, 1876-06-18
LOUISE LATEAT.
THE YOUNG WOMAN WITH THE tssT1GMA" OF THE


CROSS.
The following is an extract from an article by
DR.. Lefcbvre, which appeared short time ago
In the Revue Catho!ique de- Lonruia. Dr.. Lefcb-
vre Is one of the first doctors Of Belgium, and
disappointed by the Bishops to make q medical
inquiry into the case OF the stigmatizee. This he
did, and published q learned work some five
years ago. During the month of March, 1876,
be made another visit to Louise.
suffered so much from her stignas that it was
thought she would soon die. The last sacra-
ments were adminfst red to her, and her peril
Gus state was soon made known far and wide bv
the press.
Louise suffered the crisis will now relate, SAYS
rd Of March, 1875 What strikes Us most @ Of ; all
is the violence Of her suderings. Her countenancc
Clearly shows intense agony; her breathing is in
change her position, ~ ii to avoid suffering: not "a
word. however, eecapcs her. ask her to tell me
sincerely what she suffers. She replies that she
her limbs. 1request her to state the precise place
where these pains occur; and find they exist in
all those places which bear the stigrnas, e., on
both sides of the hands and feet, In her left side
her right shoulder, and throughout tue whole cir
cumference OF the head, ut the very place where
are situated the stigmatic wounds. These pains
creasc II the wounds are subjected to pressure In
al the rest OF her body even in those parts next to
the atig1nas, there s not the slightest pain.
appearance Her face is rather thin and paier than
formerly though her lips Arrest Ill well coiored her
pnse s feeble, but regular; 1t beats eighty times
moaning tthirty:two inspirations 1ninute}; the
skin Is toril, and soft to the touch. next exam
Inc with the greatest attention the state OF the stg
mes, This Is exactly the condition in which
found ther1: the stgmas Of the feet arr dry: they
give no indication OF having given forth any blood
to-day. Or. Lcfebvre ~ writing on Frday.} The
stigma in the side has bled profnsely. 1request
to place there it is folded sixteen times upon it.
self, and is completely saturated with blood
throughout. examine the stigma Of the shoulder;
cradle quantity must have been given FORTH as the
linen which covers It plainly shows it being In the
same etatc as that covering the side. The four
Is running without interruption a little thread OF
blood. This transpiration, which commenced
about midnight, and which was still continuing
nishcd much blood. From the stigmas Of the head
blood had ceased running: the hair was still i'm
pregnatcd with half coagulated blood; her face
1 knew from the cure Of Bots d'Hatne that the
ecstacJ commenced now at twelve minutes past ?
At O'Clock | seated myself near Louise, who,
tions With her usual desire to oblige me. The con-
vcfsation was often interrupted by Involuntary
moaning, all tue muscles Of the face were con-
right and now to the left, seemed to aak for mercy
On sudden her eyes are turned toward heaven and
reflect sentiment Of longing admiration. her
slightly separated as If by halfformed smile, her
hands enveoped in their linen covering are placed
in the attitude Of prayer; the ccstacy had COM
pericnccd real satisfaction to see her freed 1ora
afterwards while the cure Of Boie d'Haine, pas-
slonist religious, and were contemplating In
silence this spectacle, uttered in low voice the
word Loussc- At once her countenance assumed