The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-01-01

natural manifestations.
Fl But Dona Concepsion went about in
constant fear and trembling. Often
when she passed along the corridor,
or descended the stone steps leading
into the garden, she would in fancy
hear the fiip-fop of sandalled feet fol
lowing or preceding her. Again, when
sitting at her embroidery frame she
would become aware that something,
she knew not what, had entered the
room and was invisibly present with
her; and once she was startled by
hearing what seemed to be deep
sigh breathed close to her elbow.
She lived in a constant state of ter
ror, and the expectation of seeing
some fearful spectre suddenly take
form; but nothing appeared.
Her nerves began to give way un-
der the strain, and from being a
plump, healthy, happy young woman
she grew pale and thin and haggard
looking.
At last, by the advice of her mother
in-law who lived with them, she con.
suited her cenfessor, who was one OF
the Canons of the Cathedral, and a
friend OF the family.
The good priest heard her story
and urged her to take courage, and
when next she became aware of the
ghostly presence to conjure it by the
name of the Most Holy Trinity to- tell
her why it haunted her.
Doubtless" said the worthy Canon
sit is a poor soul temporarily shut
from the Beatific Vision by reason oil
some sin or frailty unatoned for, and
it seeks the assistance of your prayers
/ and Masses
Dona Conception listened and prom
Used to obey, and when next the op
portunity presented itself she took hel
courage in both hands Her husband
and mother-in-law supported her. and
with her hands clasped in theirs, and
speaking in trembling voice, she ad
| jured the Presence in the most solemn
| manner, by the Holy Name and that Of
! Maria Sanctissima, to speak and tel
her why it prosecuted her.
Then straightway she saw standing
before her franciscan friar in the
coarse brown habit of his Order, with
his rosary at his side, and knottet
cord girdling his waist.
He spoke, or seemed to do so, an(
| told her that while he was in life hi
| had taken vow to make pilgrimage
to the Shrine of Our Lady Of Cande
| laria, but that he had delayed doing
so, from one reason or another, til
death had suddenly overtaken hin
with his VOW unfulflled.
He desired that she should make the
pilgrimage for him, and promised thai
| if she would do so he would never
cease. to pray that the richest treas
ures of grace might be hers, and thai
she might be given as a reward the
desire of her heart.
Reassured by the friar's mild aspect
and earnest words, Dona Conception
readily promised to fulfil his request
whereupon the apparition vanished.
From that hour all the noises
ceased, and peace returned to thi:
troubled household.
I Unfortunately, however, this happy
state of things had the effect of max
ing the young wife put off from day t.
day the fulfilment of her promise.
In those days the famous shrine O
Our Lady of Candelaria was by M
means so easy of access as it is today
| for the fine "carretera" or high roat
which now runs from Laguna tt
Guimar had not been constructed, ant
| the only way to reach the Sanctuar.
| was by rough mule paths across thu
| mountains; and between it and he
home were many wild and deep "bar
rancos" (ravines).
| The miraculous image of Nuestr;
Sonora de Candelaria which is nov
enshrined in chapel built on the Sc;
Eshore, has curious history.
l. When the Spanish conquistadore
| first landed in the Island of Tenerife
five hundred years ago, they wer
astonished to find an image of Gu
Lady and the Divine Child set up in
| cave, and regarded as an object o
worship by the Guanche aborigines
who were, of course, pagans.
| These people told the new arrival
that the image had come floating t.
them on the waves surrounded by
miraculous light. Not knowing wha
to make Of this strange object, som
Eof the men jumped into the sea AM
brought it to land.
1t is now supposed to have bee
the figure-head> of some Spanisl
galleon wrecked off the dangerou
volcanic coast, and the image, whicl
lis of wood, carved and painted, is ur
doubted1y Spanish.
The story goes that after this, tn
Virgin ;Santisima appeared in person
to the villagers, who were SO mucl
alarmed at the apparition that the
4 endeavored to drive her away In cor
sequence of this outrage they wer
visited by various dire disasters
(which caused them to repent AM
Iamend their ways.
I They then conveyed the image to
large cave, where they set it up on
Hedge OF rock, and ever after paid i
due reverence. So attached were the
lto it, indeed, that when the Spaniards
ls1- r,I,o f<0