France (1834)
Father
Bégin, an eyewitness to this cure that took place in Saint-Maur where
he was chaplain, wrote a report in which he attested to the following
facts:
a) that the sick person was gravely ill;
b) that she was cured on March 14, 1834; and
c) that she declared that she only used the medal and prayer.
One hundred witnesses from the nursing home signed this document.
The bishop of Châlons also added his signature to the document:
“We
certify that the testimony of Father Bégin should be taken as wholly
trustworthy, as well as that of the nuns and so many others who were eye
witnesses and spoke according to their consciences without any other
interest except that of stating the truth. Châlons, May 30, 1834 +
M.S.F.V., Bishop of Châlons.”
Mrs.
C.H., a 70-year-old widow, had been admitted in impoverished
circumstances to the nursing home of Saint-Maur because of a bad fall
that occurred on August 7, 1833. She walked with great difficulty and
even with the help of a crutch needed someone’s arm for support. She
also found it hard to sit and only with great difficulty was she able to
rise again. It was almost impossible for her to climb stairs, as she
had to hold on to whatever she could to do so. She could not bend down
or kneel, and had to drag her left leg, as that was where the problem
lay.
At the beginning of January, 1834, she was told of a medal that was reported to be miraculous.
Described
as having, on one side, Mary crushing the infernal serpent and on the
reverse of the medal were depicted the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary
and the letter “M” with a cross on top, she also heard of marvelous
things that had happened to those who wore it with confidence.
From
that moment she felt her heart enkindled with the consoling hope
of finding some relief that the wearing of this medal promised to her,
and she could not wait for the moment she would receive one. Finally, on
March 6, she received the much longed-for medal as a gift from Heaven.
She then went to confession in order to dispose herself to receive the
favor she desired.
The
following day, the first Friday of the month, after receiving Holy
Communion, she started a novena to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
She venerated the medal, which she wore around her neck, twenty times a
day. In a short while, she obtained a happy answer to her requests.
After only seven days of the novena, she felt free from the painful
infirmities she had suffered so cruelly for seven months.
We
cannot describe the surprise and admiration of everyone on the morning
of March 14th upon seeing this woman walk about unaided when the
previous evening she had been crippled. She was able to bend down,
kneel, go up and down stairs. Everyone cried out: “Miracle!” and was
greatly edified by such a prodigious cure. They congratulated her on
such a great grace from God and Mary Most Holy.
The
Mother Superior, who had taken care of her innumerable times since she
had been taken ill and daily witnessed her sufferings, wanted a Te Deum
to be sung by the whole community in the house chapel to celebrate
solemnly this extraordinary grace. The sick lady remained cured and no
longer felt the effects of her former infirmity.