief at so narrowly
avoiding so awful a fate, overwhelmed the young man who collapsed in tears on the floor. For
the first time in his