FESTIVAL OF THE CROWNING OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 189, 10 November 1876, Page 13

FESTIVAL OF THE CROWNING OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES.

But surpassing all this, what a spectacle in the evening, -when all of a sudden we hear, as if impelled by an immense voice, which contains a hundred thousand others, the shout of which the Pyreneess returns the echo: "Viva Pius IX., Pontiff-Kino- ! Hail Mary! Hail the Immaculate Conception ! " At each rest of the touching allocution addressed to us by the Rev. Father Roux, these acclam£ tions arise a,nd increase, a shout of universal faith thrown to tne world, which will experience its benefits. Then day still declining from every side, and as by a signal,lights are seen emerging From above the terrace which borders the crypt one follows with the eyes this movement, the undulation of which is every minute multiplying and quickeniug. Soon collected together, in front of the grotto, in an immense luminous sheet which quietly rolls its waves, they reappear on every side, clinging to the mountain slopes, following the roads and winding path, continually rising and rising, while fresh lines of pilgrims coming from the church or from the city meet the pilgrims who are going to the church or to the city, marking thus their line of march by endless strings of light. °

At the same time fires are lighted on the summit of the mountains. Far off a height detaches itself like an immense Calvary of fire. Lower down the Benedictine convent shows on its frontage a monstrance fire, and lower yet the Carmelites' convent appears, with its immense frontage illuminated, in the centre of which is a prodigious star, shedding on all sides its bright light. Towards the city all the buildings which overlook the valley are alike resplendent, and the gaze, resting on the f agade, perceives it from its base to the steeple as if entirely in flame. All of a sudden reports resound, and luminous sheaves revolve themselves into myriads||of stars, glitter for a second in all the colors of the rainbow, and ascend to the clouds. They are fireworks, which from the sides of the mountain thunder and shine forth their lights in honor of the Virgin. At the acclamations of the crowd, a last detonation is heard ; hundreds of stars dart at once into the air, and at the topmost summit is seen appearing in gigantic letters the luminous inscription : " Vive Notre Dame de Lourdes." Yes, hail our Lady of Lourdes ! It is the cry that comes from all hearts when to rest the eyes, after the bright light of the fireworks, they turn on the procession of the pilgrims, which are always moving up and down with their torches, to stop before the grotto, and leave there a last prayer. Past midnight they are yetj there, and the rising dawn, must come, if we may so speak, to replace this illumination which does not end.

And it is not all, for at the moment when 1 am writing it is the second day which begins,; with 'a new affluence of pilgrims who arrived this morning from every part, to assist at the grand ceremony of the coronation. Already the musicians are sounding their trumpets, the bells are pealing forth with all their might, and the procession is moving. Most happy those who in this immense throng will be able to hear the Bishop of Poitiers, who is the orator of this great day. At least will all be able to witness Mgr. the apostolic Nuncio crowning, in the name of his Holiness, the statue of the miraculous Virgin which will be deposited in the basilica. Ah ! the festivities of the world are very light and seem, to be empty, in spite of all their solemnity, in opposition to these feasts, the majesty of which elevate the soul, and leave in the heart so many and so deep remembrances. — *N. Y. Tablet.'

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