[2] The story was chosen by the composer for its variety of dramatic situations; the opera is a serious lyric drama, unprecedented in Messager's output, generally weighted towards operetta.

[4] The Opéra-Comique in Paris mounted the work on 23 November 1917, with Yvonne Chazel in the title role, and Charles Fontaine, Félix Vieuille and André Baugé among the cast, conducted the composer, with a revival there in 1927 conducted by Albert Wolff with Yvonne Gall in the title role, Félix Vieuille and Roger Bourdin.

[5] The opera was broadcast by French radio in 1957, with Jacqueline Brumaire in the title role, Solange Michel, Raphael Romagnonli and Robert Massard, conducted by Gustave Cloëz.

Béatrice, 18 years old, claims for herself the charge of looking after the altar to the virgin; her excessive ardour earns her a rebuke.

The bishop enters, to whom Béatrice tells of her entry to the sisterhood as a result of her prayers for the recovery of Lorenzo, a young man who had returned injured from battle with the Turks.

Lorenzo begs forgiveness for having reduced her to this state by his unfaithfulness, saying he had never forgotten her, but when he sees her lascivious behaviour towards the locals, he flees.

Scene : the same as the first act After a prelude, Béatrice enters through the gate, penitent, broken with exhaustion and her clothes in tatters.

The mother superior asks the virgin – dressed as Béatrice – to lead the prayers for the return of the statue.

The virgin explains who she is and tells how she took Béatrice's place and undertook her duties in her absence; she forgives her sins while she was away.

As the statue of the virgin pronounces Béatrice's name, the opera ends with a chorus of praise of nuns and angels.