[Scriptum compendiosum Psalterii intentionem declarans]

the elders were sleeping, they arose and gave themselves to prayer, extending their hands to heaven. A bright light became manifest in the cell, as if it were midday, which, however, they did not feel. The old man, truly, saw it. Observing, therefore, what they were doing, the old man saw demons like flies wanting to land in the mouth and eyes of the younger one. But the angel of the Lord was repelling and casting them out. Toward the older one, however, they were in no way able to approach. And the old man knew that the elder was already perfect in love, while the demons were still attacking the younger one. Near to dawn, they threw themselves onto their own bed. Then Macharius, as if waking up, rose. Similarly, they also rose, as if awakened from a long slumber. And the senior brother approaching the elder said: "Father, do you wish that we chant twelve psalms?" And while they were chanting, from the mouth of the younger one, immediately through every verse, a flame of fire went out and ascended to heaven. Likewise, the elder, while he was singing, as often as he brought his lips to chanting, a little smoke of fire was extended from his mouth toward heaven. Seeing which, the blessed Macharius glorified God and, recommending himself to their prayers, he departed joyful. Finally, not only through occult, various

inspirations of thoughts does the devil strive to take away the fruit of the order, but he also often tries to impede those praying through overt and sensible molestations. An example concerning Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, who, just as he was a man of wondrous holiness, so was he assiduous in prayer. Envying his devout prayer, the devil molested him not only through inspirations but also through hard blows and terrible apparitions. Whence, when on one occasion he was standing before the altar, the devil not only extinguished the lit lamp but broke it by throwing him to the ground. Standing on the roof above the oratory, he formed the voices of various wild beasts and, turning the roof tiles, he tried to overturn the covering. This holy man, recognizing it to be an illusion, insisted more strongly in prayer. And behold, through the door, the most wicked enemy entered with fury and terror, and seizing the one praying, he afflicted him with heavy blows, so that for many days the scars of the wounds appeared on his whole body. One day, however, when he was sewing his tunic for himself, the devil took one piece from the tunic. Which, when the holy man could not find, he sought and sought. Being unable to find it, he said: "Holy God, holy God, and who has mocked me thus? Truly, he who is not worthy to be named has mocked me."