Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-01-03
MIRACULOUS CURES.
The Nun Of KeHmare Completely Re-
stored to Health by Visit TO
the Shrine at Knock.
DR.. Burrows, a Well Known Presbyte-
riau Preacher, Enjoys 4 Visit from
Jesus Christ.

Mary Frances Clare, the nun Of Kenmare
writes as follows to the London Post
SIR-As paragraph has got int) many
papers with an incorrect account of my visit
TO Knock, beg your kind insertion OF the
following. Such reports, from whatever
source they emanate, do incalculable harm,
% they throw discredit on real miracles.
The facts are simply as follows: obtained
permission to visit Knock, as Archdeacon
Csvanagh was anxious that l should found
n convent there if possible. i went there
accompanied by the chaplain of the Ken
mare convent. i neither asked tor, wished
for. nor expected a miraculous cure. In fact,
| may say truly the idea never even crossed
my mind. For the last four years | have
been ENABLE to kneel down for one instant,
even to receive the holy communion, from
inability to bend my knees, the con-
sequence OF acute rheumatism. On
approaching the place where the blessed
mother OF God ia said 10 have appeared, /
knelt down instinctively, and on rising in a
few moments l found i was perfectly cured
of this long-stsnding malady. Both Arch
| deacon Cavanagh and my confessor, the
Rev. NJ Neligan, c. C., OF Kenmare, were
present How far this may be termed a
miraculous cure i leave it 70 ecclesiastical
authority to decide. Probably however, it is
only one of those cures for which the recipi-
ent must thaRk God, but which could not be
accepted by ecclesiastical authority for the
confirmation of a devotion. / am very ig-
noraHt of theology, but believe a number
of such cures would carry weight If several
perfect miracles are proved. Archdeacon
Cavanagh has already several medical GER
| tihcates testifying to miraculous cures, but
we must wait the wise and patient ways of
the church. ! can only say that, so far
from expecting a cure myself, when l found
myself on my knees, and knew that should
rise in a few minutes, / thought first how
was / to get up without assistance, and was
amazed, on making the effort to do so, to
find myself perfectly able. My confessor,
testify to the years during which he
has given me holy communion sitting
though | tried again and again, and even
| quite lately was quite unable to kneel. 1t
was incorrectly stated that was carried into
church. This is not true, but believe the
marvellous restoration of my health which
has been granted to me through the infinite
mercy OF God is quite so remarkable, if not
more so, than the grant of this factor OF being
able to kneel. ] have been for nine years
entirely unable for the least physical exer-
| ton except for few hours in the day. but
since my visit to Knock / seem scarcely to
| feel fatigue of any kind The church has
not yet spoken in the matter; till it speaks
we may not do more than hope and pray.
| But since the devotion has not been forbid
| den, we may both hope and pray, and surely
| there can scarcely be subject more worthy
/ of our prayers. In the meantime, L would
beg OF those who report supposed miraculous
| favors TO be most careful, for nothing but
/ harm can come of exaggeration; at the same
(. time, it is a supreme duty to have any cures
which appear miraculous fully and truthfully
| reported. Yours faithfully,
SISTER MARY FRANCES CLARE
|