THE clear and sagacious mind of the Bishop of Tarbes could not fail of being deeply struck by the combination of events, the testimony of so many serious men, and the knowledge of their conviction after mature examination. Monseigneur Lawrence judged that the time for speaking had arrived, and he at length broke silence. On the 28th of July, he issued the following mandate, which was immediately known throughout the diocese and produced an immense sensation; for every one felt that the extraordinary state of things which had engrossed public attention for so many months was at length approaching a settlement.
MANDATE of Monseigneur the Bishop of Tarbes, constituting a Commission charged with furnishing an official report on the authenticity and nature of events which have occurred, about six months ago, on the occasion of an Apparition, true or pretended, of the Blessed Virgin, in a Grotto, situated to the west of the town of Lourdes.
Bertrand Sévère-Laurence, by the Divine Mercy and the favor of the Holy Apostolic See, Bishop of Tarbes.
To the Clergy and Faithful of our diocese, health and the benediction in Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Facts of grave import connected with Religion, which agitate the diocese, and are re-echoed far and wide, have occurred since the eleventh of last February.
Bernadette Soubirous, a young girl of Lourdes, aged fourteen years, is said to have had visions in the Grotto of Massabielle, situated west of the said town; the Immaculate Virgin is said to have appeared to her. A Fountain is said to have risen there. The water of this Fountain either used as a drink or applied as a lotion is said to have effected a great number of cures, which cures are said to be miraculous. People have come and still come both from our own and the neighboring dioceses, seeking the cure of their different maladies by the use of this water, invoking at the same time the Immaculate Virgin.
The civil Authorities have bestirred themselves in the matter.
From every quarter, since the month of March last, the Ecclesiastical Authorities have been requested to explain their views touching this extemporaneous pilgrimage.
We at first thought that the time had not come for us to stir with any useful results in this matter; that, in order to establish firmly the judgment expected from us, it behoved us to proceed with sage deliberation, to distrust the first impulse of enthusiasm, to allow the public mind to calm itself, to afford due time for reflection and to beseech enlightenment for an attentive and satisfactory investigation.
Three classes of persons appealed to our decision, but from entirely different points of view.
The first consists of such as, refusing to enter into any examination of the question in point, see nothing in the occurrences at the Grotto, and the cures attributed to the water of the Fountain, but superstition, jugglery and means of duping others. It is evident we cannot embrace their opinion a priori and without serious investigation. Their organs talked at first―and that very loudly―of superstition, trickery and insincerity; they affirmed that the occurrences at the Grotto were grounded on sordid self-interest and culpable cupidity, and thus wounded the moral sense of our Christian population. To deny everything and to impugn the intentions of others is the easiest way, we allow, of solving difficulties; but, to say nothing of its not being very honest, it is unreasonable and more calculated to produce irritation than conviction in the minds of others. To deny the possibility of supernatural intervention is to become the disciples of a superannuated school, to abjure the Christian religion and to follow blindly the track of the infidel philosophy of the last century. As Catholics we cannot, in circumstances like the present, either take the advice of persons who deny that God has the power of making exceptions to the general laws which He has established for the government of the world, the work of his hands, nor can we enter into any discussion with them in order to ascertain whether such or such a fact is supernatural, inasmuch as they proclaim beforehand that the Supernatural is impossible. Is this as much as to say that with regard to the question in point, we reject a full, sincere and conscientious discussion, enlightened by science and the progress it has made? Certainly not: on the contrary we challenge it. It is our wish that these facts should be first submitted to the severe rules of certitude which are admitted by sound philosophy, and that afterwards in order to decide whether such facts are supernatural and divine, there should be summoned to the discussions of these grave and difficult questions men who have devoted themselves to and are well versed in the science of mystic theology, medicine, natural philosophy, chemistry, geology, etc., etc.; in fact, that Science may be heard and pronounce its judgement. Above all things, it is our wish that no means of arriving at the truth be omitted.
There is a second class of persons who neither approve nor blame, but suspend their judgment; before pledging themselves to any opinion, they desire to know the decision of the competent authorities and are most anxious to have it pronounced.
