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New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 37, 2 January 1885, Page 9

The great national French pilgrimage to Lourdeß has been highly successful. The traius which left Paris for Lourdeß were crowded with pious Catholics whose behavior was extremely edifyins and devotional. As the pilgrims quitted the station, the strains of the well-known hymn, Aye Moris Stella, were heard from the foremost carriage and were taken up all along the train. They were received at Lourdea by Mgr. the Bishop of Poitiers, who delivered a kindly address of welcome. In the torchlight procession to the various shrines, upwards of ten thousand persons took part ; and at the Blessed Grotto, Mgr. the Bishop of Tarbes delivered a touching sermon. The following morning Mass was celebrated by Mgr. the Bishop of Perpignan, many of the invalids on whose behalf tbe pilgrimage was organized Wing present. The Bishop of Agen joined with bis colleagues in visiting numbers of the sick. Already several cures are announced amons? the pilgrims. The Mayor of Poitiers issued an order that the piteriras from Paris to Lvirdes would nor be allowed to stop at the town and attend service at one of tbe churches, as had been aira-jged in their programme. The reason of this prohibition was alletred to be the danger of an outbreak of cholera from overcrowding. The order created great indignation amongst the towns-people, who made a vigorous protest. The municipal conncil was specially called together, and revoked the order of the freethinking mayor, so that the appointed service was duly held. Mo*e than ten thousand persons took part in the devotions, which were directed by Mgr. the Bishop of Poitiers.