The Morning Star And Catholic Messenger

LETTER FROM BELGIUM.

Ypres, Belgium, August 5, 1878.

Editor Morning Star:

I have seen the wonders of Bois d'Haine, and am anxious to communicate to you something about them. Allowed to assist at the communion and the ecstasy on the 2d of this month, Rev. Father Meerschaert, from Ocean Springs, and I were early at the Church of Bois d'Haine that morning. At 7 o'clock we went on: the Blessed Sacrament, carried by Rev. Th. Meerschaert, was preceded by five priests carrying lights. In ten minutes we arrived at the poor cottage of the family Lateau.

The little house humble but neat is whitewashed on the outside and ornamented inside with religious pictures. In the first room, giving entrance to the one occupied by Louise, we found Adeline, one of the three sisters. A table and two sewing machines are the only furniture of this place. Entering the second place, we found hardly room for all of us, it being so small and narrow. Louise is in a state of utter suffering; her eyes are shut. she does not seem to hear anything. The respiration is irregular, even heavy, as of a person in the last struggle with death; the face is livid and the last spark of life seems to have left her forever. No longer appear the stigmata of the Crown.

Now the priest recites the prayers of the ritual, and sprinkles the room with holy water. Together we say the "Confiteor," while Louise remains in the same state, not knowing what is going on around her. Thus, how will the priest give her Holy Communion! The words "Agnus Dei" are pronounced in a very low voice; at once the hands of Louise are moving, lifting suddenly the napkin; the tongue appears and disappears instantly after the Sacred Host is deposited. Immediately the mouth shuts, and no further movement is to be noticed, even not of swallowing—no respiration! But her appearance has changed entirely. The fresh colors of life have taken the place of the shadows of death, and an expression of heavenly happiness is seen on that angelic face. Her bleeding hands are reposing upon her chest, the blood flowing from the exterior part of the hands only. We discover also the blood running from a wound on the shoulder, in which Our Lord suffered from the carrying of the cross. But a few minutes more and the real presence of Holy Communion will be at an end. Louise will see, hear and know again what is going on around and about her, yet remaining in a state of intense suffering. Thus we must leave the room, to return only at half-past two.

In the afternoon we found Louise in a state of suffering. She is yet in the same position as in the morning, lying down, except that the lifted arms and hands are not brought together. The eyes, wide open, are turned to the light, seemingly seeking or seeing an object from above. No movement whatever, except the contraction of the face and the trembling of the hands, caused by intense suffering. The hands of the priests, relics and blessed objects were offered to her, and an angelic smile is expressed, though the eyes keep the same position, paying no attention to the objects brought before them. About half-past two the reverend pastor begins the recitation of the office, and instantly the face of Louise becomes and remains radiant, except at the pronunciation of the words "peccator videtur elirrascetur," when she expresses sorrow and suffering.

When, at the recitation of the "Magnificat," the pastor began to sing, Louise, without any aid of hands, head or back, is lifted up in a position of adoration. The office being said, Louise keeps the same position, the eyes yet fixed with more attention on her mysterious object, commanding respect and inspiring deep emotion. At once she falls back on the bed, stretches her arms, the head inclined on the left shoulder, the mouth wide open. She seems to have expired. It is exactly 3 o'clock.

Again we have to leave the room, for the ecstasy will be at an end. To-morrow the blood will not flow any longer; nothing extraordinary will be noticed in Louise, except that she will nor can eat, drink or sleep—which indeed exists for the last seven years. For the last six months Louise has been in a state of agony, but again she is able to go about in the house and help her two sisters, Rosine and Adeline, cooking and sewing.

Mr. Editor, might this short but truthful narration of the wonders of Bois d'Haine interest your readers; and may the Almighty God be more and more loved and known, is the wish of your humble servant in Christ,

J. E. Van Houver, C. P.