The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1875-12-26
Translated toI Morning Star from tt.e FreIch ui
Mgr. de SeGur
THE WONDERS OF LOU RIDES.
CONTINUED |
w
APPARITIoN or THURSDAY, FEB. -.

APPARIIIoN or THURSDAY, FEB. -.
THE THIRD SHORTHAND THE MIRACULOUS
STRING
We come to the eighth day of the fortnight.
A countless multitude, almost wild with the
eagerness of unrestrained expectancy, was
jamnied into every available space in the
neighborhood of the grotto. AS rs Ber
nadette made her appearance, ALL sceptics as
well as believers, inetnctively uncovered their
heads. The admirable Mother of Cod youch
safed on this day, as on the preceding, to be
panctual to the rendezvous. In other
shrine perhaps, has Mary so multiplied her
heavenly visitations.
The Blessed Virgin began this interview by
coutiding to Bernadette her third secret
"My dGughter, I cish to cmtruSt you cith last
secret airays for yoHrsef alone not more than
Tie others, goa lrV reredl II TO human beiHJ.
Bernadette in blissful tranquility listened to
the melody of this voice, so soft, gentle, SO
maternal, whose tones had once, at Nazareth,
charmed the ear and captiyated the heart of
the child Jesus.
"And now" resumed the Virgin after mo-
ment's silence, ego. drink and ,cash yomrseD at
the spring, and eat Of the grass that is there"
Beruadette all amazed cast her eyes around
on all sides. There was no water in the grot-
to-there never had been. An arid heap of
sandy SOIL mixed mp with fragments of splin-
cavern, and reached within two yards of the
actual vault. Without losing sight of the APP
partition, Bernadette was directing her steps
towards the torrent, when sign and look
from the Virgin arrested her retrogrsde move
ment, and pointed out the spot she was to ap-
proach. "Go not to the torrent, did not hid you
10 dri"L there 4; go to the spring. Ills there" The
Vision extended her hand, and with her finger
designated that very dry, parched-up corner,
whittier Bernadette, on the day before, had
been ordered to crawl on her knees. This was
at the very bottom of the grotto to the left of
the spectator.
Bernadette picked her way to the place, and
when further progress was impeded by the
solid rock she began to search for the spring.
She found it not still, she wished to obey.
Looking towards the Apparition, she mutely
signted her perplexity A new sign responds
to her appeal the child bent forward and
with her tiny hands commenced to scoop out
hole in the ground.
Suddenly the bottom of this little hollow be-
came moist. Forcing it's passage from the
bowels of the earth, through rocks and tlinty
soil, mysterious water sprang up beneath
the hand of the child of Mary, and soon filled
the reservoir fashioned out for it's reception.
About glass full was thus collected together.
1t was of a muddy, yellowish hue. Three
times did Bernadette carry some of it to the
lips: she could not muster sufficient courage
to swallow it. Tue bright Apparition superin
tended this strange scene, and followed at
teutively the movements of the child. This
latter at length Ove1came her repuguauce.
She drank of the ID uddy water, and wetted her
face with it.
To the spectators all this was mex pl ics able.
ooh look" exclaimed some, "see bow she is
dirt ing herself" Others charitabiy supposed
that she had lost her wits there was neither
sense nor reason in what she was doing. Whilst
these remarks were heedtessly expressed
Bern adette with her wet fogers, P}ucked up
some of the blades of grass that grew around,
and ate ofthem.
At the same moment, the water of the incip.
lent spring passed over the edge of the dtntnu-
tive basin followed out by the child, and be-
gan 20 now outwards in q 1neagret tbinnIsh
thread, which for the first day only traced a
moisteued pathway in the sand. Gradually,
however, imperceptibly, the trace
len engttening out towards the torrent. With
her puDy hand, Bernadette had unconsciously
opened the source of cures and miracles. The
Blessed Virgin rewarded her little worker with
a smile of satisfaction, aud disappeared. The
faithful submissive child then returned home
wards with her usual modesty AID aleekue.S