The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-04-30
tby kind perm ssion Of the publishers D. J. Sadlel
d Co. New York
[Continued.l
XXXITI.

| xx1III.
| CURE OF TUE MOTHER OF A FAMILY AFFLICTED
| WITH CANCER IN TIE TONGUE.
On the 3rd of November, 1859, there was be-
fore the grotto of the Apparition, q group OF
pilgrims who were fervently asking Of the
Immaculate Virgin the cure of q young mo-
ther whose recovery was almost despsired of,
| and whose loss would have been the ruin of q
whole family. Two priests had Joined this
pious pilgrimage, and were praying fervently,
kneeling amongst their friends.
| The life of Marie Lassabe, of Montfaucon
(Hautes Pyrenees), was, in fact, threatened by
very alarming cancerous sore. She was
still young, an only daughter, much beloved
by all her relatives, and tho mother of o hne
child.
At frat, Madame Lsssabe had felt at the
bottom of the throat an odd sensation, like the
| cover of grain of wheat, whose sharp edge
was pricking the flesh. She sometimes suffered
great deal. and could not eat regularly. Her
| tongue sweled, became hard and painful, 60
peoially on one side, and it soon assumed the
alarming color which denotes cancer. She
| could not stir it without great pain she
could scarcely speak, and had great difficulty
in eating; on the Bird of November, she had
passed seventeen days without having swal-
lowed anything solid she lived on soup,
broth, and other nourishment of that kind.
Nothing was left undone to arrest the disease.
Physicians were called in, and prescribed the
remedies used in such cases. But, in spite of
medicine, her condition grew worse.
Her tongue was 80 enlarged, and so pressing
was the necessity to reach all parts of it with
the lniments, that they thought of drawing
the teeth to free the tongue.
Accompanied by her physician, Madame
Lessabe went to consult the doctors Of Tarbes.
Some of them spoke of burning the tongue
il the nicer broke others prescribed other
remedies But all were unanimous in declar
ing the disease very serious. They could not
entirely conceal their opinion, and the poor
patient saw clearly that they thought her life
in danger.
Coming from these visits, Madame Lassabe
went to the house of one of her friends, aud
spoke of her disease with all the anxiety excl
ted by the too peroeptible fears of the doctors.
"Well," said the lady, taking q pbisl from q
cupboard, "since that is the case, have conf
dence in Our Lady of Lourdes, and drink some
of this water it comes from the grotto."
She had been expressly forbidden to swallow
anything cold. She took the water courage
OubiyJ hbu SOOu aICeE LOuuu uSESoIL y llILlo 10
lieved. But this was only little encourage
ment given her by the Blessed Virgin, for, two
days after, an increase OF the disease gave rise
to new anxiety.
They began to understand that human
means were unavAilDg the idea of going to
seek at the grotto of Lourdes cure which was
almost unboped for, had already vaguely oo-
CURED to Marie Lassabe, and the pastor Of
Montfaucon. Before the relapse, it had be-
came a settled plan, and the pilgrimage waS
fixed for the Srd of November. The evening
before, the good paOtor asked one of the doc
tors: "Can this disease be cured suddenly {"
mo" answered he. "And if the patient be
suddenly cured tomorrow, what will you say ~
"Ah will say that the cure does not como
from our remedies"
On that day, the 2nd Of November, the pa
tient was worse than ever. Her suffering was
exorucisting she could scarcely take little
liquid. She longed for q grape; it was i'm
possible for her to swallow it.
On Wednesday, at the moment Of departure,
She was just the same; the same pain, the
ss1ae excessive weakness. ALI along the way,
Madame LasSabe was obliged to keep silent
her friends avoided speaking to her, to spare
her the pain which every word caused her.
When she said word, her feeble voice could
soarcsly be heard.