In The Glories of Mary, (Pt. I, ch. vii., art. 1, trans. Rev. Fr. Eugene Grimm; New York: Benziger Brothers, 1887), Saint Alphonsus relates this curious account of a demonic monkey and how an otherwise reprobate worldling was saved from the snares of satan by perseverance in his daily devotions to Our Lady.

This example was expunged from later editions of the celebrated tome of St. Alphonsus published by Benziger Brothers and replaced with another example related by the Saint in some other work. I presume it was because readers tend to get the wrong impression that Our Lady will save sinners if they merely say some prayers to her.

However, such interventions as related below are exceptional, and they serve to illustrate in a spectacular and convincing manner (so that even the infidels may not have reason to doubt) the immeasurable power and clemency that the Blessed Virgin shows to those who either recommend themselves to her or have been recommended to her by others (parents, kin, friends, Priests, etc.). She will ultimately exercise her great authority as Mediatress of all graces won by her Divine Son, and shall grant the grace of final perseverance to those who cooperate with holy grace and thereby give themselves over to prayer, self-abnegation, interior and exterior mortification, good works, &c.

Lesson to be learned: ever persevere in your morning and evening devotions, and in your accustomed prayers to Our Lady, 'cos you never know when a satanic monkey shall suddenly haunt round about you, seeking to hurl your soul down even unto the depths of hell.

This story is so hilarious. Is it reprinted in modern editions of the the text?

I dont really see anything hillarious about it, Vlad.
I read this story in the Glories of Mary years ago to my children.
My oldest son, now 45, still  remembers it and says a Hail Mary every day.
Its a powerful story!

This story is so hilarious. Is it reprinted in modern editions of the the text?

I don't think it's hilarious either...nothing funny about satan in the form of a monkey trying to drag someone to hell.

Just the idea of this lawyer having a trained monkey who is really the devil is kind of comical.  Imagine the devil masquerading as a monkey in a valet's uniform, it's kind of loony.  It's a lot like the absurdist humor of today, like those Burger King commercials with "the King" appearing in someone's bed to present him with a bacon and egg sandwich.  So if Vladimir has that modern sense of humor, absurdist, I can see why he thinks it's funny.  I have a bit of that myself, having watched so many dumb movies.

The priest's cry of "Infernal beast!" is also funny from a certain mindset, this priest screaming at a seemingly harmless little monkey.  If you put that in a movie it would bring down the house.

I read the same story -- yes, it is in modern editions -- and I found it more horrifying, it reminded me of Edgar Allen Poe stories like Hop-Frog or Rue Morgue ( which possibly drew on this very tale from St. Alphonsus, since Poe drew on lots of Catholic material ).  But it depends on your mindset when you're reading it, I can see how it would strike someone as funny.

Hey, I believe it, but I still laughed!

This actually makes me a little suspicious of a few of my animals.... the bunnies in particular.  :devil2:

I laughed too. But an evil monkey would be creepy.

When I first saw the thread title I thought it was about President Obama

 

Something else that mature people wouldn't find funny, but that makes me want to crack up every time I read it -- I do try to fight it -- is St. Paul's description of ɧoɱosɛҳųαƖs:  "Men with men working that which is filthy."  Am I the only one who finds that turn of phrase extremely humorous?  

 :tv-disturbed: I hope so.