The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-12-12
TRANSLATED for the Morning Star from the French Of
Mgr. de Segur.
THE WONDERS OF LOURDES.


Continued
|
BERNADETTE AT THE FEET OF THE BLESSED
VIRGIN.
During the first period of the wonderful
fortni ght, Bernadette was ommissioped with
no order by the Blessed Virgin. The ordinary
conduct of the child during the apparitCns
was as follows She remained stationary upon
her knees on the bare rock at the entrance of
the grotto. The time that lapsed during her
ecstasy, glided away in the uninterrupted con
temptation of the ever-glorious and immacu.
late Virgin, Queen of the rosary, the delight
| OF heaven and earth In this posture, Ber-
| nadetter undisturbed in the quiet enjoyment
of her happiness, with her eyes riveted upon
the opening in the rock, repeated the simple
prayers of the beads.
A sudden start announced the coming of the
august Visitor. The two hands were slightly
lifted, by rapid, but not abrupt movement.
Her whole attitude appeared to be elevated
beyond the contact of earthly grossness. The
face, overspread with the customary pallor,
| seemed to be yearningly attracted towards the
object that met her sight.
Upon the assembled crowds fell the rebound
of the supernatural shock that SO completely
transformed Bernadette. "Now! she sees
Her." The word flashed like lightning through
the closely pressed masses, and never failed to
excite general emotion.
Curiosity was awakened afresh, and caused
violent swaying of this eager, iumbled mass
it was necessary to protect the child against
the crush. After while, silence, deep, uni
versal, religious, reassertsd it's sway, and
hushed the slightest stir that mightAEeak in
upon the solemn stiffness. profouuder
quiet could not reigl within the shadowy pre-
cincts of some halo wed shrine: All eyes were
fixed upon the PROSTATE form of Bernadette.
After brief suspense, the enraptured child
with the most unaffected ease, softly bowed,
with the expression of the highest reverence
and respect. Over her face serene, beatifc
smile had expanded, and fingered there in
untroubled repose. Again she DO wed, as if in
response to mysterious greetings that
boIe peace and joy to the depths of her heart
Then, without letting her eyes stray from the
vision, she traced upon herself with her TO
sary, dcvout sligo of the cross, full of faith
and beauty sign of the cross, 30 grand, SO
majestic, that people whispered around her,
"Thus is it made by the saints alone, before
the throne of the Saviour, in the glorious
courts Of Heaven"
In the hands of Barnedette, the beads would
at times be revolved rapidly, at times more
leisurely not unfrequently they would hang
altogether motionless. Wonderful to relate
Whilst Bernadette was repeating her AYES, the
bystanders, who were greedily watching the |
mereset twitching of her countenance, never
once perceived the slightest working of her
lips. Those nearest to her, have heard from |
the depths of her throat, as it were, the silvery
echoes of little struggling sounds that died
away, ere they had found utterance.
At certain moments, her attention to the
Vision seemed to grow in intensity. Several
times she must have addressed the amiable
Lady not q sound reached the ear of any
listener. One day she remarked to some one,
with great surprise, "How you did not hear
met yet, spoke quite loud" Not even an
indfstinct murmuring, not quivering of the
lip had betrayed the fact. From time to time
she renewed her beautiful sign of the cross.
For several days she bore lighted taper in
her left hand her right alone then held the
beads. When she had no taper, she kept her
two hands folded together, and with the
thumb counted out her beads over the crossed
fingers. ..
One morning q sharp, biting wind was
and threatened to extinguish her
taper. The child had instinctively stretched
out her hand to shelter her light. Tho wind
striking the rock, was driven backwards, and
carried the Game towards her open hand 1t
licked her fingers, and splitting into several
minute little fiery streams, passed through the
inteTstices, where If. fingered for few mo-
msnts. "she is burnt exclaimed the COM