Page 12 - Good News May 2006 paper

JOYOUS CHURCH BELLS TERRIFIED INVADERSJOYOUS CHURCH BELLS TERRIFIED INVADERS
Continued from p. 1Continued from p. 1
thronged the streets. The surrounding hills echoed
the rich tones of the church bells as they pealed
louder and louder, proclaiming the resurrection of
the living Christ.
On the heights above the little town, General
Massena in command of Napoleon's invading army
with 18 600 troops, hearing the sounds of rejoicing,
and seeing the carefree, brightly-clothed throngs,
concluded that there could be but one reason for
such gaiety in the presence of his military might. He
was sure that the Austrian army had come up in the
night and might even now be encircling his position
on the wooded hill. Massena ordered his army to
break camp speedily and depart.
Almost before the bells had ceased ringing - long
before church services were concluded that Easter
day in 1799 - the French army was in retreat. When
the worshippers of Feldkirch poured out of the
church doors and looked up at the heights, they
saw not one tent, not one French soldier, not one
flashing sword above their peaceful village.
From: The Mighty Hand of God by Katherine Pollard
Carter, Impact Books, 1991