and condemnation" (p. 8). The devil ran to carry out the
sentence. Another one appeared accusing a bad man of Cuzco, and this
man was precisely the same who tarried to witness the scene at the
cemetery. "When the just judge was about to sentence him to death and
condemnation, Blessed Mary and Joseph knelt before the divine Master,
asking mercy on behalf of the accused, alleging that many times he
invoked the holy names (Jesus, Maria y Jose). Jesus having denied
pardon, his parents begged him anew, and seeing that they were not
making headway toward securing pardon, the Blessed Virgin showed to
her Blessed Son the breast from which He sucked, and the Patriarch
Saint showed him the hands that maintained him thru his labors"
(p. 8). Then Jesus conceded the pardon as a matter of grace which can
only be characterized as material gratefulness (estomago agradecido).

Great Incentive to Crime

The invocation "Jesus, Maria y Jose" working as a magic formula saved
that man who had no more merit than his ability to mention the names
of the "trinity on earth." In the same novena there is a consideration
of this most marvelous favor, and that is, that in order to obtain
some reform in our lives in view of the favor conceded by Jesus, Mary,
and Joseph to their devotee, tho he be a confirmed sinner, it was only
necessary to imitate an invocation so frequently repeated in all his
days of malice, the words "Jesus, Maria y Jose" (p. 10). The man in
question had no other merit nor is he enjoined to have one. It is
enough that he utters the magic invocation and that he does as he
pleases in the belief of being free from punishment. What a great
incentive this is to crime!

Another Notable Case

Another notable case of the effect of the same invocation is that of
a Dominican friar called Fray Juan Masias, who for more than twelve
years stayed in his dark cell in prayer. He was visited by many devils
who pulled and pushed him, treating him very badly in words and in
deed. But he was freed from them by saying "Jesus Savior, Mary, and
Joseph, be with me." "On other occasions the devils entered hurriedly
and noisily catching him by the legs and dragged him from his room
to the cloister. Some hit him and slapped him, others stepped on his
stomach and on his head, still others scratched his face and sought
to pluck his eyes, but invoking the names of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,
they (the devils) vanished and left him (p. 14). And the st