The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-11-24
LOURDES, THE WONDERFUL.

BY Priest of tho Diocese of Columbus Ohio.
| The town of Lourdes, before the apparition
of the Immaculate Virgin in 1888, was but
little known. Since that time its fame is as
wide as the world; end the p.ety of the faith
fol brings there pilgrims from all parts of the
world. OF it it can be said, as anciently of
Bethlehem And thou, Lourdes, art not the
least among the cities of France" The popu-
lation of Lourdes at the time of the appartion
WAS about 1000, and is now About 5000. 1t is
built at an elevation of about 1900 feet above
| the sea, in pure atmosphere, temperate
climate of mild winters, although almost in
sight of mountains covered with perpetual
SHOWS.
The town is situated at the foot of the Pyre-
nees, whsre the river Gave, after having fol-
lowed @ Northern course through the noun
tains, comes out and suddenly takes q western
course towards the Atlantic. The river here
is as large a The Scioto at Columbus, has q
very swift current, and passes in front of TIE
grotto The river Is never very low, for in
summer it is fed from the melting of the snows.
Some times it is very high. and ti''s the grotto
covering the spring Of the Blessed Virgin. The
grotto il under q great Marble rock which rises
peTpend cularly height of about 50 feet.
top of which is built the basilica of the I'm =
maculate Conception. The grotto is enclosed
by an iron fence some ten feet hIgh. The
ground has been leveled and paved with
ment almost aE beautiful as marble. 1t has a
front of about % feet and a depth of some 10
feet part of il il about ~ feet bigh, and part
very low. 1t can contain inside about 30 per-
sons. Many tspeIs are burning there constant
ly, and ut night make q beautiful sight, parti-
cularly rom the passing trains. The railroad
passes in front and in sight of the STotto at q
distance of a quarter of mile. The miracu
lous spring is inside of the grotto to the left
you go in, and is covered with wire work. Here
the grotto is very low ; an iron pipe leads the
water outside, distance of five or six yards,
where it is divided in three spouts, and flows
continually and sbundantly, giving ne multi
tade of si-itors a be ier chance to drink Some
of the water goes farther to a row of II stop
valves which are opened when needed. Again |
some still go faItl ler to a honse wi ere there
four bath oms for the sick, two for ladies,
and two for gentlemen. The water is very |
cold, aud it takes courage for one to jump in:
For the last twenty years many went in only |
by the help of Friends being cri ppled in many |
way g. bot came ont without help, aud sound |
having obtained their recovery ins:an taneous.
ly, for the mother of all Love has caused there |
TO flow this mirRc ulons spring for the healing |
Of the 0 fiji 'cted.
The spring is very small though it would |
prob ably ii one ard half inch pipe. Al
hough much of the wster 10 drank aud carried
3 way, and sent TO all parts of the world, the
far greater part of it goes to the river. As
drinking water it cannot bs surp passed in quail
t. I; and the reason oft is very simple. Since
The Immaculate Virgin, intended to make to the
people the present Of a spring, only magn Fl
cent spriug would be worthy of her.
The spot where the Virgin appeared was at
bat time rough aud wild, as nature made it
,ut since the visits Of the z leen Of Heaven
vt has adorned it. The Holy Virgin wanted
church TO be built there, and the people to
.ome there in procession. To accomplish this
ie place had to be embellished, and maRnif-
entIy it has been. A fine road leads from the
own to the grotto and to the basiiicl on the
op of the rock. The old bed of the river, too ,
ear the grotto, has been filled, and a new one !
log to give the pilgrims room to pray in front
# the Rrotto. Fully half acre of ground
'etween the Rrot:o and the river is paved
With a beautiful cement on which the water
las no effect, and it ia kept as clean as
srlor 1t is a most beautiful spot. The I
rotto is on the north side Of the high rock I
pom which the church is built. The sanctu. (
ry is perpendiculnrly above the spring, and
be 0ire ait Iins a height Of 800 feet. 81 that
beI spot is continually in the shade aud .
lost delightful in Summer it beinG kept cool :
y the shade of the rock and the church and
be trees and the ice cold water OF t ne river, I
o that the pilgrim can pray there all day I
nriuE the bot season OF summer without any {
ICON venieuce from the sun.
The church is ajsEel. The exterior ia all i
larbie even to tue top Of the spire, except
he cross which is Of gilt steel. 1t covers all
be top Of the rock upon which II is built; in ;
ther words, it covers about as much ground
8 the Cathedral Of Colu mbuB, bot could not
ODtain as maDy S:cS'':, ----s-s - .~s E.sSSGs :