lege of the early ages of Christianity. History attests that they have continued from age to age, for the glory of religion and the edification of the faithful.

666

Among the celestial apparitions, those of the Holy Virgin Occupy a large place, and they have been an abundant source of blessings for the world. In going over the Catholic universe, the traveller sees in certain places chapels dedicated to the Mother of God, and many of those monuments owe their origin to the apparition on that spot of the Queen of Heaven. We already possess one of those blessed sanctuaries founded four centuries ago, after a revelation made to a young shepherdess, and to which thousands of pilgrims still proceed every year to kneel before the throne of the glorious Virgin Mary, and implore her blessing.

"Thanks be to the Almighty! In the infinite treasures of his goodness he reserves a fresh favour for us. Ile wills that a new sanctuary shall be raised in the diocese of Tarbes to the glory of Mary. And what is the instrument he has made use of to communicate to us his merciful designs? It is one of the weakest of his creatures, a child of fourteen years of age, Bernadette Sourbirons, born at Lourdes, of a poor family!

"It was on the 11th February, 1858, Bernadette was picking up dry sticks on the banks of the Gave, in company with one of her sisters aged eleven, and another girl aged thirteen. They had arrived before the grotto of Massavieille, when, amidst the silence of nature, she heard a noise, similar to a gust of wind (un coup de vent). She looked to the trees which grew along the banks of the river, but they were motionless; and, hearing the sound renewed, turned her eyes towards the grotto. There she beheld in a kind of niche at the side of the rock the figure of a lady, who beckoned to her to approach. Her face was of dazzling beauty; she was clothed in white, with a blue band round her waist, a white veil on her head, and a yellow rose on each of her feet. Bernadette was alarmed, and she thought that she was labouring under some optical delusion, and rubbed her eyes, but the object became more and more visible. The child then instinctively fell on her knees, took her chaplet, and when she had finished her prayer the apparition had vanished.

"Whether by some secret inspiration, or at the instigation of her companions, to whom she related what she had seen, Bernadette returned to the grotto on the Sunday and Thursday following, and each time the phenomenon was repeated.

"On the Sunday, in order to satisfy herself whether this mysterious being came from the Lord or not, the young girl three times threw holy water on it, and received in return a look full of meekness and tenderness. On the Thursday the apparition spoke to Bernadette; told her to return during the next fortnight; and she was moreover directed to wash herself, to drink at the fountain, and to eat of a herb which she would find there. The young girl, not seeing any water in the grotto, was going towards the river Gave, when the apparition called her back, and told her to go to the bottom of the grotto, to the place she pointed out with her finger. The child obeyed, but saw no water, but on scratching the dry ground with her

hand water appeared, which she drank, and ate a kind of cress which she found there.

"After this act of obedience had been performed, the apparition again spoke to the child, charged her to go and tell the priests that she wished to have a chapel built on the spot where she had appeared, and Bernadette accordingly went to the curé and informed him of the mission which she had received.

"Bernadette returned as she had been told every day for a fortnight, and every day, with the exception of two, she contemplated the same spectacle in the presence of an innumerable crowd, who also went to the spot, but could neither see nor hear anything. During that fortnight, the apparition several times told Bernadette to go and wash and drink at the place before indicated to her; recommended her to pray for sinners, and renewed the request for the building of a chapel. Bernadette, on her side, asked the apparition who she was, but the only answer she received was a gracious smile.

"The fortnight of the visits passed away, but two more apparitions afterwards took place, one on the 25th of March, the day before the Annunciation of the Holy Virgin, and the other on the 5th of April. On the former day, Bernadette three times asked the mysterious being who she was. The apparition then raised her hands, crossed them on her breast, and, lifting up her eyes to heaven, said, with a smile, "I am the Immaculate Conception."

"Such is, in substance, the recital which we have heard from the mouth of Bernadette, in presence of the Commission assembled to hear it for the second time.'

"I have so far literally translated the account of the miracle' given by the Right Rev. Bishop. He goes on to tell his flock that, if some delay has taken place in his recognition and endorsements of the vision of Bernadette, it is to be accounted for by the fact that at first he felt some misgiving as to the genuineness of the apparition"Since the fall, man is liable to many errors, especially on such subjects. If he be not betrayed by his reason, grown so weak, he may be the victim of artifices of the Evil One. Who does not know that he sometimes transforms himself into an angel of light, to make us more easily fall into his toils?'

