The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-10-14
TEE TRREE STATUES OF LoURDES.

for /
sense and the things Of faith. 4
Oar recollection of what we heard on tnAs &
oocssion must furnish o very imperfect account I
~ this beautiful description but it may serve :.
- ;,,,strate the wonders Of Gods providence, g,
and make Us love and honor that bioSsea
u,,bar whose presence has sanoti6ed the viii
lace OF L,urdes, and whose bounttes nave eA-
tended tb CO over all the world.
The three statues to which We reier' com
memorate the principal events in the marvel
lous apparitions ut Lourdes, and convey w 'n'
faithful many mysterious lessons full OF hoh-
mass and truth. Thousands have seen these
s.atues, admired their graceful proportions and
hsen toucbed by the rscollsctions they evoked.
But we have been made to see them in newer
light, adorned with a higher meaning ana en-
dowed with q holier Significance.
The frat statue represents the Blessed Virgin |
teaching Bernadette the sligo of the oross. With
the left hand pom her heart and the right raised
to her forehead she seems, by the simple dig |
nity of the action, to be approaching the world
for it's csrelessness and Indifference in the per-
f,rmapce of this act of faith and worship. The
earnest face, the noble attitude, the uplifted
arm. all teach rs what the sgn OF the cross
really u.s. and make ne realise that it 10 the dis
follower Of Christ.
| It is an omen and sublime profession OF faith
in the Holy Trinity and in the mystery of the
Redemption 1t is an epitome of all the doc
tripes tau aht by the Apostles and recorded in
the HOLY Sculptures. It ia the sign by which
| the Church performs all her sacred functions,
| and with which she bestows all her sacrament
| IA, blessings 1t is the emblem of her mission,
| the standard of her authority. With 1t she
| marks the ne S-born babe withln his cradle and
the faithful Christian upon his bed of DEATH
| In the ranks of Confirmation, at the Eucharls-
tic-tabIe in the tribunal of penance, at the
bridal.altar, everywhere ID seen this sacred
sign : and which, in connection with the words
of Christ and the grace of the Holy Spirit,
works those miracles by which the souls OF
men receive an indelibls and eternal impress.
Rat il is particularly as act of Faith that
! the sign of the cross seems TO be referred to
| bv the glorious Qaeen Of Heaven. without
, faith it is impossible to please God > and yet,
, how the spirit of faith is dying out OF the
hearts of men! Is it strange that its silent yet
eloquent symbol is dying out from their banda
alsoi
Bat who can believe that the Blessed Virgin
appeared on earth only to teach little girl the
n sign Of the crossf Tic Ecofer shakes his mead
l. and the worldly. minded man smiles most pity
:. ipgiy upon suoh folly.
n All, the Mother OF our Lord is wiser Thar
l we are. She knows that infdelity and lupletJ
= ere undermining not only the practice OF TINT
+ eign of. the cross but also the principles ane
If virtues embodied in that glorious symbo!
II Sac sees how faith in God is growing cold
- filth in the Redemption 10 classed as fable
and how, as the hand relaxes 'te ehort' IN
? heart, too renouuces its allie glance.
>" The pleased Virgin knows full well tnaS
n the s,gu of the cross were made each cay VIII
rs reverence, attention and devotion. II Woo!o
a q powerful means of leading men bsc6 INT
the way Of virtue. The names OF the tnFe
august Persons of tue Holy Trinity woui
bring to mind the Justice OF the Father' u
ts, mercy of the Son, and the sanotity OF the DO
ay Shirt, The figure of the Tree on which Of
D. Saviour so ffered for His creatures would "
,he their hearts from Gin, and the realization
cir His infinite love would show them the Vani
cry of earth and the value Of Heaven.
the Yes. the Blessed Mother knew human natu
lsic well, when her frat lesson to the child to who
ass abe revealed herself was the simple Sign of t
on, cross And the erection of this statue
Leurdes is an inspiration from Heaven, teac
the ing those who look upon it with the eyes
and lime meanings in eternity.
as
The second statue represents the Holy Que
Fl. when, directing Bernadette to scratch
tbs ground with her fingers, she bids her drink
ave the muddy waters and eat the bitter wee
c;al and seems to repeat the words, " Penan
, re- Pensncew
cket There Is oeep mystery n1Nu0n OoN0I y
oommand-concealedw within these words!
bids the child humble herself, drink, and
find penanoe. 1t ia a lesson for the worldl Der
70 OF dette upon her knees, on the rocks of Mas
the belle, is the model of every Christian soul,
At the door of every church the rocks
the Faith are seen, the stony places of PenaI
,rro whence flow the waters of Absolution, clea
-, ing and Strengthening the SOUL Man, pr
,o,o, and defiant, turns aside from these say
,ho-, waters. Like the muddy draught which
20 in welled up at Massabiele, they are repulsiv