the-glories-of-mary

390 GLORIES OF MAKY.
he was th ridicule of all his schoolfellows.
Now one day, being more than usually disheart*
ened, he went to pray to the most holy Virgin
before her image. Mary appeared to him in a
dream, and said to him: "Udo,
I will console
you, and not only will I obtain from God for
you abilities which will protect you from de
rision, but even talents which will make you ad
mired; and moreover,
bishop, I promise that you
after the death of the
shall be elected in
his place." Thus Mary said, and thus it came
to pass. Udo made great progress in the
sciences, and obtained the bishopric of that city.
But Udo was so ungrateful to God and to his
benefactress for these favors, that he neglect
ed all his devotions arid became the scandal of the
place. Whilst he was in bed one night with a
wicked companion, he heard a voice saying to
him: "Udo,
cease this sinful pastime; you have
sinned enough."*
At first he was irritated by
these words, thinking it was some one who was
reproving him; but hearing it repeated a second
arid a third night, he began to tremble a little,
lest it should be a voice from heaven. Notwith
standing all this, he continued in his wicked
ness. But after God had given him three
months for repentance, behold the punishment!
One night a devout canon, named Frederick, was
praying, in the church of St. Maurice, that God
would remove the scandal which Udo gave;
when, behold, the door of the church was burst
* Udo cessa de ludo; lusisti satis; Udo.