The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-11-13
LOUISE I.IIE.iC.
The Woman who Blccds on Fridays From
Wounds Like the Savlours.

The Woman who Blccds on Fridays From
Wounds Like the Suvlour's.
Philadelphia Times,
In one of tho Masses in st. James
Catholic Church, West Philadelphia.
last Sunday, the pastor, Rev. +. p.
O'Neill, who recently returned to his
flock from q visit to Europe, took oc-
casion to mention that while in Bel
gium hc availcd himself Of the oppor-
tunity to sec Louise Latcau. This is
tho young woman whose remarkable
physical condition excited interest
throughout Europe and The rest Of the
world about ten years ago, and who
ever since has been regarded by a
large proportion Of her co-rcli gionists
as u saint on earth, suffering every
Friday some degree Of the dying
Saviour's agony and having upon her
body the ''stigmata" of Ills Passion
that is, marks Of wounds on the hands,
feet, left side and shoulder and around
the crown Of the head corresponding
with the wounds received by Christ
OIL tl!c way to Calvary and when nail
ed to the cross.
Father O'Ncill was accompanied by
Father Barry, of the Church Of the
Visitation. Between and 3 o'clock
in the afternoon Of Friday, tho 22d Of
August last they visited the house at
Bois d'llainc, little agricultural
hamlet, reached in an hour and Il half
by railroad from Brussels. The little
room IN which Louise lay, upon all
humble bed, was crowded with pco-
pic. Father Barry soon managed to
go close tn the bed, but Father O'Ncill
for Il considerable time could get only
his head through tho doorway. Tie
had a full view OF the scene, however,
from the first. The woman's head
and shoulders were elevated almost
to Il sitting posture. Her hands, one
upon the other on her breast, were
bleeding at the back and from the
palms. Father O'Ncill could see only
the two back wounds Of the hands, but
Father Barry saw all four. a cloth
beneath the hands was saturated with
blood. Both priests touched tho
hands and the blood that came from
them. The forehead also was bleed
ing, and the hair was matted with
blood that ooZed out III circle around
the crown Of the head. Tho visitors
were told that while this bleeding was
going on blood was issuing also from
the right shoulder, the left side and
the feet, at points corresponding with
the location Of the wounds OF thc
Saviour.
Her cyclids were motionlcss, and
the open eyes, clear and vivacious.
seemed fixed most intcntly upon some
thing distant and above. Her coun-
tcnancc and attitude underwent many
changes. At one moment he- features
would light up and her eyes moistcn,
while u smile Of JOY would play
around her half-opcncd mouth: then
her eyes would partly fall, her fca-
lures contract and tears roll down her
cheeks; now she would grow pale
terror would depict itself upon her
countcnancc, she would shudt!cr and
q sIiilcd cry would escape from her
lips. just as Il certain bishop entered
wearing the pcctoral cross (Which
generally contains some sacred rclic)
she started up as if drawn by q mac
net. After this her body moved slow
" around, and her eyes turned rradu-
ally, as if following tho progress Of
some invisible procession. Then she
suddenly started up little, claspcd
her hands, moved her lips, Dantcd
frightened in the face and presented
an appearance suggestive OF angelic
beauty, which was in strange contrast
with her bleeding hands and hcod
Spectators appeared awc-strickcn. and
many OF them, men as well as women,
were forced to tears. About three
O'Clock, the blood seemed to be driving
up, and tho visitors were then inform.
ed that IL was time to depart. Fathers
ONcill and Barry had been there
about half an hour.
III accordance with mn invor;ob1o
daily custom, tho clergyman Of the
place, accompanied by acolytcs and
others in procession, had that morn.
ing brought to Louise tho Blessed
Sacrament. Prior to his coming shc
was breathing heavily, lying on the
ped to which she has been confined for
" year and Il half. Whom tho nricst
arrived and began to pray in Latin
her countenancc lighted uD ae if shc
understood him. She raised hor head
to receive tho Holy Communion. I'm.
mcd,ateiy thereafter she lapsed into q
scmi-!nconscious condition, which
lasted until 2 o'clock, when the ccstasx
began. Before her present illness be-
came 80 severe her body, during the
flowing of blood and tho ecstasy
would assume tho form of a cross
tho arms outstrctched and the feet
SKETCH OF HER LIFE.
Louise Latcau was born on Janno.
! " o', 1901, Of poor parents, at tho
place where sho still resides. For
!. thrce years from tho birth Of the ch;ld