Mary's lesson of "very great importance"

My soul is tortured by frightful things suggested to my imagination by Satan. … I went up to the oratory of Our Lady to implore her not to let me fall. She came, at once, very motherly and said:

"My daughter, I will give you a lesson of very great importance: the devil is like a mad dog, but he is chained, that is to say, his liberty is curtailed. He can, therefore, only seize and devour his prey if you venture too near him, and that is why his usual tactics are to make himself appear as a lamb. The soul does not realize this, and draws nearer and nearer, only to discover his malice when in his clutches. When he seems far away, do not relax your vigilance, child; his footsteps are padded and silent, that he may take you unawares."

She gave me her blessing and went away.

The Way of Divine Love by Sister Josefa Menendez*

*Sister Josefa Menéndez (1890-1923) was a Catholic nun and mystic. She was born to a Christian family in Madrid. In 1920, at 30, she entered the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Poitiers, France. She is the author of the famous book The Way of Divine Love in which she wrote down upon Jesus’ request many messages of Jesus who calls her His messenger. At times, the Virgin Mary also came to visit Josefa to assist her in her difficult mission.