Savannah morning news., 1885-09-05
THN CuRns Ar LoURDEs.
Miraculous K4stors.tiOn Of the Afflicted
at the Noted French Grotfo.

FrO7n tde PhiiGdeiDh{d Times.
WASHINGTON, Sept. Your CORE
spondeut was lucky enough to meet last
evening a young Catholic lady who has
just returned from visit to the celebra-
ted Lourdes grotto, in France, and her
animated recital of what she saw and
heard there presented so many new and
interesting features that 1t cannot but
entertain. Feminine impressions are pro-
verbally more piquant and graceful than
those Of the other sex. The hallowed pre-
cincts Of L0urdes are experiencing just
now an unusual religious awakening,
though it comprises nothing Of the
| revival" spirit az peculiarly understood
The cause is not far to seek, there
having been muttudes of cures effected
p the shrine within the past six months.
| The place Is well Uttered with sticks,
crutches. invalid chairs and other impedi-
ments. purpOseiy left on the ground by
those who were benefited as direct proof
Of their restoration. and somewhat in this
regard il is noticeable that those whose
ailments have not been banlshed at the
touch OF the miraculous waters show not
the slightest token Of disappointment.
SO many, indeed, have been rendered
whole that the few exceptions noted re-
cOgnlze instantly that the unseen power
to heal them is not wanting, but rather,
is simply withheld, permanently or may
he for only time, for their own spiritual
good.
The lady whose notings at Lourdes |
am narrating states as fact coming
under ber own observation that ofttimes
patients have been carried by twOs and
threes to the hallOwed ground, and but
one has found cure Immediately. The
others have offered thanks ami fervent
praise in common with their more for
tunate companion, and perhaps within q
few hours are themselves restored. But
falling even Of such after restoration they
do not abate one particle OF their faith in
and gratitude to that Power which has
raised up their crippled comrades, and,
for reasons which they declare must be
wise has left them desOlate. Thus the
healed and the unhealed unite in thanks
giving and praise.
There are some hundreds of priests
continually in attendance-mAde up in
part from the clerical cODtngents which
accompany the many pilgrimages to
LOurdes. During ench forenoon masses
are being celebrated half hourly and
cttener, and each recurring service is at
tended by thrOngs, sick and we'll. There
is no let-up in the recital of the Litanies
and the Rosary, not only in the churches,
but at the shrine, where lighted tapers
burn night and day. The YOtiye
temple, erected on the heights near by,
presents in its interior novel and beau
timl picture. The walls are literally
concealed by the flags of all nations taste
fully intertwined against them, pleas
ing reminder that the benetcaries at
LOurdes have come from every cline. It.
is peculiarly grateful in this connection
TO record the fact that the Ameri-
can cOlOrs occupy privileged
position above the high altar within
the sanctuary, blendine with the French.
The grottO proper, wherein the first APP
partition Of the Blessed Mother WAS seen,
Is Of small proportions and cannot there
fore accommodate much of a thrOng.
Those who have visited it--and the lady
10 whom / am indebted Tor these notes did
sO-hRye been strangely impressed with
the tranquil beauty Of its interior. Many
Of the first families of France are. ii is
saId. represented in the corps Of volunteer
nurses at the hospital. where they accom-
paay the poor crippled guests of their
several pilgrimaQcs and remain with them
all the while. Going and coming the eX-
penses OF these ailing peasant folks are
paid by the titled people who have mau-
gurated the journey. and who thus cOnsti-
tute themselves their guardians and
nurses. In closing this hurried sketch
1t may not be out of place
20 cite one instance of cure
wrought at Lourdes. A lady whose con
sumptive ailments had for years resisted
the hes efforts Of skilled physicians ask d
her husband-himselt rather OF an unbe-
heyer-tO take her TO Lourdes. She was
"A helplpss. bed-ridden wreck. The doc
tors frankly told her husband that il he
did what she asked he would just hasten
hcr death and be responsible for it. The
poor woman renewed her request and IT
was complied with-at great expense of
time, trouble, money. She made the
journey on an improyised couch in bag
gage car, surrounded by her relatives.
This was perhaps year ago. To-day the
consumptive is marvel Of health, and
she has been such from the day she
reached the grOttO ut LOnrdes.