The Portland daily press., 1883-08-20
A MIRACULOUS CURE.
A Catholic Child Cured by Prayers to
the Virgin Mary.

1t was announced this morning that the
daughter of Col. Hanley, who resides at the
corner of fremont and Parker streets, had
been cured as by miracle or act Of God, and
that credit was to be given to the prayers Of
the fathers of the Mission church. A Globe
reporter interviewed the mother and aunt of
the little girl and the girl herself. WhenS
years old, Grace Mary Hanley was suddenly
afflicted by some subtle disease which COM
pletely robbed her of all strength and the use
OF her limbs. Her malady increased, and all
resources OF medicine failed to in any way re-
relieve the little sufferer. During this time
she suffered intense agony, which wore on her
constitution terribly. After three years a
friend advised the family to discharge the ply
sician and send for another. This was about
four years ago. The new doctor came and gave
it as his opinion that the case was hopeless, but
nevertheless advised the little girls being put
to bed and kept there, which advice was fol-
lowed 80 we'll that for the period Of one year
she scarcely once was removed, except during
the making Of the bed, During these times
Grace suffered intense pain. She was abso-
lutely dependent on others. AT various times
during this period other physicians were called
in, all of whom declared that they could do
nothing for her relief. Under peculiarly IA
vorable circumstances at one time the girl
seemed to rally, but only to the extent Of be-
ing able to walk painfully about the house on
crutches, and without the power of helping
herself in any other way. Many ingenious
mechanical devices were applied to her body
and legs, which served in some degree to
strengthen her limbs, but which made locome-
tion at best very task.
For over two years she remained in this con-
dition, never leaving her fathers house except
IN carriage and when accompanied by some
friend. After going to live in the vicinity Of
the Mission church, various friends of the fam
lily advised them to have masses and prayers
offered up for her, which was done without any
apparent result. For the past few months the
little girl constantly offered up prayers in her
home to the Virgin Mary, and many friands
Joined in, bat without any result; Aboutltwo
weeks ago the fathers of the Mission church
advised Col. Hanley to have his daughter be-
gin a novena to "Our Lady of Perpetual
Help" and In order to stimulate the child's
faith, that she should be brought personally
every day, for nine days, to the church, and
there at the altar of "Our Lady" to plead for
her recovery. The girl and her friends hailed
this proposition with delight. Nine days ago
to-day the novena was begun, the father or
aunt going to the church with the girl in a car
riage, helping her on her cruthes into the
church, and taking her down to the beautiful
little altar of "Our Lady" Over this altar
hangs a picture of miraculous origin, around
which are constantly burning a crown Of silver
lights, and to which the devotlonS OF the peo-
pie lare particularly pathetic. While at the
altar Graee's condition provoked the sympathy
of the congregation, and many were the eyes
that watched her. h&sa
1T was with widely beating hearts that Colo
mel Hanley this morningibrought his child to
church, it being the ninth and last day OF the
novena. The little girl seemed to wear an ex-
tremely anxious look-one of expectancy. 1t
was during seven o'clock mass, and near the
end, that the girl was taken IN, attended py
her father, her mother and aunt, with other
members of the family, beside the whole con-
gregation assembled at devotion. Atcommun-
ion, Grace was helped to the altar, where she
partook OF the sacrament, and almost immedi-
ately whispered to her aunt that she could
walk. Without any help whatever, but still
with the anxious hands of her aunt held close
by for fear she would fall, Grace got up and
walked to her crutches, picked them up, and,
accompanied by her overioyed friends, walked
to her home, two blocks away. The Joy Of the
family cannot be expressed, There were hum
dreds present at the time in church who are
willing to attest the fact, and many friends
whose words as to the past and present condi-
tion of the child are not TO be gainsaid.
When the reporter, half hour after the
event, interviewed her, Grace seemed unable
to express her thanks for the blessing. She is
bright little girl about 16 years of age, with a
full, goodnatured face, good color, and bright
auburn hair. She stood all the time the writer
was in the room, and said "the navelty Of
standing greatly pleases me- Boston Globe,
August Is, 1888.