THE Prefect saw more and more the hopelessness of being able to have recourse to coercive measures, owing to this amazing tranquillity, this calm not less irritating than it was marvelous, which reigned of its own accord among these countless multitudes. There was nothing to lay hold of. He must either retrace his steps, and relinquishing the path he had hitherto pursued, leave the population absolutely free to take their own course, or, by adopting measures of violence and persecution, oppose, on some pretext or other, an arbitrary barrier to the popular movement. He must either beat a retreat or boldly advance.
On the other hand, the variety and suddenness of the cures effected, appeared to many persons of judgment to be but lamely accounted for by the therapeutic and mineral properties of the new Spring. The accuracy of the scientific decision furnished by M. Latour de Trie, was called into question. A chemist of the town, M. Thomas Pujo, asserted that the water was merely ordinary water, and did not contain any medical properties. Many very competent professors of chemistry in the district were of the same opinion. The analysis of Latour de Trie was declared by men of science to be erroneous. These rumors gained so much ground that the Municpal Council of Lourdes began to stir in the business. The Mayor could not well refuse―in opposition to the wishes of all―to allow a second examination of the water of the Spring to be made. Without consulting the Prefect, which, as it appeared to him, would have been useless―so deeply convinced was the latter that M. Latour was correct in his report―he got a resolution passed by the Municipal Council, authorizing him to intrust Professor Filhol, one of the greatest chemists of the present day, with a new and definitive analysis. The council voted at the same time the funds necessary to remunerate the illustrious savant.
M. Filhol was a man of weight in modern science, and there would evidently be no appeal against his verdict.
Of what nature would his analysis prove to be? The Prefect was not sufficiently versed in chemistry to know. But we believe, without any fear of deceiving ourselves on the subject, that he must have been somewhat uneasy. The verdict pronounced by the eminent Professor of Chemistry in the Faculty of Toulouse might seriously derange the plans and contrivances of M. Massy. He really had not time to lose. Here again he must beat a retreat or advance boldly. In the midst of so many different party feelings, and numerous calculations, Bernadette could not escape being exposed to fresh attempts, but they proved as useless as the former ones. She was preparing to make her first communion, and she made it on the third of June, the feast of Corpus Christi. It was the same day on which the Municipal Council of Lourdes commissioned M. Gilhol to analyze the water of the mysterious Spring which had some time back gushed forth from under the hand of the youthful Seer, when in her state of ecstacy. God entering into her child-like and girlish heart, was also making the analysis of a pure wave, and we may well imagine that He could not but admire and bless, in her virgin soul, the freshest of Springs and the mot limpid of crystals.
She continued to receive numerous visits and notwithstanding her ardent wish for concealment and retirement. She was always the simple, innocent child, whose portrait we have attempted to draw. She fascinated all who approached her by her candor, her striking sincerity and delicate perfume of calm piety.
One day, a lady, after having held a conversation with her, in an impulse of enthusiastic veneration which may be easily uderstood by those who have known Bernadette, wished to exchange her chaplet of precious stones for the one ordinarily used by the child:
“Keep you own, Madam,” she replied, showing her simple auxiliary of prayer. “Here is mine, and I would not change it. It is poor like myself, and is, on that account, more befitting my state of indigence.”
An ecclesiastic endeavored to prevail on her to accept a piece of silver She refused, and he urged her to take it. She refused it again so formally that any further pressing seemed useless. The priest however, would not acknowledge himself beaten.
“Take it,” said he, “it is not for yourself but for the poor, and you will have the pleasure of giving alms.”
“Do that yourself, Father, in my intention,” replied the child, “and that will avail more than if I did it myself.”
It was poor Bernadette’s intention to serve God without payment, and to fulfil the mission she had received from on high without emerging from her state of noble poverty. And yet, she and her family were at times in want of bread.
About this time, the Prefect’s official salary was raised to 25,000 francs. M. Jacomet received a donation. The Minister of Public Worship, in a letter which was communicated to several funcitonaries, assured the Prefect of his perfect satisfaction, and praising him for all he had hitherto done, he pressed upon him the adoption of energetic measures, adding that it was necessary at any cost to make an end of the Grotto and the miracles at Lourdes.
In this quarter, as in all the rest, the Prefect must either beat a retreat or advance boldly.
But what could be done?
