The New York herald., 1873-10-19


OF the church and sanctuary dedicated TO our Lady
ofLa salette. They being truly penitent, ana 'hav-
ing confessed their sins, received the holy commun
ion and attended the church or chapel with devout
hearts.u They were especially enjoined to pray
for the concord OF Christian princes and the unity
OF the Church
On the Sd OF September, 1852. another Papal
brief was issued by the Pope, granting
SPECIAL INDULGENCE FOR PILGRIMS
to the shrine OF Our Lady OF La Salette.
On the 7th OF September another Papal brief was
issued, at the demand OF the Bishop OF Grenoble.
granting to the priests OF the congregation OF
missionaries OF La Salette permission TO bless Win
ordinary indulgences the crosses. medals, chapets
ana other sacred things belonging to their sane
tuary. First and last, the Papa briefs which were
issued conferring privileges and indulgences on
pilgrims to the shrine of Our Lady OF La salette
were nine in number.
IL these men were all jesting, surely they were
making a very grim sort OF joke There remains
only the supposition that they were deceived and
deceiving But whoever knows anything OF French
bishops VIII admit that they are men not easily
duped. 1t would be,n the highest degree indecent
TO accuse some OF the most respectable men in
the world, both by their requirements and their
personal character. OF deliberate blasphemy.
Either they did believe the statements which
they soemnly made under their hands and seals
after having prayed to God Tor guidance, or they
did not. II they did. they were bound as ministers
OF their Church declare their belief II they did
not, they were scoundrels OF the deepest dye, who
deserved to be ducked ia horsepond.
.rhis thing OF La Salette is an imposture," says
Murrays handbook, the travelling Briton's Bible,
with that curt and ignorant decision which pecu-
arly characterizes the British shopkeeper out on
a holiday, for whom 1t was compiled; and pawn
brokng peers and lat stockholders lit up their
dulcet voices and bray In chorus, "This thing is an
mposture."
In like manner the free and Independent frog
has pertinent answer to the sober and strong
aspersons OF those people who swear that they
have been nealed OF their diseases by the miracu
ous fountain OF La Salette. One Tree, independent
frog remarks, with much subtle reasoning and ad-
mirable logic, that, whereas the name OF the Bishop
or Grenoble was once "Achillesr and is now
Jacques" he is totally unworthy Of credit; the
name OF Israel was once Jacob, the name OF Abra-
ham was once Abram. DO these facts invalidate
the truths OF Holy Writ whatever may have been
or may be the name OF The Bishop Of Grenoble, 1t is
certain that he examined into the miracles Of La
Salette with singular calmness and Impair
tialty and whosoeyer will take pains
to go into the evidence upon which his decision is
based will find any honest amount OF disbelief
much staggered. Men may lack faith but God is
faithful. Isl non credinaus, tie Jfdeiis pef7nanet;
negare seipsum non potes." Said the Bishop OF
Grenoble to one who had urged him for talk enough
TO soothe wonder:-
Notwithstanding the candor, or, If you will, the
ignorance OF the two children who saw the appari-
ton; Notwithstanding the impossibility OF their
having concocted astory in concert; notwithstand-
ing the strength and clearness OF their evidence,
which has never varied under judicial investiga-
ton, or when they have been interrogated by
thousands OF persons, who have exhausted all the
arts of persuasion and menace to induce them to
contradict themselves, 1.-THE Bishop OF Grenoble)
long hesitated to admit as incontestable fact
which seemed marvellous Any precipitation
upon my part would have been not only contrary
to that prudence which the greatest OF the
apostles has recommended to all bishops, but
1t might have fortified the prejudices Of
unbelievers and brought scandal upon
the Church while, therefore, many pious
persons gave full credence to the miracles OF La
Salette, was busy in seeking for any valid rea-
sons which could warrant me in doubling them.
l submitted to the charge OF Indifference and in
credulity. / braved much obloquy rather than
come to hasty decision. The Christian religion
is not in want OF any new miracles to prove its
truth, and IL was my duty to exercise the coolest
circumspection respecting the miracle OF La
Saette, for qd credit ctt0, leUts c0rde est. But
upon the other hand was strictly bound TO con-
slider that nothing is impossible to the Almighty;
that the arm OF the Lord is not shortened and
that His power is the same to-day as it has been
in past ages As bishop was compelled to tenn.
porlze. to reflect, to implore with feryor nstruc-
tion and guidance from on high and meantime the
prodigous facts announced on all sides as having
occurred at La Saette went on increasing. At
last, alter long and strict inquiry yielded to evil
dence which could not be gainsad, and then, and
not till then, pronounced my decision.n
| do not know whether the proper name OF the
Bishop OF Grenoble is or James or Achilles;
but this / do know, that he spoke in the language
OF a calm and reasonable man. In proof of mis- be-
lief in his own words, he has just passed fifteen
days in fasting and prayer on the mountain OF La
Salette, and l saw him there yesterday; mild
and venerable old man, OF a great eloquence In
speech, and on whose pure and white renown full
sixty years have left no spot or stain. Not, by any
means, man TO be ducked in norsepond, with
view to his deserts, this right reverend prelate,
but rather one OF those who seem lent to us by
heaven to bring US tidlngs OF great joy from it.
To bawI out, redbook in hand, that
he Is an impostor is something not very far from
sacrIlege. And II he were. what thens He was
one OF the last to declare his belief In the miracles
OF La Salette, and men as wise and good az he had
already examined and deci led on them. Are they
impostors, too' David said IN his haste, "All men
are liars" 1t Is as well to remember that it was
In his haste he said it, because It Is not pretty or
prudent to endorse the statement
My next and last letter on the religious revival
in France will narrate what saw and heard while
accompanying the latest grand national pilgrim.
age to Our Lady OF La Saette a few hours ago.
YTrrD Adv ruTr GUAM