Studies in the South and West, with Comments on Canada — John Shaqi
Studies in the South and West, with Comments on CanadaWarner, Charles Dudley
History
Studies in the South and West, with Comments on Canada
Warner, Charles Dudley
Canada -- Description and travel; United States -- Description and travel
are buried the members of certain societies, and the spaces in the wall
and in the altar area are thickly covered with votive offerings, in wax
and in naive painting—contributed by those who have been healed by the
intercession of the saints. Over the altar is the shrine of St. Roch—a
cavalier, staff in hand, with his clog by his side, the faithful animal
which accompanied this eighth-century philanthropist in his visitations
to the plague-stricken people of Munich. Within the altar rail are rows
of lighted candles, tended and renewed by the attendant, placed there
by penitents or by seekers after the favor of the saint. On the wooden
benches, kneeling, are ladies, servants, colored women, in silent
prayer. One approaches the lighted, picturesque shrine through the
formal rows of tombs, and comes there into an atmosphere of peace and
faith. It is believed that miracles are daily wrought here, and one
notices in all the gardeners, keepers, and attendants of the place the
accent and demeanor of simple faith. On the wall hangs this inscription:
“O great St. Roch, deliver us, we beseech thee, from the scourges of
God. Through thy intercessions preserve our bodies from contagious
diseases, and our souls from the contagion of sin. Obtain for us
salubrious air; but, above all, purity of heart. Assist us to make good
use of health, to bear suffering with patience, and after thy example to
live in the practice of penitence and charity, that we may one day enjoy
the happiness which thou hast merited by thy virtues.
“St. Roch, pray for us.
“St. Roch, pray for us.
“St. Roch, pray for us.”
There is testimony that many people, even Protestants, and men, have had
wounds cured and been healed of diseases by prayer in this chapel. To
this distant shrine come ladies from all parts of the city to make
the “novena”—the prayer of nine days, with the offer of the burning
taper—and here daily resort hundreds to intercede for themselves or
their friends. It is believed by the damsels of this district that if
they offer prayer daily in this chapel they will have a husband within
the year, and one may see kneeling here every evening these trustful
devotees to the welfare of the human race. I asked the colored woman who
sold medals and leaflets and renewed the candles if she personally knew
any persons who had been miraculously cured by prayer, or novena, in St.
Roch. “Plenty, sir, plenty.” And she related many instances, which were
confirmed by votive offerings on the walls. “Why,” said she, “there was
a friend of mine who wanted a place, and could hear of none, who made a
novena here, and right away got a place, a good place, and” (conscious
that she was making an astonishing statement about a New Orleans
servant) “she kept it a whole year!”
“But one must come in the right spirit,” I said.
“Ah, indeed. It needs to believe. You can’t fool God!”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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