18/02/2026
DANCING WITH THE DEVIL
- A Brown Scapular Miracle
St. John Vianney, the Cure D’Ars, relates a story of a young lady who, having decided to consecrate her life to religion, sought the holy pastor of Ars, Saint John Vianney, for a general confession.
When she finished relating her sins, St. John Vianney asked her if she was not forgetting something. The girl, upon recollecting her thoughts, could not recall anything else. The holy priest then proceeded to refresh her memory.
He asked her if she remembered a certain dance where she encountered a handsome young man with whom she desired to dance, but who, in turn, only danced with the other girls, passing her up.
Surprised, again she replied in the affirmative, that such was indeed true. The Cure D’Ars then asked her if she remembered how downcast she had felt at the snub, and how, upon leaving the ballroom, she had glanced back once more and had seen the young man dancing with a girl, but this time there were two small blue lights under his feet.
Again she agreed and confirmed that in fact she had seen the two blue lights under the youth’s feet, but that, finding them strange, she could not account for them.
The Saint then said: "You were hurt because this handsome, well-to-do young man had not danced with you. My dear, you should be filled with the deepest gratitude toward the Mother of God, our dear Blessed Mary ever Virgin who has so wonderfully and miraculously protected!"
The startled young penitent stuttered, "Why, whatever do you mean, Father?"
Saint John Vianney then explained to her that the young man was in fact the Devil in human form, and that the only reason why he would not dance with her was because she was wearing the holy Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
"My dear child", the holy priest responded. "that man was in reality a demon from hell and danced with every girl in serious sin. He kept away from you because you alone were wearing the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel!"
