WHAT A PRAYER ACCOMPLISHED.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XX, Issue 41, 29 July 1892, Page 11

WHAT A PRAYER ACCOMPLISHED.

The Trappist Fathers at Oka. have this year experienced the efficacy of the prayer 3of tl.e Crimea for the blessing of the products of the earth, says the La Semaine Rdigieuse, of Montreal. Last year, like those of most of our farms, their grounds were invaded by legions of the field mouse which destroyed their young orchard. They this year had the happy thought to remove this plague, to employ the prayers of the Ritual against these destroying animals. Last autumn, one of the monks, in his surplice and Btole, escorted by two acolytes, went around the vast enclosure, in which are the orchard and garden, reciting liturgical prayerß and sprinkling the previously infected places with holy w'tter. This is what happened : Not a tree, not a plant of any use was attacked by these animals in tbe limits circumscribed by the ceremony. Still large holes and enormou9 nests were f( und in all the othor parts of the enclosure. It seemed as if the animals had received or>ier to find their food elsewhere and they did not go far for it. All around ihe blessed circle they destroyed young maples and brush. The Semaine Iteligieuso reminds its readers of this striking example of the efficacy of prayers to protect the products of tbe earth. It recalls the fact that Borne years since the c 'unty of Lotbiniere was invaded by certain birds which did great damage to the crops. Public prayers were ordered and the birds soon disappeared. — Exchange.