Mr. Beauveau, Marquis of Novian, owed both his conversion and his religious vocation in the Society of Jesus to a victory over human respect in honor of Our Lady.
In 1649, while German troops were stationed in Alsace-Lorraine, some soldiers quartered in Novian, after drinking excessively, began to gamble. One of them, having lost his money, noticed a statue of Our Lady hanging on the wall. Furious, as though she were responsible for his bad luck, he began striking the image while uttering horrible blasphemies.
As soon as he finished, he fell to the ground seized by violent trembling and such severe, continuous pain that it became impossible for him to eat anything for four or five days.
When the troops received orders to depart, the unfortunate man was tied to his horse so that he could accompany the march.
Later it was learned that, struggling violently, he had fallen from his mount and died along the road, biting the earth and foaming with rage.
For a long time the people of the village spoke of the exemplary punishment of the blasphemer.
Two years later, at the request of a missionary, it was decided to hold a solemn act of reparation. For this purpose, the parish priest, the missionary, several other priests, and the people of Novian, led by the Marquis, went in procession to that house.
Upon arriving, the priest repeatedly called for some men to carry the statue to the church, but no one came forward.
Mr. Beauveau, indignant at such indifference toward Our Lady, felt inwardly moved to carry it himself.
Despite concerns about public opinion and appearing overly devout before the townspeople, he respectfully took up the statue and carried it to the castle chapel, where, by order of the Bishop, it was placed with all due honors.
The Blessed Virgin did not delay in rewarding this act of devotion. As he himself later testified, he began receiving such an abundance of graces and such powerful inspirations toward a life of perfection that he not only became a model Christian but also embraced the religious life, in which he lived and died in holiness.
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