The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-11-14

| fierce activity, called an eruption,l during
| which there burst forth from the yawning
crater torrents Of molten lava these are the
characteristic marks of volcano.
Our pilgrimages, our privileged sanctuaries
reproduce, in o spiritual sense, these physical
, phenomena. Holy Writ repeatedly proolaims
that the earth is full of the mercy of the Lord.
BY this divine mercy, courage and perseve-
rance in good are nurtured in our souls, just as
the productive warmth, without which all
would decay and perish, is maintained in the
bosom of the soil, by those central subterrauean
fires which never die out. Moreover, in order to
satisfy the lopgings Of his own Heart, and to
revive in us continually sentiments of faith
and confidence, God chooses, from time to
time, to lavish in greater abundance, the
treasures of his love; he wishes to overwhelm
rs in ever-recurring delugss of his grace.
For this purpose he selects certain particu-
lar spots, which then become intensified Gen.
tres of piety, alteration, prayer, where the
faithful may receive a fresh infusion of su.
pernatural vigor where the poor sinner may
meet more, easily with the supreme boon Of
conversion. In these ssnctuaries spring
forth inexhaustible gushings Of divine grace,
as the curling clouds of smoke that never
cease to rise from the mountain crater, issuing
in endless procession from the hidden depths
where they are generated.
The all-powerful goodness of God thus mani
tests itself to the world, openly, by heavenly
wonders, sudden cures, and other similar
prodigies,-and these oft-repeated,-eithe
that the just may be encouraged, or the wicked
be converted, or humbled and COMPOUNDED.
To each and every one of those blessed spots,
whence loving mercy, as q source of never-fail-
ing life, spreads ITSELF might be applied to
that sweet call contained in st. Psul's Epistle
to the Hebrews: LET go therefore with
confidence to the throne of grace: that We
may obtain mercy in seasonable aid" Aye,
with simple, confding faith, with humble
trustfulness let us enter those shrines Of bene-
diction. We may rest assured that our hopes
will not be there struck with the blight Of
disappointment. God awits us there; with
and receive from His and the blessings which
He has in reserve for US. Shall we not comply
with so gracious an invitationi
Pilgrimages fervently made are, 80 to speak
favorable gales that drive our little bark
onward with outstretched sails straight to its
final destination in the track marked ont by
the will of God. The spirit of the Church is
strongly in their favor; the examples of the
Saints all preach the same attachment to the
holy custom.
Bat why does God make choice of one place
in preference to another as the stage whereon |
tn reveal among men some new manifestation
of His glory: whereon to add new honors to |
His Blessed Mother and to His saintsH
The answer to this question is enclosed
among the secrets of Providence; all that we
have to say is, that we know nothing about it,
In all things, even the most simple, rhy may
be easily propounded; a reasonable because is
found with more difficulty. God Is the
sovereign Master of his works and of his gifts.
When He vouchsafes to shower down his favors
upon us, without investigating the rherctore,
let Us be content to adore in all humility His
divine benefcence and pay Him the tribute Of
Dur heartfelt thanks.
To speak only of sahctuaries of the Blessed
Virgin, how sigually has Catholic France been
svored in this respect There is scarcely a.
Jingle diocese in which we do not find at least
me of these followed shrines, where Mary
axes a maternal pleasure in pouring the balm
# comfort upon the bruised hearts Of her
hldreu, or Ia soheniDg the obduracy Of the
ardened sinner. OF many of these favored
pots. the origin is lost in the Temoteuess of the
4st. What is known of the history of all, (
het her in authenticated documents, or in the
ofthe people, has been collected and !
ompilsd with religious respect and under :
he title of "Our Lady OF France forms book
eplete with useful information, and touching G
To whose ears are not familiar rs household {
ords" the names Of Our Lady Of Victories
ur Lady Of Fourvieres, Our Lady Of La !
alette, Our Lady de Ia Garde, etc, etc. 9
The sanctuary Of LOurdes 10 the last in order | O