The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1875-12-19

whether she had seen the Lady again; what
did she say to youf ~ have seen the Vision'
sir, and said to Her, Our parish priest re-
quires Of you some further signs, for example
let that rose. tree beneath your feet blcoM now
in mid winter. Ny word 10 not sufficient for
the priests, and they do not wish to be alto
gether guided by what say. She smiled, but
without speaking. She then exhorted me to
pray for sinners. and ordered me to 60 to the
bottom of the grotto. Three times she cried
aloud Penanee! penanoe!l! penanceH!
repeated the words, whilst dragging myself
along. When reached the extremity OF the
cave, she intrusted me with another secret,
| which concerrs only myself. Then, she dsap-
peared. "And what did you find in that part
of the grottof" ST examined we'll after she
had left for while che is near me, have eyes
for Her alone. I saw nothing but the bare
rock, and some struggling blades Of grass
which had sprouted in the dust" eve should
await further dev velopments," }" said the priest to
| himself.
And in this simple relation of BeFnadette.
some precious details are omitted, Of which We
cannot deprive the pious reader.
Daring her progress up the slope which led
to the interior Of the cavern, in direction
slantlng towards the left, Bernadette was OBJ
served to kiss the earth at different Intervals
The Blessed Virgin had said to her You
mast pray God for sinners; you mast kiss the
earth for the conversion Of siRners." Bernadeste,
lifting her head after accomplishing this act,
} perceived that the Apparition was receding
, slowly into the grotto she followed on her
, knees, multiplying her penitential proetrations
in the dust. She soon entered beneath the
shadow of the vault, and for q brief epace o
, time remained motionless. At this moment
she beheld the Apparition 80 close, that, sait
! she, it seemed to her as If by rising AuC
stretching out her arm, che could touch He
feet.
Bernadette next turned towards the crowd
f and by basty abrupt sign, seemed to require
of them to bow themselves to the ground
The motion was not understood. Her fore
+ finger then sought her closed lips, where it wa
= pressed for an instant, aud afterwards rig'c
{ and imperious pointed to the earth, with sur
prising energy and authority. The look auC
, the gesture plainly conveyed to all the order
"Kuell ye also, and kiss the EARTH" Several o
the spectators mastered by the superhumal
. dignity of this frail child, straightway pros
!. trated themselves, and humbled their brow
; in the dust, persuaded that in this, they obey
4 ed the iDjunotions Of the heavenly ViSitant he'
y self.
y a. she had gone forward on her knees, froI
time to time kissing the ground, and resume
~ her contemplation before the niche.
After such a spectacle, well-calculated {
'' coufound the pride of man, the feelings Of Eh
eve-wituesses were of the most varied types
but upon all minds there fell an immcns
i wonder; an all-absorbing Astonishment.
% large number withdrew, bearing away in thel
hearts that deep religious impression, usuall
, communicated by mysterious events, benin
N the workings of which we feel that God COZ
10 ceals his own divine band. marvellous Il
)" turo was in store for the grotto such was II
p whispered presentiment OF all. The Queen
III Heaven gave them, as it were, vague premoD
10 tions of coming mercies.
since that frst occasion, psDance was mol
10 than once again demanded OF Bernsdette. 4
- least once during each APparition, she pc
N formed her toilsome journey on her knees u
nt and down the slope TO the grottO, and alWaI
% in the deepest silence. The first time alon
al was she heard to pronounce the words "PT
u once psHGnce peHdHcs"
Id Opeday she accomplished several OF these
~ borious asceuts. Her countenance beanie
st with the glow Ofbappiness A shade OF mOuri
re ful melancholy would however Dometim
o. overshadow her features but even then Il
be sweet smile Was not extiDguIShed, only Slign
be Is veiled. The Virgin repaid smile for Smil
~ and thus rewarded her little elienrS Penan'
by this ravshing mark Of heavenly eonEon
ne ment. -, a,
ts People still remember with wonder, u
d. ease and ligbtneSs with which che moved fo
ward on her kness 81 have often imagined
to. wrote an eye witness, "thatunsoen spirits mu
lie have upheld her form, to enable her to sdVan
ass 90 rsPidiy!F