“An invisible Madonna is blocking our way!” The beautiful Lady had said, “God will answer you in a short time, My Son is letting Himself be touched,” in answer to the suppliant prayer of Her people for the cessation of the war and the halt of the invading armies. This message of hope was promptly and brilliantly fulfilled. How could anyone fail to recognize Our Lady’s intervention in the sudden withdrawal of the Prussians? There they were, onTuesday, January 17, victorious on all fronts, marching resolutely on Laval. General Schmidt had received the order to take the city; he had taxed it with a contribution of three million francs in advance, so certain was he that his enterprise would succeed! But at nightfall, between five thirty and six o’clock, a strange movement was initiated in theGerman troops. A word from the general halted the advance and the troops set up camp. On the morning of the following day, January 18, they withdrew. The Laval Semaine Religieuse of January 13, 1894, related the event: “Why this sudden, incredible movement? Who prevented the enemy frommarching on Laval and taking it the next day? Chanzy had undoubtedly massed the remnants of his troops to the north of the city; he had taken all the precautions of a clever captain. But what could he hope for? What would his weakened troops, demoralized by successive failures, be able to do? What could Laval do with no fort to protect it? Once again, why did the enemy withdraw? For those of us who believe in miracles, the answer resides in Pontmain. There, on the evening of the 17th, amid the stars, theVirgin appeared, mighty as an army in battle array. At Her feet the golden inscription unrolled: ‘But pray, My children, God will answer you in a short time. My Son is letting Himself be touched. ’ “Let those who do not believe in supernatural interventions explain this wonderful ANTOINE ALFRED CHANZY was a French general who had been in Algeria throughout his career. Recalled to France with his troops during the FrancoPrussian conflict, he commanded the Army of the Loire, formed by the Government of National Defense to continue the war against the Germans after the defeat at Sedan. A staunch practicing Catholic, it was from his faith that he drew the secret of his untiring devotion to his country. Despite the heroic efforts of his army, Chanzy was not able to stop the Prussian advance and suffered a disastrous defeat at Le Mans (January 11-12, 1871). He then retreated to Laval. An unpublished letter from the general, dated the end of January, reports several striking details about that unforgettable night of January 17. First of all, the general was observing the enemy’s every move, and he confirmed that the German troops were indeed on the outskirts of Laval, very close to his own troops. The German battalions were obviously just waiting for a sign to take the city. Then suddenly, at 6 o’clock in the evening – he specifies the time: the very hour when the Apparition of Pontmain really began – there was a total change of attitude, a kind of general panic among the German soldiers and officers. The men gathered their belongings in an excitement which the French observers, including Chanzy himself, could not understand. The general speaks of a current of madness that was blowing over the Prussian soldiers, who were usually so orderly, so well regulated. That very night, the Prussian troops disappeared as if they had been routed. A few days later, Chanzy discovered the explanation of this mystery from German soldiers who had been taken prisoner by the French: that evening, around 6 o’clock, “a Lady blocked their way and pushed them back with Her hand. Every time they tried to resist, they felt a force in the form of an intense and unbearable heat emanating from the Lady. They could only try to gather their equipment and flee as rapidly as possible.” (1823‐1882) 132 Vol. LVI, No 5 Magnificat
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