The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-08-06
coNsECRA TIoN OF THE BASLLICA III
LOURDES.
oaowNIsG OF THE Status OF QUIZ LADY OF
80 LoURDRS.
IN. Y. Freeman g Journal.)

Anv one " no has never been to Lourdes Ga
a form no idea Of the vast preparations made fo
there on the first days of July. From the da
on which the Blessed Virgin appeared upo
the rocks of Massabielle to the favored littl
shepberdess. who was. in her turn, destined 3
draw the whole world in her wake, to that mi
saoulous grotto, what events have TRANSFERRED
In com parison to which this little inciden
must appear as nothing To day, this CRANE
d event makes ne lose sight of many scenes tina
have been enacted here and Of many person
ages who have visited this place and whose
eclds. one would think, would impress it,
a memory forever In our minds. 1t is gratitude
that docs his, and 1t here, indeed. that We be-
hold the fulfiiment of that prediction In the
,Mogai6oat W herein the Blessed Virgin invokes
she testimony of generations that all shall call
her blessed.
To this grotto all generations have como and
Follow one another. On the last day of jane
4 the number of plgl.ms was already considera-
BILE, and they lined every avenue leading to- the
3 Srotto, or to the crypt which surReunts IL,
and which serves as q support to the beautiful
church which was to be consecrated on the
MORROW.
Foremost among the visitors may bs seen
His Emineuce Cardinal GniberS, Arch bishop of
Paris and His Excellenoy Mgr. Meslia, Apos,
solic Nuncio. These had already been preceded
by Mgr. the Benediotine Bishop of Catana,
Italy, Mgr. the Bishop of Tarbes, and later by
Mgr. the Arch bishop of Rheims. On the fol-
lowing day came the Archbishops of Alger,
Auoh, Toulouse, Avignon, Abb. Chamtory, AK,
and ,Pergs; the Bishops OF Poictiers, Digne,
leme, Montau ban, Grenoble, Tsrentaise, Nevers,
Montpelier, Agen, Valence, Oran and Mines;
Mgr. Mermillod, Vicar Apostolic of Geneva,
Switzerland. aud the venerable Cure of Lourdes,
Mgr, Psyramae.
AMERICAN PRELATEN.
Among the American prelatss were the Most
Rev. N. J. Perche. D D., Archbishop of New
Orleans, Ri. Rev. William II. Gross, D D., C.SS
R., Bishop of Savannah; Mgr. Rodregues de
CarvRlho, Bishop Of St. Paul, Brazil, and the
illustrious and persecuted Bishop of olinda,
Mgr. Vital de Oliveira.
What shall we say Of the church that is about
to be oopsecrRted, and Of its interior decora.
displayed from every sanctuary in which Onr
Lady is honored under some special name, and
which have been brought here by deyout pill
Zrims.
The banners Of America and OF Belgium can
DO seen near the altar, aud not far from the
banner of Poland, and near the Sanctuary we
also SEQ glittering cross-swords, peaceful tro-
pixies dedicated by brave officers to the Mother |
Of the God of Armies. Egeryw here, on the ex- |
terror, along the line of the projected process |
sion, is q forest Of gigantic masts ornamented
standards of blue and white, the colors of Our |
Lady, and white and gold, the oolors of the
holy Father.
When on descending to the grotto from the
snmmit of the little street that bears its nsme,
the eye of the beholdeE takes in this magniti- |
cent scene, an indesoribable emotion, sweet but |
takes possession of him, and when |
their inclination, his eyes return to-
wards the grotto where q thousand candles re- |
veal, even far down into the darkness, the i'm |
mense throng of kneeling pilgrims, how can he
restrain his tears The sick have been
upon such instruments rs their condi- |
sion may require. From under the arches
OF the grotto they gaze upon the wonderful
decorations made out Of the orntches aud sup-
ports left there by patients who have been here
before and who have departed without them.
Oh, il they, too, could only contribute to this
miraculous collection Look into their courte-
nance, what strength of prayer, of resignation
beam forth from their eyes, tenderly hxed upon
the spot where the apparition appeared. Aud
who would not also fall upon his knees to pray
too, overcome by this Incompatible spectacle
And now the bells of the Basilica ring forth
joyful peal which Is re-eohoed on every side.
Rundreds of pilgrims may be seen olam berlng
MP the mountain side, in the burning sun, to
ges better view of the procession and the
ceremonies. The prelates now appear Glad in
full pontihcals. They are readily Recognized by
the multitudes fully impressed by the gorgeous
scene before them. But what enthus IL
manifested when the quiet and humble young
Brazilian Bishop of OiindA passes aloug-that
.ConfeAsor of the Faith, whose calm hrmness
did not recol before q long and painful in
prisonment for having defended those rights Of
the immortal Church which he will soon go
back TO defend anew. By his sids walked the
Bishop of st. Paul (Brsgil) and II seems as If
in these two prelates WAS concentrated the
episoopate of BrSsil who had come to Lourdes
so gain the courage of resistance until the
triumph of their Church shall BIO peaoefully
occurred.
The cortege is now at the door of the churcb,
where it is solemnly welcomed by Mgr. of
TArbes.
"Your Eminenoe," said Mgr. Jourdan, "the
Bishop, the clergy and the faithful of the Do
oese of Tarbes are happy to welcome You, and
to salute in your person the Delegate and the
representative of the august Pins TX. May the
blessings which your Eminenoe brings us from
80 exalted source, together with his Excel
leDcy the Apostolic Nunoio and of the Arch
bishops and Bishops here present, touch the
heart of Mary Immaculate and obtain for
she triumph of our Holy Mother the Church
end the salvation of France"
After n few words of thanks by the Cardinal,
the procession entered the Crypt, where, ar
ranged around the chapel of the Sacred Heart,
the prelates proceeded with the ceremonies
prescribed for the reception of she holy relics.
The Moat Eminent Cardinal recognized and
authenticated with his seal the relics of Ste.
JONATHAN and Rogatian, of st. Glare and st.
jane of England, destined for the main altar,
snd each of the Consecrating ArohbishoPs and