The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-10-03
a pilgrimage to Oar Iady Of ohartre..

a Pilgrimage to Our Lady of ohartres.
"A. A solemn conservation to Mary of the parish
toner's and congregations, followed by the i'm
pressive rite of Benediction had sent us, late
IN the evening of Sunday to our homes we
separated fnli of the Thought of tho coming
pilgrims bo1nd for the ancient shrine of onr
Lady in the magnificent cathedral of Cbartres.
Early, then, on the morrow, and in eager
haste, the servants of Mary nearly 500 in
number, rushed up the steps leading to the
train, anxious to secure their places; the
venerable Cure of st. suipice,. director of the
fete, smiling, as they passed him by, his
welcome aud delight The signal at length ia
given, and the train starts. al
The morning, which had been cloudy, was
frightening into glorious day. The country,
TOO, looked fresh and beautiful after the rain.
Prayer, the singing of hymns, agreeable con-
versation, and the charms of nature beguiled
the tedium of the journey. We reached
Charities about half past eight A. NJ Hero we
We're received in right royal fashion by the
clergy of the grand old cathedral, who were
awaiting us at the station, attended by d troop
OF chorlsters in their surplices of snowy white;
the children of Mary, also IN white, with ban
ners flying, and the cross, of course leading
Falling into procession, two by two, and in two
long lines, the pilgrims set out for the a.
thedral, not far distant, and were aoconapayifed
by band of nusc, priests and t3eopIe chatting
in unison during the march. Asf u
eages Cor siasa, nc sshBasl
81 the PILGRIMS comm le 3lFeAcs5er
gave us short discourse, dil2ting on the.
words of st. Peter to Jesiis q lord. Ii is good
for us to be here an rernihdin az tint God.
who is everywhere the dispenser of His own
free bounty, does even nov, ms of old, make.
choice to himself, Inysteriously, of certain
places which he hallows wirh His presence
dispensing thence, as from throne Of mercy,
the treasures of His goodness to men.
Cur souls thus invigorated and refreshed, it
behooyed us to think ever. of our corporal food;
we had come from afar, and our pastors would
not that we tainted by the way. After few
words of uivice, then, from the sanity parish
priest of st Su1pice, we departed for breakfast.
with orders to meet again for Vespers at half
past two T. NJ.
Returning, therefore, to the cathedral, after
a frugal but sufficient meal, the pilgrim was
informed that three special objects of devotion
commanded his attention: the statue of our
Lady of the Pillar, that of our Lady in the
Crypt, and the holy shrine containing the
tunic of the Blessed Virgin. The statue of the
Virgin of the Pillar is placed in chapel near
the sacrsty it dates from 1897, and has ever
been an object of great veneration though it
owns its present position only since the year
1906 Numerous graees here obtained
through the invocation of Mary; and, judging
from the numbers engaged in praying at this
favored spot, il would appear TO the writer to
lac u moro faYorite- resort OF poor Inflicted hui
manity than oven the moro anciently celebrated
chapel of our Lady in the Crypt. Into this
| crypt-the most vast and most remarkable of
| all those which exist in France-let us now
! descend.
1t was here that Anne of Austria, kneeling
before the miraculous image of Mary, obtained
| from Heaven son, who was Louis the
Fourteenbh. Here also that the prayer of the
present Empress of the Ffenel4- WAS responded
TO by the birth of the Imperial Prince. This
during the reign of Cia1dius, was formerly
richly endowed by the piety of kings and
princes innnInerable ex-votos testifying TO
Ithe cures and favors obtained. Bat the Revo-
| lutionists of 1893 scattered to the winds these
memorials of the gratitude of ages, burned the
statue and profaned the holy place. The
present statue was erected on the exact model
| of the ancient one; and in 1860 the whole OF
the crypt, which contains thirteen affairs, was
restored to the purposes of religion and the
worship of Cod
To attempt to describe the cathedral woqld
he an undertaking beside the purpose of this
| sketch, intcnded merely as n passing record OF
an agreeable day, spent ehieilyin the exercises
of religion, and eyideneing tho words of one
who eXclaimed@@1sty GUdy tive for pleasure
when / live for Theep
Thus much, however, We viii say, that the
trouble of visit TO this ancient gothic pile
will be amply repaid. II standson the SUNNI
of hill, ''boaring," says, the Abbe Bultean
| the sign of tue cross high above the town, q
if to avert the effects of the Justice OF Sod, ant
TO implore His mercy The interior abound
in works of art, and contains, among othe
beautiful specimens, tho celebrated group o
the Assumption, in CarraTa marble, by Bridan
, The painted glass is magnificent. No cathedra
in Franco exceeds that of Chartres in. tn
height of its steeplcs except that of Stfasbnrg
, But half.past fwo-the hour for YespeTs-
, approaches, and, we pay q flying visit TO Oh
Lady of tile Breach, q small chapel, built il
common GRAFTON of the deliverance of the cit,
: from an invasion of the Mortimer, undo
their famous chief, Rollo, by means of tn
tunic ofour Lady already mentioned, and wbicl
was shown TO the enemy on this very spot
causing them to flee in dismay.rg
Returning TO the cathedral priests an
| people unite their voices in praise to Goo
, Vespers are followed by q DISCOURSE; an
II public prayer is offered mp fer tho Pope, til
Q CHURCH, and the intentions Of all the piigrimi
: Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament gives partin
. blessing to His children Then the pilgrim
! form into solemn procession, and singing tn