The New York herald., 1873-10-19
YHH MIRACLES.
Searching Ecclesiastical lnVesti-
cation as to the Verify of
the Manifestations.
AT LA ALETTE.
Recognition of the Virgin Mary by the
Bishop Of GrenOble.
ANTOINETTE BOLLENAT.
Her Cure Attested by the Arch
bishop Of Sens.
THE REV. MIR. MARTIN.
His Cure Certified by the
Bishop Of Verdun.
THE BISHOP OF FREJUS CONVINCED.
A Paralytic Suddenly Healed by the
Waters Of the Holy Fountain.
PRIVATE OPINION OF THE POPE.
Els Holiness Narrates the Miraculous
Cure Of Roman Lady by the
THE BISHOP OF FREJUS CONVINCED.
A Paralytic Suddenly Healed by the
Waters Of the Holy Fountain.
PRIVATE OPINION OF THE POPE.
Els Holiness Narrates the Miraculous
Cure Of a Roman Lady by the
Waters Of La Salette.

The rumor that the Virgin Mary had actually ap-
peared in human form to two children at the
mountain village of La Salette, the 10th or Sep
tember, 1S46, spread like wdfre through the do
cese OF Grenoble, and soon startled the whole Ro-
man Catholic world. Curious persons, the outlook
for sensational news, began to be seen in the
neighoorhood, and they were followed. after no
great lapse OF time by pilgrims who arrived
there for devotional purposes Now pilgrims
are mostly persons sick at heart or dis
eased in body, and it happened that many OF the
pilgrims who came TO drink from the miraculous
fountain, near which the Virgin had been seen by
the shepherdess Meanie Matthew and the cowherd
MaxImin Giraud, were suddenly healed OF their
mental or bodily ailments. Therefore, on the 10th
OF July, 1s47, the Bishop OF Grenobe nominated NJ.
Rousseot Vicar General of the diocese, and NJ.
Orcel, Superior OF the Grand Seminary, to inst-
tute
A SEARCHING INVESTIGATION
into all the facts OF the case.
These two ecclesiastical commissioners, both men
OF high character and large experience, inter-
rogated the children who had seen the apparition
of the Virgin Mary and all those persons to whom
these children had recounted their narrative.
The ecclesiastical commissioners also interro-
gated, In eight different dioceses the persons who
alleged that they had been cured OF their diseases
by the waters Of the miraculous fountain OF La
Sdlette, Wncn nad DurSt IOrtn again a1ter having
been long dried up, and from the facts collected
during patient investigation, which lasted two
months, they concluded in their report that the
apparltion was supernatural, and that it was verify
the Holy Virgin who had spoken to Maximln
Giraud and to Melanie Matthew.
The Roman Catholic Church, however, proceeded
warily to clear up the mystery
A committee OF sixteen members, composed OF
the canons and parochial clergy OF Grenoble. the
grand Wears OF the diocese the superior OF the
Grand Seminary, and presided over by the Bishop
himself debated this report, and finally adopted
it after eight sittings. Feeling fully convinced OF
the truth, on the 18th OF september, 1851, the
Bishop OF Grenoble issued
A DoCTRINAL MANDATE
IN these terms:-
''Reying on the principles taught by Pope Bene-
dict XIV, and following the course marked out by
him in his immortal work 'On the Beatifcation
and Canonization OF Saints 1iv. H., chap. L,
No. 12;
considering the written narrative OF the Able
Rousselot, one OF our Wears general, printed
under this tttle-'Thc Truth About the Event OF
La Salette, Grenoble' 1s4s;
considering also the New Documents Respect
ing the Event OF La Salette.' published by the
same author in 1850, both the and the otner OF
which works have received our appreciation:
"Havng heard the discussions which have been
held before upon this affair In the sitings OF the
Sth, 18th, 10th, 17th, 22d ana Goth November, and
on the 9th and 18th December lS47;
''Having likewise heard or seen what has been
said or written since this epoch botn for and
against the event;
"Considering in the first place, the impossibi,y
OF explaining the fact OF La Salette otherwise than
by Divine intervention in what manner soever We
may regard it, either in itseI, or in ITS crcum
stances, or IN Its object, essentially religious:
"Considering. in the second place, that the mar
vellous consequences Of the TACT or La Salette are
the testimony OF God Himself maniiesting His
power Dy miracles, and that this testimony is su-
perlor to human evidence and human objections:
'Considcring that these two motives taken sep-
arstely-and, with sti more reason, taken to-
gether-should dominate the whole question and
deprive any pretended suppositons to the con-
trary OF all value, though we hereby declare that
we have thoroughly examined them:
"Considering, finally that docility and submis
sion to the warnings OF heaven may preserve MS
from the new chastisements by which we are men,
aced, whereas a prolonged resistance may expose
Us TO evils without remedy;
"Upon the express demand or all the members OF
our venerable chapter and OF the greater majority
OF the clergy OF diocese, also In order to satisfy
the just expectation OF great number OF pious
souls, both in our country and abroad, who might
end BY reproaching us with having detained
TRUTH IN CAPTIVITY,
''The Holy Ghost and the assistance OF the i'm
maculate Virgin having been, moreover invoked
we declare as follows:-
ARTICLE 1--we judge that the apparition OF the
Holy Virgin to two shepherds mo word Tor 'cow.
nero" In frenchl on the 18th OF september, 1s46,
upon ,n mountain IN the chain Of the Alps, situated
IN tne parish OF La Salette In the Archdeaconry OF
corps mas IN itself all the character OF truth and
and indubitable.
ART we believe that this fact acquires n new
uegree oil certainty by the immense and spontane-
Gus concourse OF the faithful upon the spot where
tne apparilon was seen, a. wen as by the multi
suue OF prodigles whicn have followed the said
event, ana OF which II Is Impossible to doubt a
great number without violating the laws of bnma
evidence. ~ ia"s Va nuineu
ART. a. Therefore, In order TO testify 70 Cod and
10 the glorious Virgin Mary our lively gratiinde
we hereby authorize the worship OF - e'"'''u00
OUR LADY OF LA sAIp1Tr
We permit 1t TO be preached m order Tho, ;. A,
this great event. ~ """"om
AIT. I've expressly forbid to the ls.talsl and