The Irish standard., 1904-11-12

Some Of the boys had told Of the
prodigy to the few parishioners who
had not yet left the sacred edifice,
and these, turning back and entering
the sanctuary, witnessed the same
spectacle.
The news of the marvel spread like
wild-fire through the little town, and
within an hour practically the whole
population had betaken itself to the
church. All saw the prodigy-practi-
cal Catholics and nominal, the pious
an dthe scofrers, fervent Christians
and those who had long neglected the
sacraments. In many cases, indeed,
the impious appeared to see the figure
even more distinctly than the devout.
Entering the sanctuary from time
to time during the day, the priest per-
ceived at each visit the same features,
which at first looked yellowish white
like the face Of a corpse, and later,
in the afternoon, took on the color
ing Of living countenance. Natural
ly enough, the able desired to take
closer view Of the apparition and ex-
anime more infinitely into all its de-
tails. He accordingly mounted the
little step-ladder ordinarily used when
the ostensorium was placed above the
tabernacle; but when he reached the
top he found that black veil, like a
heavy coating of ink, was spread over
the glass face Of the lunette, render
ing it absolutely opaque, so that he
could see nothing whatever.
Keeping his gaze fixed on the
ostensorium as he descended back
ward, he saw the features reappear-
ing; but on his arresting his descent
they again vanished, and not until he
got off the stepladder did he once more
behold, in common with the other
| spectator the adorable face of Jesus
Christ.
Behind the altar in Father Lacombe's
church there is a sort of stairway Just
back Of the tabernacle, built for con.
yenience in arranging flowers and
other altar decorations. In the course
Of the day one of the parishioners
glided to the rear Of the altar and
went up this stairway until he came
to the level of the ostensorium, which
was within reach of his hand. He
saw nothing, however, save the white
Host as at ordinary expositions of tn.
Blessed Sacrament, although on com
ing down and returning in front OF
the altar he again beheld the appari
ton.
The prodigy had continued up to the
hour Of vespers, and many Of it's wit
nesses declared that they saw tears
and even drops of blood coursing dowr
the face that had replaced the Sacred
Host.
When vespers began the human fig
ure disappeared, but the imprint Of
the crucifix on the Host stood out II
extraordinary relief, and the cross
which bore the image Of Christ be
came elongated, its four extremities
overlapping the Hosts dimensions BY
several centimetres. This seconG
phenomenon was distinctly visible tt
the whole congregation; even the near
sighted and the partially blind observ
ed it. Only at the end of vespers die
the Host resume its usual aspect.
Mgr. Fabre, bishop Of Reunion, was
Of course, Informed of this marvellous
occurrence, and he forthwith institut
ed regular canonical investigation
AS result thereof, he prescribed the
careful preservation Of the miraculous
Host, and ordained that thereafter the
annual alteration should take place al
Saint-Andre on the Goth of January
as fixed date, and not be postponed
until the following Sunday, as had
previously been the custom.