During the invasion by Count Harcourt's army, the soldiers entered the Church of St. Maria del Monte and killed many civilians. The lives, however, of the Capuchin friars were spared. A French soldier succeeded in opening the tabernacle which contained a ciborium with several consecrated Hosts.
Flames of fire miraculously blazed out to envelop him - burning his face and his clothing. The door of the tabernacle which is adorned with agate and lapislazzuli or blue stones still shows the imprint of the soldier's scorched hand.
In 1640, the French army of Count Harcourt, crossed the River Po and advanced to the Capuchin Friars' Church of the Monte. Friar Pier Maria di Cambiano, a Capuchin friar, describes in great detail the Eucharistic miracle that occurred during the French troops' occupation of the Church of Santa Maria del Monte.
The region of Piedmont was over- run wild, foreseeing floods. After Casale Monferrato was liberated from the Spaniards, the French advanced to Turin. On May 6, 1640 they arrived at Chieri, on the 7th at Moncalieri and on the 10th they finally reached Turin.
Having occupied the left bank of the River, they launched an offensive attack and gained control of the bridge - from there they advanced to the Capuchin Monastery of the Monte. However, it was not that
secure a position. On the morning of May 12, they launched a double attack on the trenches. They were repelled; on the third assault, however, our troops were compelled to lay down their arms and flee with the civilian population to seek shelter and safety in the sanctuary of a holy place, the church.
The invaders, nevertheless, entered the church and slaughtered the men and women, the young and the old, civilians and troops alike – even those who braced themselves onto the altars or who took refuge in the arms of the Capuchin friars. They pleaded for their lives and for their freedom.
Notwithstanding the friars were wounded their hearts were distraught at the sight of so much bloodshed and carnage. The soldiers trashed sacred vessels and vestments
and they sacked the friary since the refugees had stored some of their household items and furniture for safe keeping. And after, in the church itself (too horrible to recount!) they committed brutal acts of debauchery!
As if all that were not enough, a French soldier, who was an unbeliever, climbed onto the altar, forced open the tabernacle to seize the ciborium and the sacred Hosts it held in order to desecrate them. And then, a miracle!
A flame of the blazed out of the ciborium directly onto the sacrilegious Frenchman; it scorched his uniform and his face! The terrified soldier threw himself to the floor screaming and asking God's forgiveness. The church was suddenly filled with dense smoke.
Between the terror and the astonishment felt by all, the vandalism ceased!