He is not Dead, but Sleepeth.”
In one of the most sanguinary battles of the Franco-Prussian war, during which so many died of their wounds that they were obliged to bury all the dead in a common grave, we have an instance of how wonderfully God watches over the faithful clients of His Blessed Mother.
Among those who were lying on the field of battle, was a young officer, apparently dead, who was really only in a swoon, consequent on the sufferings produced by his wounds. The Colonel, seeing him in this condition, had hastened to find someone to assist in carrying him to a place of safety; but on his return, he found, to his distress, that the young man had already been borne away to be buried with numbers of his comrades. Greatly afflicted, he hurried to the place where the corpses were piled together, awaiting burial; but, alas! under such circumstances, it was almost impossible to distinguish the features of his friend, in spite of close examination, so disfigured were the bodies which lay before them.
At last a sudden idea came into the Colonel’s mind, and he called out: “Examine the clothes, for my friend wore a Scapular, and a medal of the Immaculate Conception.” They did what he desired, and our Blessed Lady, guiding their search, they almost immediately found the young officer. He was then placed on a stretcher, and taken to hospital, where he received proper attention, and completely recovered his health.
It is needless to say that, as soon as he was able, he gave due thanks to our Immaculate Queen, who had stayed the awful fate which seemed in store for him.