"These reasons induced the Right Rev. Prelate minutely to investigate the matter, and he comes to the conclusion that Bernadette was too ignorant and simple to have invented the story; she was not subject to any morbid influence likely to superinduce any hallucination. Moreover, thousands of pilgrims have, ever since, flocked to the miraculous grotto, the waters of which, Mgr. Bertrand-Sevère assures the faithful, have wrought wonderful cures, although the water, when analyzed by men of science, is found to be wholly without any of the naturally curative properties' which some waters possess. The Right Rev. Prelate is therefore compelled to come to the conclusion that— 'Digitus Dei est hic.' Therefore the pious prelate thinks the faithful are in duty bound to carry out the wishes manifested by the Blessed Apparition,' and build a chapel on the spot, and invites the clergy and the faithful to assist him in his intention of building a sanctuary on the spot.' The meaning of which, in plain English, is an invitation

to put their hands in their pockets, and subscribe to pay for the bricks and mortar! It is a curious feature of the moral and intellectual state of France, that whereas in Paris this document has been received with peals of laughter, in the south, I am assured, the miracle is fully believed in, and that a larger sum is likely to be subscribed for the miraculous chapel of Lourdes than for the relief of the starving population of Lyons."-Standard, February 22, 1862.

DEATH-BED EXTORTIONS.

WE have no space for lengthened remarks on the case we give below. It is not to be supposed that every case of the kind comes to light; but assuredly, from what does come before the public, it is obvious that there ought to be some greater security or protection afforded to the sick, the aged, the weak, and the dying against their property being extorted from them, or from those who should be their successors, by means of those spiritual influences which Romish priests know so well how to apply.

"A will case of some interest, which occupied the Court of Probate several days, was concluded yesterday. The declaration of the plaintiff propounded a will of the late Timothy O'Connor, of the Causeway, county of Kerry, dated the 1st of May, 1847, and the defendant denied the validity of this instrument. He alleged that the last will of the deceased was one dated the 26th of May, 1842, and that he (deceased) executed a codicil on the 19th of May, 1859. To this defence a replication was filed to the effect that the will of 1842 was revoked by that of 1859, and that the codicil of 1859 was invalid in consequence of not having been executed pursuant to the statute, and that it was obtained by undue influence. The undue influence was ascribed to the testator's wife and two priests, one of whom lived in the house of the deceased for two years, up to the time of his death. The codicil in question gave his wife absolutely 800%. out of 3,8007. in the bank, and all the money in the house, to do what she pleased with. It happened that there was in the house a sum of over 1,1007., and more than 2,000l. came into the old woman's hands under the residuary clause after her husband's death. She survived him only five weeks, but in the meantime she disposed of the money in gifts and donations to pious persons and charitable uses-priests and nuns being the chief recipients. The instrument was impeached on the ground of undue influence and want of testamentary capacity. It was revoked by the jury, whose verdict was in favour of the plaintiff, a nephew of the deceased."-Times, February 20, 1862.

Miscellaneous.

NAPOLEON I. THE TURNING POINT.-When Napoleon was about to invade Russia, a person who was about to dissuade him from his purpose, finding that

he could not prevail, quoted to him the proverb, "Man proposes, but God disposes," to which he indignantly replied, "I dispose as well as propose." A Christian lady, hearing the impious boast, remarked, "I set that down as the turning point of Napoleon's fortunes. God will not permit a creature thus with impunity to usurp His prerogative." It happened just as the lady predicted. Napoleon's invasion of Russia was the commencement of his fall.-New York Protestant Churchman, quoted by the Record, September 5, 1859.

The "Pontifical Calendar" for 1862 has just been published. It declares that there are 938 dioceses in the Catholic world, and that 75 episcopal sees, most of them Italian, are now vacant. It designates Cardinal Milesi as being still Legate at Bologna, and Mgr. Lasagni as being Legate at Forli; everything is retained as if the Legations, the Marches, the Umbria, were still governed by the Holy See.

