The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1885-10-06
THE CELEBRATED LouRoEs GRoTTo.
Features Of the "Faith Cure" In France
Gathering Of Patients.


Gathering Of Patients.
iCor, Philadelphia Timesl
Your correspondent WAS lucky enou N to
meet one evening young Catholic lady
who had just returned from q visit to tho
celebrated Lourdss grotto. in France, and
her animated recital of what she saw and
heard there pre- >sntsu so many new and in
tore ting features that it can not but enter
tain. Feminine Impressions are prov erbi-
ally more piuuRut and graceful than those
of the other sex
The hallowsd precincts Of Lourdes are ex-
periencing just now an unusual religious
awakening, though it comprises nothing of
the "rsvivap spirit, as popularity under
stood. The cause Is not far to sack, there
having been multitudss Of cures effected at
the shrine within the past ak months. The
place is we'll Uttered with sticks and
crutches invalid chairs and other mped
nents purposely left on the ground by those
who were benefited rs direct proof of their
restoration, and slmowhat In this regard it
is noticeable that those who. e ailments have
not been banis'le at thu L,uck of the ,anac-
u!ous waters sh' W not the H. htest tokens of
d appointments So MANY, indeed, have
tr-su rendered whole thai the fe " ex captions
iioie.i rscusH,Z, IN ttntly taat tho unseen
p,,wer to heal tns I'M Is not wanting but
,nny he for only u tlne for their own spirit
uri good
T..e lady whose notnyI at Lourles i am
narrating, states a fact camis; under hsr
own observation that oftantnss patients
have heen carried by twos and thress to the
hallowed ground, AMI but one has found
cure immediately; the others have offered
thanks and fervent praise in common with
their more fortunate companion, and per-
haps withln a few Lour ara themselves re-
st red. But failing of even such after re-
storation they do rot abate one particle OF
their faith in and gratitude to that power
which has raised up their crippled COM
rades and for reasons which they declare
must be wise, has left them desolats Thus
the healed and the unhealed unite in thanks
giving and praise.
There are some hundreds of priests con-
tinually in attendance, made up in part
from the clerical cuntingents which accom-
pany the many piigrimages to Lourdes.
During each forenoon ma sos are being cele-
brated half-hourly and ottsner, and each
recurring service is attended by throngs-
lick and well. There is no let-up in the re-
cital of the itanis' and the rosary, not only
IN the churches, but at the shrine. whore
ii hted taperS burn night and day. The
Nrtive temple, erected on the heights near
by, presents in Its interior n novel and
bcaut, M picture. Tie walls are literally
,'"",salud by the flags of all nations. Ia To-
iuny utcrtwinei against them, "A plea ing
reminder That the Geneticiaries at Lourdes
LANG come rom every cline. IL Is pe-
lii.ariy grateful in this connection TO re-
cod tue ,act TINT the American colors uc-
cnly privileged po,itlou suovs the high
Ia tar Within the sanctuary, blending with
the French.
The gr"tto proper, wherein the first appari-
ton WAS cen, is OF small proportions, and
can not, therefore, accumulate mucn Of a
throng. Those who have visited it, and the
lady to whom am indebted for these notes
did 50, have been strongly Impressed with
the tranquil beau,ie' OF ths Interior Many
of the first families of France are, it is said,
represented in the corps of volunteer nurses
at the no pitaL wnere they accompany the
poor crippled guest Of their several pill
xrInaSes, and remain with them all the
while Going AMI coming the expenses of
these aiiiig peasant folks are paid by the
titel people who have inaugurated tho
journey, and who thus constitute them
selves their guardians and nurses.