The Irish standard., 1886-04-24
3 THREE MIRACLES.
Wonderful Cures Obtained Through the
Intercession Of Blessed Peter Claver,

Wonderful Cures Obtained Through the
Intercession Of Blessed Peter Clayer.
EDITOR AVE MARIA:-To your Ques-
tion concerning the miraculous cures
of sick persons performed in this coun-
try by the imposition of the relics OF
Blessed Peter Claver, I have to say:
After the beatifcation Of the Vener-
able Servant Of God was continually
engaged in giving missions, and at the
end of every mission I was in the habit
ofapplying the relics of Peter C'aver to
the sick. .Numberless cures followed,
among them several cases which seemed
to be distinguished by the characters
tics of real miracles. The occurrence
Of these striking cases induced nle to
ask Rome what course [ should pursue;
for knew that il new miracles occur
after the beatifcat1on of a servant OF
God, it Is usual to prepare fer the fuf-
ther step of caronizatioD.
The answer received from Rome was,
that two or three cases should be re-
ferred TO the Sacred Congregation OF
Rites. and then to wait for an order
and directions of the Congregation,
which would probably be that a court
be convened by the diocesan Bishop,
with authority from Rome 20 examine
the cases according TO the stringent
laws provided for such occasions: and
Jha5 all the questions sent by the Con-
gregation be strictly answered, and the
replies returned to Rome.
lii consequence Of this answer, sent
FIVE cases to the Congregation, Of which
three were selected for examination.
1t may be remarked that for heatllica-
sion. foslr mivacjeS are TO be proposed
and proved whilst for canonjzation OF
a Blessed only two are reQn'Yed-nay
even only one miracle Of the tlrst class
may suffice. if examined and found con-
elusive.
The following are the cases above re-
ferrea to:
- J.. In the year 1861 there was an old
woman, eighty years OF age: in MilWau-
kee, who had a cancer in the tace, froln
which she had been suffering for twelve
Years. On the feast Of ST. Peter she
came to me, and applied the relic OF
Peter Glaver to her cancer-eaten cheek,
au,, the ecancer disappeared jnstantahe-
ously.
2. In the year 1868 there was in st.
Louis. Mo-. man whose breast bone,
with some OF lis ribs, was III a state OF
decay, in consequence Of the disease
called carries. His throat was affected
by bronchitis and laryngtis: besides
he had two forms of consumption called
BY the doctors pulmonaria and
pituito5a. [ applied the relic, and he
exclaimed: II am cured : / could
dance.'' In tact, lie was at the same
instant perfectly cured Of all the above
mentioned inlirmities, and returned 70
his work III The bakery where ne was
formerly employed.
8. In the congregation at Valley
.Nippenose, in Pennsylvania, there WAS
a girl Of about twenty years OF age,W'o
had broken her co}larbone. in spite
of the repeated efforts OF the surgeons
uf Williamsport, the bone could not be
made to join, and the Door girls case
was given up. Coming to confession
at the mission, she explained to me her
sad condition. The mother, dressing
her arm that very morn'ng. had said TO
her: My dear daughter, you have
only one consolation that is, that you
can be saved with one arm as we'll as
with two.' But 7 encouraged her to
have confidence in the intercession OF
Peter Claver, and, taking her to the
sacrlsty. + applied the relic over the
bandage on the arm. The same mo-
ment she was entirely cured.
She went home, and, swinging her
arm joyfully, said to her mother;
"See, I am cured!'' And to prove ii,
She began to load a wagon with hay.
This case was, according to the i'll
structions Of the Congregation. also
examined: but it was decided that the
two first were sufficient. During the
whole time that the processes were be-
ing carried on, l did not permit any
mention 10 be made Of them in The
papers; fox, as you are aware, it is
against the spirit of the Church to
speak of seemingly supernatural favors
as miracles, before the cases ara eN-
amined by ecclesiastical authority, as
sisted by the advices Of professional
men.
Premature geports Of miracles. before
trey nave been duly authenticated, only
expose the cause Of religion to the sus
picion of toleratiug aud encouraging
credulity and superstition. But when
the examination has been duly made,
aud the occurrence have stood the Sc
we're test of Roman Investigation then
the truth Of real miracle shines forth
with dazzling brilliancy, whereas the
false character Of pretended miracles is
at once made manifest.
Yours in XtO.,
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