There is lastly, a third and very numerous class of persons who have already formed their convictions, though somewhat prematurely, regarding the matter which engrosses us. They are waiting with the greatest impatience for the Bishop of the diocese to pronounce his judgment on an affair of so much gravity. Although they expect our decision to be favorable to their pious sentiments, we know sufficiently well their submission to the Church to feel assured that they will accept our judgment, of whatever nature it may be, as soon as it is made known to them.
It is therefore, with the object of enlightening the religion and piety of so many thousands of the faithful, of satisfying a want of the public, of fixing uncertainty, and of calming the minds of all, that we yield today to the pressure which has long been brought to bear on us from so many quarters, and endeavor to throw light on occurrences of the deepest interest to the Faithful, as affecting the worship of Mary and religion itself. We have resolved, for this purpose, to institute in the diocese a permanent Commission for collecting and authenticating any facts which may have already taken place or may arise hereafter in the Grotto of Lourdes, or in connection with it, for making them known to us and apprizing us of their character, and thus furnishing us with the elements which are indispensable to enable us to arrive at a solution of the question.
FOR THESE REASONS:
Having invoked the holy name of God, we have commanded and do command as follows:
Article I.―A Commission is instituted in the diocese of Tarbes with the object of ascertaining:
1st. Whether cures have been effected by the use of the water of the Grotto of Lourdes, whether by drinking it or in lotions, and whether these cures can be accounted for naturally, or should be attributed to a supernatural cause.
2nd. Whether the Visions which the child, Bernadette Soubirous, claims to have had in the Grotto are real, and, in that case, whether they can be accounted for naturally, or are of a divine and supernatural character.
3rd. Whether the object which appeared demanded anything from the child or manifested any intentions to her? Whether the latter was charged with the communication of them, and to whom? And what was the precise nature of the demands, or intentions manifested?
4th. Whether the Fountain, flowing at present in the Grotto, was in existence before the date of the Vision which Bernadette Soubirous claims to have had.
Article 2.―The Commission will bring to our notice only such facts as are established by conclusive evidence; it will forward to us the circumstantial reports on such facts, accompanied with its own opinion regarding them.
Article 3.―The deans of the diocese will be the principal correspondents of the Commission: they are requested to make known to it:
1st. The facts which shall have taken place in their respective deaneries.
2nd. The persons who may be able to bear testimony relative to the existence of the above facts.
3rd. Those who, from their scientific knowledge, may be able to enlighten the Commission.
4th. The medical men who attended the sick persons before their cure.
Article 4.―After previous inquiries, the Commission will proceed to an investigation. The evidence will be taken on oath. Two members, at least, of the Commission, will go to the place where an investigation takes place.
Article 5.―We earnestly recommend the Commission often to summon to its sittings men versed in the sciences of medicine, natural philosophy, chemistry, geology, etc., in order to hear them discuss the difficulties which may be, in certain points of view, in their line, and to learn their opinion. The Commission ought to neglect nothing, to avail itself of every possible source of information, and to arrive at the truth of whatever nature it may be.
Article 6.―The Commission will be composed of nine members of our Cathedral-Chapter, the Superiors of the Grand and Little Seminaries, the Superior of the Missionaries of our Diocese, the Curé of Lourdes, and of the Professors of Dogmatic Theology, Morality, and Natural Philosophy of our Seminary. The Professor of Chemistry of our Little Seminary will be frequently consulted.
Article 7.―M. Nogaro, Canon-Archpriest is named President of the Commission. Canons Tabariès and Soulé are named Vice-presidents. The Commission will name a secretary and two vice-secretaries taken out of its number.
Article 8.―The Commission will commence its labors immediately, and meet as often as it may judge necessary.
Given at Tarbes, in our Episcopal Palace, under our signature, seal, and the counter-signature of our Secretary, 28th of July 1858.
✠ BERTRAND SEVRE,
Bishop of Tarbes
By command,
FOURCADE, Canon-Secretary.
Monseigneur Laurence had scarcely issued this order, when a letter from M. Rouland, Minister of Public Worship, reached the Palace.
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