The Three Cities Trilogy: Lourdes, Volume 1Zola, Émile
Religion
The Three Cities Trilogy: Lourdes, Volume 1
Zola, Émile
Catholics -- Fiction; Christian pilgrims and pilgrimages -- Fiction; Clergy -- Fiction; Lourdes (France) -- Fiction
whole human organism; the bones grew again, new flesh was formed, and
the disease, driven away, made its escape in a final convulsion. But
how great was the feeling of comfort which followed! The doctors could
not believe their eyes, their astonishment burst forth at each fresh
cure, when they saw the patients whom they had despaired of run and
jump and eat with ravenous appetites. All these chosen ones, these
women cured of their ailments, walked a couple of miles, sat down to
roast fowl, and slept the soundest of sleeps for a dozen hours.
Moreover, there was no convalescence, it was a sudden leap from the
death throes to complete health. Limbs were renovated, sores were
filled up, organs were reformed in their entirety, plumpness returned
to the emaciated, all with the velocity of a lightning flash! Science
was completely baffled. Not even the most simple precautions were
taken, women were bathed at all times and seasons, perspiring
consumptives were plunged into the icy water, sores were left to their
putrefaction without any thought of employing antiseptics. And then
what canticles of joy, what shouts of gratitude and love arose at each
fresh miracle! The favoured one falls upon her knees, all who are
present weep, conversions are effected, Protestants and Jews alike
embrace Catholicism—other miracles these, miracles of faith, at which
Heaven triumphs. And when the favoured one, chosen for the miracle,
returns to her village, all the inhabitants crowd to meet her, whilst
the bells peal merrily; and when she is seen springing lightly from the
vehicle which has brought her home, shouts and sobs of joy burst forth
and all intonate the /Magnificat/: Glory to the Blessed Virgin!
Gratitude and love for ever!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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