The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-02-20
NEW ORLEANS, SUNDAY MORNING FEBRUARY go, ls76.

water still displays it's marvellous attribute OF
afording relief to every bodily in6rmity; but
let us not forget that at Lourdes, as well as at
every other snrine of Mary, the miracle is, and
can be, only an exception to ordinary laws.
The term miracle signifies, of it's, lf, an er-
iraordinary Intervention Of divine power, 1t
would be therefore very erroneous to imagine
that miraculous favor must inevitably ensue
from draught of the water of L,urdes, or 3
novena, or even pilgrimage to the. sacred
gretto.
Confidence in the Immaculate Conception can
not be too great; but this confidence must be
in subsection to deep and filial reverence of
the will of God. Providence does not always
lead us by the beaten highway; it sometimes
guides rs by q secret path absolute doeility
is indispensable on our part to the hidden de-
signs of God. Atcdys, be assured of this,
alUays does the Mother Of God hearken to our
supplicatio1s aud never does She refuse a
favor to her cherished children. She grants
our prayers according to Her own views. not
perhaps, according to our demand. But let
not forget that Mary is our Mother: whatever
graces cow from Her maternal heart are the
most conducive to our eternal welfare. Suf-
fering is very frequently the most preciou 3
of grsoes, the most inestimable of all trea-
suresl If. the Blessed Virgin does not deem it
proper to relieve bodily evils, She infallibly
bestows upon her supplicsnts treasures of
humble resignation and of lively faith. How
do mere natural advantages pale before the
heavenly beauty OF these Christian virtues !!
Such convictions are alone worthy of q no.
BILE Christian heart. Let them rule our thou gbts.
and guide our hopes, when we approach the
shrine of the Immaculate Virgin. We may not
have been favored, ss so many others have been,
by miraculous interpretation of heaven in our
behalf But that pious novena, that devout
usage of the water of the grotto, that pilgri-
mage made with fatigue and difficulty, has
not been lost rich merits are stored up for
eternity. With eager longing, and impatient
expectation We importuned heaven for the
cure of some physical ill our petition was not
granted, but do know what greater need
may have been supplied, the result of our
prayers. This is at least infallible; no one
has ever had recourse to the protection of the
Mother of God, implored Her help, sought
Her mediation without obtaining relief.
SUDDEN CURE OPERATED ON PROTESTANT
FREETHINKER.
The ground has been titled the seed has been
cast the garden is hedged in and secured from
the inrosd of deseorating feet. The spring time
was brief; the harvest season, with it's matured
fulness, fastened to enrich the field with
flowers of every hue and fruits of every type.
Heretofore our little work has simply and
briefly teld the tale of the mysterious Appari-
tions and painted, as faithfully as possible, the
portrait of the humble seer. In the pages that
follow miracles alone will speak.
The series shall begin by q charming trait,
which ia not without q certain piqusncy. 1t
was related to me by one of the missionaries,
himself an eyewitness to the occurrence The
victim was q Protestant, or rather one whose
ideas on religious matters could scarcely be
confined within any definite symbol. He GER
tainly never dreamt of asking q miracle nay,
when it came to him unlimited, he was not only
extremely astonished, but he even experienced
considerable annoyance from so strange q
visitor.
Mr.. Max NJ, though he could boast of
very little religion, enjoyed an enviable repu-
tation as q most obliging artist at one of the
most frequented wateriug-places Of the Pyre-
nees. During the summer months he there
conducted the orchestra of large concert
casino, and gained gEeat applause by tho skill
and talent which he displayed in this position
An unsightly excrescence had lately made its
appearance on his right hand. Remedies Of
various kinds, even surgical operations, were
resOrted to without success the growth Of the
wennish tumOr overcame all impediments, and
awakened many an anxious thought in the
mind of the artist. In 1866 the parasiticaI
pulp had swollen to the si1e of an egg; q
leaden plate, tightly compressed upon the
diseased part, offered but g slight resistance to
the progress of the tumOr. Mr.. Max codId no
longer close his hand or handle his bow with
frOedOm.