“He that believeth not shall be condemned” (Mark 16:16).
Lady, seeing and lamenting the harm that the unbelievers are doing in these times to the Christian people, and desiring to see it remedied—since this is beyond my own weak powers—I have wished, before I die, at least to devote myself to uncovering their errors and refuting them, so that the unwary may not be left deceived by their sophisms. To this end I have resolved to bring this work of mine to light. But what good will it ever do, if it be not strengthened by your favor? O Mary, you already behold from heaven the slaughter of souls that hell is working today by means of these errors, sown throughout many kingdoms where formerly the holy faith reigned unbroken. But are you not she to whom the glory of suppressing and destroying all heresies is granted? Of you the Church sings: Cunctas haereses interemisti in universo mundo—“You have destroyed all heresies in the whole world.” To you, then, it belongs to strike down with your mighty hand these enemies of the cross of Jesus Christ. Labor therefore, O great Mother of God, to free us from the harm that hell is plotting against so many simple souls; and for this reason deign also to take this poor book of mine under your patronage, so that those into whose hands it shall come may not let themselves be deluded by the deceits of these modern unbelievers; and if anyone should have been dazzled by their sophisms, may he open his eyes to recognize the truths of our holy faith, without which there is no hope of salvation.