 Henry IV 's decision to indulge in the practice served as visual evidence to his subjects that God approved of his reign . Royal physicians and others who witnessed these ceremonies insisted that at least half of all the diseased people he touched were healed within days . The ceremonies took place in other cities and at least four times a year : on Easter , on Pentecost , on All Saints Day and on Christmas . On Easter 1608 , Henry IV touched 1 @,@ 250 scrofulous persons . He complained that the hours @-@ long ceremony exhausted him , but continued the practice and consistently gave the impression that he was doing it only out of concern for the well @-@ being of his subjects . The ceremony was performed in the presence of the princes of the blood , <unk> , bodyguards , and physicians . The latter presented Henry with patients , and he proceeded to make the sign of the cross on his scrofulous subject 's cheeks , touched the subject 's sores , and exclaimed : " The King touches you , God cures you . " ( French : " Le Roy te touche et Dieu te <unk> . " ) 
