The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-18


the voices OF the priests, and today, after
Offering her second petition to the great
saint, she found that her hearing had be-
come perfectly normal. Miss Mile Cor
bin, beautiful girl OF this city, who was
stricken with paralysis some two years ago,
and whose lower limbs have since been
completely powerless, was borne up
through the crowds to the image, and after
rubbing its forehead and praying in the
manner described for few minutes,
rushed out of the church wholly unaided,
and like one OF old went about shouting
and leaping and praising God.
THE CLOSING CEREMONIES.
Mrs. Lizzie Schott, young married lady
who is the wife OF one OF Pittsburgs best
known citizens, was suffering from hor-
ribly painful attack OF inflammatory rheu-
matism. Being borne upon a couch to the
image OF st. Anthony, she soon declared
that her pain had all disappeared, and
later in the day she walked from her home
to the church entirely restored to health.
This list OF miraculous cures might be con-
tinued indefinitely.
AT the close OF the 10 o'clock, or high
mass, Father Mollinger pronounced u
special blessing from the steps Of the
church. 1t was unique sight to see the
multitude, which filed the churchyafd
and blocked the streets to the walls OF the
opposite dwellings, kneel as one man when
the good priest appeared with upliited
hands, in one OF which he held bone-a
relic oil ST. Anthony-and attended by an
acolyte bearing font OF holy water. Upon
those 1000 kneeling souls Father Mollin-
ger, with love and pity vibrating in his
nj uN la. IL.
lifted eyes, bestowed q fervent blessing,
praying most earnestly that all sick souls
who had come to him this day for relief
might in no wise be disappointed, but
might be healed of all their infrmities.
As he stood beneath the beautiful June
sky in his priestly robes, with his white
hair streaming in the breeze and his snowy
beard-an appendage which, unlike most
priests in this country, he permits TO
grow-falling 10 his waist, he looked like
some prophet OF old, to whom his creator
had made the secrets OF life and nature an
open book.
1t was 1890 o'clock when this blessing
was given; still there was no diminution in
the crowd, though il included many who
had been on the ground since daylight.
Reireshment booths had been erected all
the church, and at these, rs well as the
many excellent boarding.houses, which
are maintained in the vicinity 10 accom-
modate the great number of pilgrims who
flock here at all seasons OF the year, the
hungry multitude were fed.
Though Father Mollingers every mo.
ment had been busiy occupied since he
rose Mt o'clock this morning, he devoted
the interval between high mass and ves-
pers to the private examination and treat.
ment Of the sick who now crowded about
his house, magnificent dwelling erected
like st. Anthony's Chapel-out OF his
own private means, at a cost Of SOS, 000..
-Four o'clock vespers and another gen.
eral blessing at the Chapel OF st. Anthony
said TO contain 1000 relics Of Anthony and
other saints, brought the annual ceremo-
mics Of tho Festival Of St. Anthony to
| close.
THE HEALING PRIEST.
Father Mollinger, the remarkable man
who drew together this vast concourse OF
people, Is native OF Belgium, fifty.eight
years OF age, and was born OF wealthy and
noble parents After fitting himself for
the career OF a physician, he abandoned il
to become missionary priest in America.
y
passed in missionary work in parts OF
Western Pennsylvania, which were then
little better than a wilderness. He often
spent days and nights together on horse
back, his only means OF conveyance, and
often rode thirty or forty miles 10 baptze
a child or 10 administer the last rites TO a
dying man.
In 1865 he was appointed 10 a country
parish In the diocese OF Pittsburg, and after
three years there was transferred 10 the
Church Of the Most Holy Name, on Troy
Hill, where lac has ever since continued.
Here his fame has been won as a worker
OF miraculous cures, and there is not DAY
IN the year that he Is not visited by hun
dreds Of sick people, many OF whom come
from distances.
Father Mollingcr is not a iaith-curcr.
His treatment Is both spiritual and medic.
inal. lie gives prescriptions 10 be Il ! d by
druggists, and cnjoins penancc, faith aud
prayer. All Protcstanls are required TO
abstain from meat for six successive
Fridays. lie charges nothing, but patients
are at liberty 10 contribute 10 the poor.
box OF his church. Personally, he has no
need Of money. Besides a large income
from estates in Germany, he has several
hundred thousand dollars worth OF prop
erty In this country, acquired by the in.
yestment Of his German income. lie Is OF
commanding presence.
THE CELEBRATION.
A day sacred 10 tho,mcmory OF ST. An.
thOny OF Padua brought this morning
thousands Of people, both Protestant and
Catholic, TO worship at his shrine, erected
10 him In the chapel bearing his name at
the Church OF tho Most Holy Name, on
Troy Hill, Allegheny, ut whose altar pre-.
sides as chief priest the iar.iamcd Father
Mollinger Almost every city In the coun.
try was represented, and all believed they
would 20 away benefited, II not entirely
cured. In this church are some OF tho
bones OF the saint, and Il Is on tho pres.
ont occasion that Father Mollingcr begins
some OF his most miraculous cures The
reverence and love with which the rever-
end father was greeted by the multitude
was truly wonderful.
by o'clock the church was thronged
with dccrcpit and diseased people. They
came ON cruiches. In carriages. carried on
pillows and strctchcrs, q suffering and Dit.
iiul, but hoping aud iaith-illcd multitude.
Tho scenes In and about the church
were most solemn and impressive. Peo.
pie knoeled upon the bare ground and
hard brick 30 receive a blessing, and while
weeping tears OF pain would smio and
bless the priest ~ hc passed among them.
From early siorning until mass nj 10
o'clock Father Molingcr mins,ered 10
the faithful, aud the results In some cases
were almost miraculous. His methods
q