There was a prostitute in Santarém who trusted in the Virgin and fasted on the five feast days of Our Lady. She also heard mass every Saturday and refrained from sinning on that day.
She decided to travel to her own land, and, one Saturday, after mass, set off on her way. One of her former clients, angry at her departure, pursued her with a gang of rogues. The woman cried out to the Virgin to protect her.
They seized her as she was going to Leiria. Before she had time to confess her sins, the man raped her, robbed her, and cut her throat.
He left her for dead by the wayside, but the Virgin came to comfort her. She took her by the hand and led her to the road, promising the woman that she would be able to make her confession after all.
A knight came riding down the road and saw the mutilated woman. She told him what had happened and how the Virgin had saved her so that she could confess her sins. She asked the knight to help her.
The knight rode straight to Santarém and fetched the clergy. After taking communion and making her confession, the woman died.
An unfinished illumination. |
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