The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-08-31
The Miraculous crucifix of cavarzere.
from the Journal dc Florence


of tho Crucifix of Cavarzere the entire
press is occupied Herewith, especially the
Journals of the sect. Tho Church, less
nasty than the sect, has as yet passed no
Judgment upon the facts which are taking
place in Cavarzere, aud certainly l am not
one to forestall the venerated opinions OF
the only authority competent in such mat
ters. l merely deem 1t useful to send you
a simple account of occurrences which, by
the avowal even of the incredulous press OF
Venetia, are indisputable and recognized
and admitted as such by all those who
have been witness Of the same, whatever
their religious belief.
The Crucifx of Cavarzere is the work OF
| poor peasant, who, wholly ignorant OF
the first principles of sculpture, wished to
copy another crncifix in existence in Chi
oggia (twenty miles from Fenice). This
copy, less imperfect than might have been
expected from an utterly inexperienced
| hand, was consigned by it's author, in
1880, to the Rector of the Parish Church
| of Cavarzere. This latter placed the copy
tue Sacristy, where it long remained al
most forgotten.
On the 1lth June last, festival of SIS.
Felix and Fortunatus, patrons of the Do
cese of Chioggia, young girl, who was re-
citing Catechism in the Sacristy, turned in
dlsmay towards the teacher, saying: ;" Ma,
dam, the Crucifix is bowling the head"
1" Be quiet, silly child" replied the latter,
your eyes do not see straight" The
young girl insisted, repeating that she was
sure that the Cruci6x was raising and low
ering the head. She was ordered to pay
attention to the Cutechism, and not to be
gazing round her. Matters remained thus.
But the following day, June IL, feast of
Corpus Christi, another pupil, eight years
of age. knelt to pray at the feet of the vene-
rated Crucitix. This latter also said t" her
i teacher, after few moments of prayer,
81. 81 |, RI
bow the head. The instructress answered
her as she had replied to/her companion
the evening prevlously--that her eyes de-
ceived her. The child, terrified at the con-
tiuual motion of the head, hid her face
with her hands aud cries to be allowed to
return home.
Her tears and her words attracted the at
} tention of some persons present, who, in
their turn, perceived the head of the Christ
bow and az they spread the news thereof
throughout the country, the influence of
adorers of the Crucltix was immense during
the entire day.
The parish priest had the Crucifx closely
examined by Committee of Intelligent
, persons qualified to render an exact report
of the movements which might be verified
: in the head of the Christ, and to determine
if they could possibly be induced by some
fracture of the neck but it was clearly
proven that they coold proceed neither
from a fracture nor from any disarrange-
7 ment, since the sacred image WAS in q state
3 of perfect preservation.
Foreseeing what might be the result OF
. all this, Rev. Father Pomati assembled the
t priests and advised them to interfere in no.
wise with what was taking place, and to pro-
nounce no opinion with regard to the mira,
!, Gle. He at the same time forbade, under
! penalty of immediate expulsion, all the
! guardians of the Church from receiving any
offering in wax, in oil, or in other articles
which might be deposed at the feet Of the
revered Crucifix and likewise ordered the
\ removal of the aims box, which was usually
placed beside it.
n This superfluity of precautions could moi
prevent the faithful from coming in crowds
laden with offerings of every description
9 which they deposited upon the altar, from
t lighting candies thereon and from adjoining
u it with flowers.
: On the morrow the affluence was still
: greater, Friday being market day. The
u parish priest thereupon deemed i,
more prudent to close the doors of the
e sacristy and to prohibit ALI from entering
: therein.
: All this was again useless the prodi
: gious miracle OF Cavarzere was quickly
. made known throughout the envirOus, anC
L from dawn Of Sunday, June ID, crowds o
o the Faithful of both sexes aud of every
condition of life tlDcked from one huDdreL
d Kilometres around to visit the wonderful
u cruciiiX.
!. from 50 great distance, obliged the par.
e ish priest to rescind his order, and the
: sacristy doors We're again opened.
But all did not end here. The Crucifz
. opened tue fountain of its grace on behalf
h of the faithful sick people who had lair
S for several years IN their beds were re-
e stored to health after having been anointed
It with oil which had been burning upon its
If altar the bliud recovered their sight, the
= dumb their speech; the halt and tue MAIN
Il ed regaiued the use of their legs and o.
t their hands ; aud what is still moro admir-.
y aole, sinners and unbelieVers, come to the
church through slmplc curiosity, or posi-.
@ bly, to draw thence matter for derson
e Qu'tted the holJ temple fully contrlte, weep
Il lug and sObbInE,
D \ process verbal of all that has taken
5 place has been forwarded to his LordShip,
q the Bishop of Chioggin
d Besides the iDterdiction of pilgrimage
= to Cava,z ere, issued by the Perfect of rte
n Province of Veuetia, a prohibition which Is
t somew hat iguored toy those who desire tC
/, venerato the miraculous CrucIfx, the aut-
: h"rlJles have dispatched n equardr0n O
Z cavalry, VIII" are deployed along the route
| r., xuifh a ~ h,c1r