THE MIRACLES OF LOURDES.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 32, 8 December 1893, Page 25

THE MIRACLES OF LOURDES.

(Translated from tbe French "Annals of Lourdea"byDr Hates, of Temuka.).

Since the famous visit of tbe novelist Zola to Lourdet, the incredulous Press has not been able to refrain from sometimes mentioning tbia town and the extraordinary facts that happened there. It is not very uncommon to bear religion shamelessly denied and credited with calumnies both unworthy and absurd. This is frequently done to bring under the eyes of readers interesting and curious detail*, endeavouring to explain by scientific theories what should be attributed to supernatural intervention. Philosophic arguments are often of a specious nature, which we must be careful of valuing not too highly. Facts are, however, convincing to the eyes of thosa who doubt or deny.

Two years ago a doctor at Noumea, an ardent supporter of hypnotism, after having read the clever articles published under the title " Lourdes before Bcienca " in the paper named Religious Studiet, recognised the weakness of the pretended scientific explanation. He was, above all, astonished to learn there was an office of inquiry at Lourdes, which freely admits any doctors who desire it, whether they are indifferent or believing. He said next time be was in France he would return through Loardea to see for himself. If the facts related by Dr Boissarie had engaged his atteution, the details of which we are about to reproduce, we think he would have exclaimed aloud, " It is the finger of God I"

De Rudder and Joachim are the great instances of miracles in Belgium ; their recovery is perhaps the most extraordinary that hai ever been authenticated. No scientific theory conld ever account for the recovery of De Rodder ; nevertheless tbe facts themselves are very simple. To appreciate it, it is not necessary to have any technical knowledge ; eyes alone are sufficient. Without any medical knowledge anyone can see a leg that has been cut heal again ; any one can likewise see a leg that has been broken in the middle become instantaneously united. So an unaccountable desd becomes quite eaey to prove. Moreover this cure is produced by a process which overthrows all our preconceived ideas. A wound does not heal without leaving a mark, and a broken bone leaves a lump where it was united, which only becomes slowly effaced. A few hours after the cure of De Rudder, if the fingers were slowly passed aloDg the bone, not the slightest inequality could be felt, but a perfectly smooth surface from end to end. " Evidently," his doctor exclaimed, " tbe Holy Virgin does not heal in the same manner as Nature, even though Nature may be assisted by the highest skill." De Rudder's doctor was an unbeliever ; the cure of bis patient opened his eyes and converted him. De Rudder had had hia leg crushed by a tree that had fallen upon him, and for eight years the fracture had refused to unite. Left to his fate and neglected by all, the man became utterly hopeless and despondent. The foot and lower portion of the leg shook all ways ; one could draw the heel to the front, the toes to tbe back ; one could bend the leg in the middle and causa tbe broken bones to project so as to be seen and touched. Peter Rudder came back the very evening of his pilgrimage, without crutches and dancing for joy. The next day he travelled many miles on foot rejoicing in the exercise he had been deprived of for so long a time. This long confinement during eight years had absolutely wasted the muscles of his leg and there was no trace of any calf. Instan'aoeously all was restored. Peter had been formerly a stout, thick-set man.

A few months ago a Belgian doctor, by name R»yer, wished to hold an inquiry over this cure. He gathered all the proofs which enabled him to assign to each day and hoar the details of this wonder* fnl deed. Besides, be also questioned the people that he met by chance in tbe public places, in the cafes, without distinction, and did not ever meet with a single contradictory opinion. He asked it there were any people in tbe neighbourhood who disbelieved, and was told there was none sine* the cure of De Rudder. Any disbelieving man who wishes indisputable proofs of the miracle has only to read tbe cure of De Rudder. There evidence is produced in proof of supernatural action. Indeed it would be impossible otherwise to explain tbe instantaneous union of two bones broken more than eight year?, and separated by a space of half as inch. Mot otherwise could this union without visible join or hard lamp be explained. Just

imagine a leg that bad been waiting and motionless for so many years having instantly reoovered its me, its function, aod its former rite. 80 mnch for these insoluble problems. All the evidence gives to this fact an historic value firmly established. Rudder is still alive, and we hope to see him at Lonrdes ia the coarse of next month. Joachim arrived at Loardes wijb a sore that extended from the knee to th« ankle and went as deep as the bone. You could see the tendons disclosed to view. Joachim had collected tbe pieces of bone that had come oat of the wound in a cap, and tbe cap was full of pieces. There were scraps of mortified flesh at the end of the leg, and before going to tbe Holy Well Joachim had palled off several pieces and left them on the floor of her room On leaving the well there was not a trace of the sore. The bone, the tendonp, the fl sh were all in their places, all is re-made, and one might almost say that a socking of new skin had been drawn over her leg. On returning to her room she notices the pieces of dead flesh Btae had pulled off. Thus she said, " I bad a doable portion of leg, as it were ; that which had just been restored, and that which was lying oa the floor." She had been bed -ridden for 7 years and had had the sore for 12 years altogether. On reading these curta one might easily imagine he was dreaming, notwithstanding the superabundant inquiries and proofs. Joachim was at Lourdts last month, where she made her twentyeight pilgrimages as acts of grace. Since her recovery Bhe goes twice every year in the months of May and September. All the theories based on hypnotic suggestions and effects on the nervons system are of no value here. One would not attempt to venture an explanation by such theories when simp'e common sense could so easily opset them. When unbelievers discuss the importance of tbe cures at Lanrdes they don't take these examples, they pretend to ignore them. With these well established facts of such importance, however, all discussion becomes superfluous. Db Boissabie.