|
On the morning after the August 13 victory on Bergisel, Hofer called all his
officers together on the hill. Striding into their midst and falling to his
knees, gave heartfelt and emotional thanks to God Almighty and the Blessed
Virgin. He claimed no glory for himself, saying, "Not me; not you either, but Him
up there!" The supreme commander of Tyrol's armed forces then proclaimed himself
governor of the province in the name of the emperor himself. Hofer went to mass
every morning and prayed the rosary every evening in the Hofburg. Each military
action was preceded by a mass, after which Hofer uttered his famous motto to the
troops: "You've been to mass; you've had a schnapps. Now forward in the name of
God!"
|
