Ninth point. His behaviour as a deacon

Her answer on the ninth point was :

I declare that while our Blessed Founder was still only a deacon, the late Monseigneur de Granier, his predecessor, commanded him to preach, and he himself told me that although he knew that he was quite unworthy to enter a pulpit, yet he replied that : at his word he would let down the net. He preached his first sermon on Saint John-Baptist's Day. When he heard the bell ring for the sermon, he was seized with such violent spasms and intense physical pain, that he was obliged to throw himself upon a bed. I do not remember what he told me afterwards as to the way in which he conquered this nervous agony, but I believe that he re signed himself absolutely into the hands of God, leaving it to Him to make this act of preachingsuccessful and redounding to His honour, ac cording to His good pleasure; and certainly his prayer was granted, for as we are generally told, the people were marvellously edified by it. I have heard it declared, and by public report, that among those who listened to this his first sermon there was a nobleman of distinction, from the duchy of Chablais, named M. d'Avully, one of the most obstinate and learned of heretics, who was so much touched by it that he very soon afterwards presented himself for instruction. And this is true, &c.