Entelligence.

MAYNOOTH COLLEGE.-Mr. Whalley has moved for the return of the number of persons who had completed their education at the Royal College of Maynooth (Ireland), from the year 1845 to the year 1861 inclusive, specifying their names, and, so far as is known to the authorities of the College, their destination on leaving the College, the position now occupied by them in the Roman Catholic Church, and the place of their ministry; also stating whether any, and if any, which of the Roman Catholic Archbishops, Bishops, and Coadjutor-Bishops, in Ireland, were educated at Maynooth College, or are now officially connected therewith as visitors, trustees, or otherwise.

The "Times" own Correspondent thus writes from Dublin :-" Apropos of Mr. Whalley's Motion about Maynooth, some statistics of the Roman Catholic priesthood in Ireland may be interesting to your readers. There are four archbishops and 29 bishops. The total number of parish priests is 1,036; of curates, &c., 1,491. These are what are called the secular or parochial clergy, for whose education alone the Legislature has made provision in the College of Maynooth. In addition to these there are about 520 regulars,' who assist the others in the performance of their various duties, but have establishments of their own. The total number of priests in Ireland of both kinds is 3,058. The Roman Catholic population, according to the-last census, is 4,490,583, which divided by 3,058 would give for each priest a congregation of 1,468. For each of the secular clergy there would be 1,773 people, including children. The number of priests, therefore, when compared with the Roman Catholic population, cannot be considered excessive. The number this year exceeds that of last year by 23. Provision is made at Maynooth for 520 students. The course of study is eight years, so that about 60 priests would be turned out annually. According to the Act of Parliament they are designed to supply the mission' in Ireland, not to be sent abroad. There are 35 other colleges and seminaries, in some of which priests are educated, but the numbers are not stated in 'Battersby's Catholic Directory,' from which I have taken the figures given above. The Roman Catholic places of worship in Ireland number 2,339. There are 84 convents, 164 nunneries, and 117 monasteries and Christian Brothers' schools. In England and Scotland there are 1,388 priests, ministering in 1,019 places of worship; there are besides 60 men and 162 women belonging to the various religious orders. It may be mentioned here that there are 31 Roman Catholic Members of Parliament, all Irish, except the Hon. Mr. Howard, who represents Arundel.”—Times, February 20, 1862.

Macintosh, Printer, Great New-street, London,

PROTESTANT MAGAZINE.

MAY 1, 1862.

PAYMENT OF ROMAN CATHOLIC CHAPLAINS.

TRUTH can pay no homage to error. Her sacred rights ought never to be compromised or betrayed by those who love the truth, and would advocate the cause of truth. Error, superstition, idolatry, and false religion have been dispersed by the light of Divine truth. And that light has shone more clearly, and for a longer period in these lands, than in any other part of the habitable globe. Long may it continue so to shine. Long may we, as a Church and people, continue to enjoy the blessings which flow from pure and genuine Christianity. But that such may be the case, there is need for a watchful and a prayerful spirit. Rescued as this Church and nation have been, by the mercy of Almighty God, from the evils of Popery, and blessed with an open Bible, and the knowledge of one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, it must be our endeavour not only individually to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called, but also as a nation to use our national wealth, and power, and influence for the glory of Him who alone is the great Lord of all, the Author and Giver of all good things. Unhappily, this is not so much so as it ought to be.

The great enemy has stolen a march on us. We are becoming year after year involved in the inconsistency and guilt of supporting Popery; and that subtle but anti-scriptural system seems now more actively than ever at work to regain its longlost ascendancy over these realms. In Parliament and out of Parliament there are constant efforts, and efforts too often successfully made to improve its position, by giving it an increase of grant, or elevating the social position of members of that communion.

Are we not at this present moment guilty of great inconsistency, in making grants for Romish purposes? Are we not participating in the guilt of supporting, and propagating Popery?

To worship at an idol's shrine, is to be a participator in idolatry. To pay money for making the idol, or building the temple for the idol, or supporting its superstitious worship, is it not also to be a participator in idolatry? New Series, No. 259.

VOL. XXIV.

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