On June 18, 1859, the Piedmontese troops entered Montevarchi. The first soldiers who arrived set up a kitchen in the monastery. The mayor was aware of this, but he was fearful and cowardly, thinking it better to adapt and let things take their course, so that the soldiers would be satisfied. He acted just like Pilate...
My pain in the heart grew even more, and I cannot express what suffering it was for me when I imagined that we had armed units in the monastery. I entrusted myself to the Lord's hands, and there I was no longer afraid.
The following evening, when the military units left for new ones to immediately come in, I don’t know if by unfortunate chance or intentionally, straw was set on fire and outside they began to shout: you will burn, you will burn, open to us; and they screamed terribly at the gate, as if they were going to break it down. My sisters and I woke up in the midst of the noise and found ourselves in the smoke, without knowing where it came from. It seemed that they did it just to scare us. In such difficulties, I again sank in spirit and my body had no strength left. I decided, therefore, to leave, but to take all my companions with me... We returned the day after the troops left.
Blessed Mary Teresa of Jesus, pray for us!
(Mary Teresa Scrilli /1825–1889/, autobiography 111–117; this memory refers to the time when the monastery in Montevarchi was occupied by the army during the second Italian war of independence)
