Triduum at Lourdes

Into bustling little Lourdes in the French Pyrenees last week moved a vast throng of pious folk including 60 members of the Roman Catholic hierarchy, silver-helmeted Vatican guards, healthy pilgrims and ailing pilgrims, devout European socialites, Eugenio Cardinal Pacelli, and that Blackest of Catholic nobles, ex-Empress Zita of Austria bringing her boy Otto, Archduke pretender. In Lourdes 77 years ago, Catholics believe, a peasant girl named Bernadette Soubirous saw an apparition of the Blessed Virgin. Bernadette is now of the blessed company of saints (TIME, Dec. 11, 1933) and the Grotte de Massabielle, scene of the apparition, is the Church's most famed miracle ground. This spot Pope Pius XI chose for ceremonies bringing to an end last week the two-year period he pronounced holy in commemoration of the 1,900th anniversary of Christ's death. To represent his august person at Lourdes the Pope could send no lesser person than his trusty Secretary of State Pacelli, who in turn could not allow even the death of his brother (see p. 32) to delay his going. Observers found notable the letter with which Pius XI commissioned Cardinal Pacelli as his legate to Lourdes. Almost warm enough to constitute an endorsement of his Secretary of State as his successor were the Pope's words:

"We have entrusted to you, our beloved son, who so eagerly serves the cause of the Church in our daily activity to the extent that you may be called our closest collaborator, with this most honored mission, and we do not doubt that you will be appreciated by everyone on this occasion. . . .

'This mission is entrusted to you also because you are a prince of the Church and because of the sublime outstanding achievements you have accomplished for the good of the soul, and for your special eloquence. . . ."

Form of the Lourdes celebration was a triduum--three solid days and nights of prayer, 140 successive masses, one of which was celebrated by Bishop James Edward Kearney of Salt Lake City. More & more pilgrims arrived, sleeping on the open ground, until 100,000 gathered around the Grotto for the final mass by Cardinal Pacelli, with benediction broadcast from the Vatican by the Pope. Object of the whole triduum was Peace, according to the Holy Father's letter, "to look at and pray to the Madonna to intercede with God in order that the palm of peace may be bestowed again on mankind and that a dawn of better times will smile upon them."

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.