The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-02-06
Rabiosa 0mes-No. I1e Poydras street. corner Of Camp
Translated for MORNING Star from the French of
LSSs do SSgur.i q.
THE WONDERS OF L0URDES.
Continued
XIII.

IContnued.
XIII.
EIGHTEENTH AND LAST APPARITIoN OF THE
BLESSED VIRGIN TO BERNADRTTK
Webave noted above that Bernadstte was to
behold the Immaculate Virgin once more. She
was to receive the last edvice from Her, by
whom she had been chosen Is vase of cleo
ton, for this now manifestation of heavenly
mercies. Mary would return to cheer her soul
by Her presence, and reward her by su-
preme consolation for all The trials she had I'M
dergone in the service ofher Protectress. The
poor child had indeed met with many o thorn,
stumbled against many . rugged stone since
the beginning of her ission. With q stout
heart she had borne all her trials. With
meekuess and humility, she had DO wed her
head to the storm but she never finched
from the path marked out for her by Provi-
Deuce.
In the evening OF tHe sixteenth of July,
Feast of our Lady of Monnt Carmel, Berns-
dette felt that mysterious attraction which
formerly impelled he towards the grotto.
She spoke of it in the family circle. Her
youngest aunt offered to bear her company.
Two other women of Lourdes had manifested
an extreme desire Of following Bernadette
some day, in the hope of witnessing the
ecstasy they were warned of the expedition.
All four started together.
The grotto was closed at that time by order
of the Project. Bern adette in particular was
prohibited from spproaobing the condemned
spot She and her companions took their way
by the meadows that bordered on the opposite
bank of tho water course. They knelt down,
facing the grotto at short distance from q
group who were praying. The new corners
were not remarked. They recited their Ave
Marias the beads O their rosary. Twilight
had just succeeded the fading hues of day.
the clasped hands of Bernadette are sudden
ly separated and fall by her eide, as by an
abrupt impulse of surprise.
To her companions this seems the hsrbinger
of the coming of the ecstasy. In the lsst re
hscted lights of the dying fires of day, they
see her face suffdsed with supernatural pal
lor, her eyes CLEAN with the heavenly brill
liaucy. At this moment q woman comes near,
with lighted taper in. her hand, and casts
herself on her knees not far from Bernadette,
without in the least suspeoting the wonder
that takes place close beside her. The glare
of the candle falls on the transfgured counte-
uAnCO VI buo CulIO' OuOO mOEOp ouO AOA VINO A"oU
time, Bernadette's aunt contemplates her niece
transformed into an unearthly being She
beholds the indescri bable paleness, the look of
Paradise that beams from an eye which is fixed
on the unveiled splendors, and celestial beauty
of the Virgin Mary. Seized with wondering
admiration, her companions locked on in 81
lence, whilst the happy child, lost to earth,
was reveliugin those inoom prehensible deligh
which the Queen of Heaven bore to her from
Paradise for the eighteenth time.
= After the lapse of q quarter of an hour, the
ecstasy came to an end. Bernadette had received
the last farewell
She spoke of the Vision with deep feeling
of bliss. As soon as the first glimmerings of
the heralding light caught her eyes, she lost
all consciousness to surrounding objects she
saw neither the intervening bed of the torrent,
nor the dull, blank wood work of the enclo
sure. As in the previous Apparitions, she
saw the Virgin, and naught but the Virgin, in
her snowy robe, with her veil and blue sash,
and the halo, and the sweet look, and the en-
trancing smiles There was this difference {:
the Mother of Sod had never previously ap-
peared in such splendoT. Her counteaance
seemed to the child more radiant, more
beautiful than ever; the nureola shone with
dazzling lustre that she lad not witnessed
before.
This Apparition was wholly for the child.
1t was little known, and moreover it could add
nothing to the belief of the people.
The poor little Bernadette had accomplished
her mission with mistaken courage aud IN
assuming simplicity. No trial had been found
stronger than her Interchangeable devotedness.
She had struggled hard, and endured much for
the ca-sc Of the heavenly L.dg: ar3 e:s:r