The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-06-28
LETTER FROM 9" QUE PILGRIM.

PARIS, June ID, 1874.
To the Editor of the Morning Star:
In my last letter told you about our recsn
ton by His Eminence the Cardinal Archbisbo,
of Paris on Friday, the Goth. On the next dav
Saturday, the 30th, we heard mass at 10 o,cloct
in the celebrated church of Notre Dame dss
VICTORIES, in the chapel which is specials
| erected in honor of the Archconfraternity o,
Our Lady of Victories. The mass was cele.
brated by our Right Rev. Bishop Director, II
was low mass, during which chorus Of
about forty boys sang hymns to the Blessed
Virgin. The effect produced was truly grand
and impressive. The pilgrims were all accom-.
modated with seats Immediately fronting tbs
| altar at which mass was being said for them
The church was crowded to its utmost capacity
There are masses at all hours up to one O'Clock
and priests who wish to say mass at any par.
ticular altar must register their names long in
| advance. To describe the church to you Eou,a-
be impossible for me, as had no time to visit
it in all its parts, and could, therefore, not do
justice to tie subject. After mass, our good
Bishop made very feeling address to the nil
grims. He said that from his very earliest
years he had hoped to pay his respects to our
Blessed Lady at this shrine, where so MANY
wonderful miracles of grace had been per-
formed. He recalled an instance-that of his
own brother-who had lived twenty years
without approaching the sacraments, and that
after recommending him to the prayers of. the
Archcon fraternity for the conversion of sin.
ners, he had had the happiness of administer.
ing Holy Communion to him himself. The
Bishop was moved to tears while relating this
incident, and urged the pilgrims to implore
&ha;r s.
stood in need of, and that she would most
assuredly hear their prayers. After this beau
tiful and eloquent address, the Bishop blessed
a number of red crosses-pilgrims' crosses,
specially made for them and approved by the
Holy See, with indulGences attached. Each
pilgrim then approached the holy table and
received his cross, which is to be worn on all
occasions where the pilgrims perform their
religious exercises in common. But as we had
received, in New York, a badge with the image
of the Sacred Heart thereon, and as the pill.
grims are very much attached to their badge,
they have concluded to wear both.
On Sunday, the 3lst, the pilgrims attended
mass at & o'clock, at the Church of the Jesuit
Fathers. The mass was celebrated by our
good Bishop-Director, at the altar of the ia
panese martyrs. Below this altar rest the
bodies of the four Jesuit Fathers who we're put
to death by the Communists during the civil
war in 1870. After mass, had the happiness
of taking breakfast with the President-Gen
of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Monsieur
Adolpbe Baudon. Mr. Baudon appeared to b
very much pleased with my visit, and said he
would wish to conve rse with me more at length
on the affairs of the Society in the Province OF
New Orleans but this We had to postpone till
after the pilgrimage is disbauded, as expect
to return to Paris, where shall remain little 4
longer than l have done this time.
But 10. what surprise Something unez. /
pected has reached our ears. We are invited /
their hall at o'clock sharp. The gentlemen
of this club belong to the first families OF II
Paris. They are going to give US modest
repast to show us their sympathies and to give Il
proof of their Catholic sentiments. French
and American Catholics meeting together as
brothers What beautiful spectacle! The
hour has como: The pilgrims are arriving
from their respective hotels, with their
badges. The members of the Cerc1e CdfhoH4~
also have their red crosses. They have all
performed pilgrimages more than once in then
lives, but they say they can find no words TO
express their admiration of American Catholics
crossing the Atlantic to pay their homage to
our Lady of Lourdes, to the shrines OF the
Apostles, and to our Holy Father, Pope Plus
TX. IL
Before sitting to table, the pilgrims are IN
vited to visit the Hall. On the rez-de'chans'ee
or first floor, is the 1ecture-room, capable Of
seating several hundred persons. There Is
stage adapted for giving concerts. In front OF
the stage are several rows of fa"teuils or cusn
Toned arm-chairs. Adjacent to this, large
hall with five billiard-tables. Several OF ou'
pilgrims, fond of the game, are playing VIE
the members of the club. Those who do no'
belong to the Total Abstinence can take glass
of absinthe suisse, any other beverage "
applying to the barette. On the second hooF
a meeting-room for the club and library coz
tanning all the Catholic publications OF 'ps
day. But the bell is ringing and the presiaen'
calls aloud every invited guest and gives nr
his seat. Grace is eaid by Monseigneur
Segur, and a regular French dinner, Win !"
multiplied dishes and different qualities
a~~Nn