The Devil Tempts Martin

It also came to light that about the same time there was a young man in Spain who had won authority among the people by many signs, and became so puffed up that he gave himself out to be Elijah. When great numbers had too readily believed this, he went on to say that he was actually Christ, and he succeeded so well even in this delusion that a certain bishop named Rufus worshiped him as the Lord. For doing so, we have since seen this bishop removed from his office. Many of the brothers have also told me that at the same time someone arose in the East who boasted that he was John. Since false prophets of this kind have appeared, we may infer that the coming of Antichrist is at hand, for he is already practicing the mystery of lawlessness in these men. [a]

And I truly think I should not pass over the tricks with which the devil tempted Martin at this very time. One day, after prayer had first been offered, the devil stood beside Martin as he was praying in his cell. He had surrounded himself with a purple light, so that he could more easily deceive people by the brilliance of the splendor he had put on. He was dressed in a royal robe, with a crown of precious stones and gold around his head, and his shoes were inlaid with gold. His face was calm and his whole look joyful, so that no one could think he was the devil. Martin was dazzled at first sight of him, and both kept a long, deep silence. The devil broke it first, saying: “Martin, recognize who it is you see. I am Christ. I am just about to come down to earth, and I wanted to show myself to you first.” Martin kept silent at these words and gave no answer at all, so the devil dared to repeat his brazen claim: “Martin, why do you hesitate to believe, when you see? I am Christ.” Then, as the Spirit revealed the truth to him so that he understood it was the devil and not God, Martin answered: “The Lord Jesus did not foretell that he would come clothed in purple and with a glittering crown on his head. I will not believe that Christ has come unless he appears in the look and form in which he suffered, openly showing the marks of his wounds from the cross.” At these words the devil vanished like smoke and filled the cell with so disgusting a smell that he left unmistakable proof of what he really was. This event took place just as I have told it, and I had the account from Martin’s own lips; so let no one think it a fable.