The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-10-15
THE APPARIIT0N ATLOURDES

| THE APPARIIION At LOURDES
The Right Rev. Monsignor Capel, being no
at Lsurdes, has addressed to the leading joul
nal the following letter, which we give in ii
entirety. as published in the London Times
To the Editor of the Times.
Sir-On my arrival here had an opportunit
of reading leading article ON the Sanctuar
| OF LooEdeS, which appeared in the Times of til
I'd inst. Being on the spot, have eudeavore
| to seek reply to some of the questions raise
| by the article. IL is computed that in til
week just ended some 90 900 pilgrims hav
been here They came in organized bands, IN
der the direction of committees, composed O
priests and lay men, from Belgium, Apgou Ieme
PerpiGnan, Mines, Sincerre, ST. Ciar, d Jon
Narcotics, and the districts about LourUes
The variety of persons, aud of localities wheuc
they came. as well as the facilities one I'D o
m'Siog freely ana intimately with the GRO wd
ena bles one to pass a fair judgment on tn,
general run OF the pilgrims visit the G. rottt
Of Lourdes. AS there was mnch in your lead
ing article to wound and offend Catholics
trust you will allow me, after being an eye
witness of the events of the past week, to take
exception to the statements made by the
article.
l. The appsrition at Lourdes has not, as IL
asserted, - a claim upon the faith of the Who'll,
Catholic world" A man may be an excellent
Catholic, and yet believe neither in the appari
tion nor in the miracles stated to occur. 1t il
held by all Catholics that miraculous power i.
manifested in the Church, and that visions d.
occur; but the belief in single vision OF
miracle rests upon the evidence to be adduced
in it's favor. To this, Lourdes is no exception
With ono of the writer's who has carefully ex
amined and written on the claims of this sane
tuary, each believer may say, "Credidi quia vidi
propter Quod locutus sum-"
2. 1t ID impossible to take part in the exer
cises of the pilgrims without being INN ed late
ly struck by their honest conviction of the
truth of the apparition, by their fervent de
yotion, and by their earnest wish to worship
God in very truth. At considerable sacrifice
of time, money and comfort do they undertake
crowded railway carriage. they are to be seen
not having broken their fast, hurrying to the
altar to receive Holy Communion. as late
as eleven O'Clock have many to wait before
touching morsel of food. Throughout the
day the Basilioa and the Grotto are crowded
by these pilgrims, persevering in fervent
prayer.
3. Among the townspeople have made the
most careful inquiry concerning their belief
in the apparition. Soldiers, workmeu, shop.
keepers, railway officials, servants aud priests
have, With rare exceptions, expressed a firm
conviction of the truth of the vision. They
indignantly deny the truth of the words in the
leading article, the people of Lourdes, it is
we'll known, make no secret of their belief that
the whole thing is an imposture;" and they in
vite you to come on any IS Of Augustine
day whereon they go in procession to the Grotto
and judge of their belief.
4. AS to the miraculous cures which are
tuoCGeuS "OulQ refer your readers TO the calm,
judicions work, La Grotte de Lourdes," writ
ten by DR.. Dozous, an eminent resident practi-
toner, inspector of epidemic diseases for the
district, and medical assistant of the Court of
y astlce. he pretRceS q number of detailed
cases of miraculous cure, which he says he has
sthdied with great care and perseverance, with
these words: II declare that these cures effected
at the Sanctuary of Lourdes by means of the
water of the fountain have established their
supernatural character in the eyes of men of
good faith l ought to confess that, without
these cures, my mind, little prone to lis
ten to miraculous explanations of any kind,
would have had great difficulty in accepting
even this fact (the apparition), remarkable as
it Is from SO many points of view. Bot the
cures of which nave been so often ocular
witness have given to my mind a light which
does not permit me to ignore the Importance of
the visits of BernAdette to the Groteo and the
reality of the apparitions with which she was
favored" The testimony of a distinguished
m edlcaI man who has carefully watched from
the beginning BernadeCte aud the wonderful
cures at the Grotto, is, at least, worthy of re-
spectful consideration.
may add that the vast number OF those
who come to the Grotto do SO to repent of their
sins, to increase their piety, to pray for the
regeneration Of their country, to profess pub
licly their belief in the Son OF God and His
Immaculate Mother. Many come to be cured
OF bodily ailments, and, on the testimony of
eye-witnesses several return homo freed from
their sickness. To upbraid with non-belief, as
does your article, those who use also the waters
Of the Pyrenees, iE as reasonable as to charge
with unbelief the magistrates who Infict pun
ishment on the Peculiar People for neglecting
to have medical aid.
S, Health obliged me to pass the writers of
1860 to 1867 at Pau. This gave me the oppOr-
tnnity of making a most minute inquiry into
the apparition at Lourdes. After frequent and
examinations of Bernadette, and of
some of the miracles effected, am convinced
tn at if facts are to be received on human test-
mony, then has the apparition at Lourdes
every claim to be received as an undeniahie
fact. 1t is, however, no part of Catholic faith,
and may be accepted or rejected by any Catho.
lie without the least praise or condemnation.
Apologizing for trespas5ing to such length
on your space, l am, sir, your Obedient servant,
L. J. CAFEL.
Lourdes, September IL.