The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-26
LITTLE CRIPPLE
SHIPS AND PLAYS
Mother Believes In Miraculous
Cure by Water From
Lourdes' GrOtto.

NEW YORK, Feb ga cripple for
three years, his left leg absolutely use
less, Willie Murphy, the ten-year- old
son of Mr.. and Mrs. NJ A Murphy, OF
No. 232 Hull street, Brooklyn, has in a
day cast away his crutches and iron
braces, stands erect and romps and
plays like other children. The cure is
credited to a miracle performed a
week ago at the Church of Our Lady of
Lourdes. Aberdeen street, near Broad
way, Brooklyn.
The anniversary of Our Lady of
! Lourdes was celebrated last Thursday
week. In the church are hundreds of
clutches and canes that have been
| thrown away by those who have been
healed. Ever since Willie became a
cripple through tuberculosis OF the
bone his mother has taken him daily
to the church to pray for his recovery.
In addition to this the family has spent
several thousand dollars consulting the
best specialists and surgeons in the
| city in an effort to cure the lad.
We had almost given up hope that
Willie would ever be we'll" said Mrs.
Murphy yesterday, but / had faith in
| the Lord and continued to pray day and
night, that my boy might have the use
of his leg restored.
ION Lourdes day l took Willie to the
church, where he bathed in the water
from Lourdes in the grotto, in the rear.
Mamma, l believe that l am going TO
be healed the boy said to me. He was
so impatient to get to the church. This
gave me renewed hope and faith and l
prayed the harder as Willie bathed.
There were many other little Grip
pied children there, and I felt so sorry
for them. All took little bottle of wa
ter home with them. When Willie and
myself got home 1 rubbed his leg with
some of the water and we kneeled and
prayed together. That was on Thurs
day night.
"On Friday morning called Willie to
me, took Off his raised shoe and iron
brace and rubbed some of the Lourdes
water over his leg. Why. mamma, how
good my leg feels Willie said to me.
1 believe can stand on it.
Wonder of Wonders.
Then, wonder Of wonders. Willie
threw down his cane, stood erect and
walked across the floor. For a moment
l could not believe my own eyes. Then
l realized that miracle had been per-
formed. | ran through the house shout
Ing, Willie's cured. Willie's cured!
Thank God, my boy is no longer a
cripple"
Mrs. Murphy was SO overjoyed that
she sent the good news to her husband
prosperous machinist; to all her rel
atives and friends in the neighborhood.
In short while, the Murphy home
was crowded with rejoicing relatives
and friends. All wondered at the great
miracle. Willie was Rugged, kissed,
petted and showered with presents. He
ran around the house. kicked M his
heels and was just as jolly as his
younger brother.
Up to the time Of the cure, Willie
wore raised shoe, while his leg was
supported on each side by iron braces
The knee was so tender that he could
not bear any one to touch 1t. For the
last three years he has slept in bed
alone. He was only able to attend
school three or four days during an
entire month. When the remarkable
cure was announced in the class rooms
thanksgiving prayers were offered by
all the pupils. The boy expects to be-
gin attending school regularly on Mon
day.
Willie's lameness came almost as
suddenly as his cure. When he was
seven years old he was playing in the
street one day, when his mother MOTTO
ed that he began to limp. She thought
nothing of it until the next morning,
when Willie could not put his foot to
the floor. There is only slight limp
In the boys walk now, which will dis
appear, his mother hopes, as soon as
the leg becomes a little hardened and
stronger.
Father Porcille, pastor Of the Church
OF Our Lady of Lourdes, was asked
about the miracles performed in his
church. He dictated this statement
Although often hear Of cures that
have been obtained through the pray
ers of the people and the use of the
water OF Lourdes, yet consider that
1t is not my place to pronounce these
cures miraculous. The church is very
conservative on such matters, and rec
ognizes no miracles unless a minute
investigation has been made by the
church authorities. 1t seems too much
like advertising, and the church will
not allow any pastor to advertise his
own parish"
What Is to be understood by a
minute investigation? Father Porcille
was asked.
Before we pronounce a miracle, the
authorities seek the physician who at
tended the person cured and obtain
from him a statement that the cured
person could not possibly have been