The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-06-01
IFrom tho Monitor Of May III


which the interviewers were respectively
attached. As general rule, "sensatioh"
was preferred to correctness, and conse-
ouently facts were distorted IN order to
attain the desired result. The mischief
wrought has been great, iuasmuch a. an
has been left on the minds OF
many that the authorities Of the Church
What precise good that could effect is en-
tirely beyond our comprehension, Those
who already belong to the Catholic Church
need no miracles to strengthen their at
tachment and those who are outside her
pale would require o fer more astounding
wopder than the appearance Of the stig.
nata on the hands and feet Of young lady
the ecclesiastical authorities wanted at any
time was to ascertain the facts Of the case,
caring vesy little whether the public choose
to regard them a. miraculous or not. These
facts, 30 far as they have been ascertained,
we now propose to give our readers without
uote or comment.
HISTORY OF THE CASE.
Some weeks before Easter, Miss Collins,
who was previously in the enjoyment Of
excellent health, was saddenly attacked
with violent pain In the head. Her snf.
ferings were intense, and she felt, a. she de-
scribed herself, az though q number OF
sharp points were being driven into her
brow and around her head. The pain
continued all day and through the night,
nothing was said about it. On that day
week, however, the same Symphonic oc-
CURED, but with longer duration and, IL
that were possible, with greater intensity.
On the third occasion her torture was 90
severe ~ to reduce her to state bordering
on insensibility, aud while ahe was 10 this
condition che was additionally afflicted with
pains Ia her hands and Feet, but no wonnds
or marks of wounda were visible. It was
actually distressing to those around Mas
Collins to be compelled to witness her
agony without having 1t in their power to
relieve 1t. The fourth time the young lady
suffered was on the Feast of the Seven
and then the wounds appeared on the upper
part of her hands and feet, and blood issued
from them.
On Good Friday her sufferings reached
q climax apparently, and it was thought i'm
possible, humanity speaking, that she could
endure them. Indeed, it was the opinion
of all who saw her at the time that her last
hour had arrived. 1t was on this occasion
that the wounds on the back of her hands
looked as if they had penetrated through
for corresponding narks appeared on the
palms. That day week, when DR.. Morse
saw her for a short time, and made
cursory examination of her hands, she
y
On the 25th of April, also, her condition
was not very distressing. Next Friday,
however, her pains regained their old inten-
atty, and her writings, as she lay PROSTATE,
smote the hearts of the beholders with the
most acute feelings of compassion. Since
then precisely the came phenomena have
been observed with upfailing regularity.
The order in which they occur has always
been the came. Sometimes during the after
noon Of Tharsiay Miss Collins experien-
ees the excruciatiBg paiDs in the head to
which We have alluded. This continues,
with little abatement or intermission, ali
night, and ON Friday partial insensibility, or
at least, indifference to all her surroundings,
intervepes. The cIisis of her sufEsrinGs ap-
pears to be reached when the wounds on
her hands and feet open aud bleed more or
less copiOusiy. The wounds do not, how
ever, show simultaneously. One hand gen
orally suffers first, then the other and,
judging from her motions and the uueesy
movements of her frame, the wound in her |
side opens last. Sometimes Il 10 absolutely |
appalling to witness her agony. Her Limbo |
become rigid abe stretches out her arms in |
the form of q cPoss, whilst her countenauce
shows Unmistakable signs of the torture to |
which she is put. But when the crisis IL |
passed her face, on the contrary, wears an |
expression OF ineffable sweetness and COM !
posnre, 80 that she appeals to be in . state |
Of eestatic contemplation.
We have said that, as o general rule, Miss
Colline' singular ordeal commences on
Thursday evening, but, to the acknowledgement
Of her friends, she exhibited the Fremont
tory signs on the evening Of Wednesday,
9TH instant. She suffered all that night, ali
Thursday and all Friday, and on tho last
day it was found that the wounds in her
feet, which previously appeared on the
upper surface only, were Visible also on
We have now enumerated the facts of the
case, related to ne by the very best author
lty, as they occurred and are occurring
and We shall cay no more. It is not our
province to pronounce as to the cause of |
'hese Extraordinary phenomena, aud we
o do so. We will merely state that DR..
the young lady's medical attend |
ut, has given the case his earnest attention.
nd has carefully noted all the deveIop. /
rents. He wiz In due time publish the
.sults of his0bservatiens, aud the verdict
gen tlsmRn OF his high scientific attain
ents cannot fab to have great weight with
/ intelligent aud rejecting public. |