The following miracle shows clearly the work of the devil and shows at
the same time that souls cannot be condemned so easily when a mortal
beseeches the protection of a powerful patron. "A certain man,"
it is said in the Novena of San Vicente (p. 15), "gave his soul to
the devil with a certificate (cedula) signed by his own hand, and
hearing the Saint preach, implored him to ask that the demon return
it. The Saint fell to praying, and made the devil come and ordered
him to return the certificate to the man, having as witnesses of this
miracle many thousands of persons."