THE hour had come for evening prayer;
The Angelus chimed on the chilling air.
Ave.
A hidden Angel walked, and met
The unwitting steps of Bernadette.
Ave.
Across the mountain stream she hied.
A wind in the valley rose and died.
Ave.
Sudden it shook her, sudden it fell.
She saw the Virgin on Massabielle.
Ave.
She saw the tender and gentle face
Crowned with a light that filled the place.
Ave.
It was the Mother of God who smiled
Like her own mother on the child.
Ave.
Clad in white was the Lady chaste,
A ribbon of Heaven around her waist.
Ave.
Two open roses, yellow and sweet,
Lay upon her naked feet.
Ave.
Between her hands, and folded there,
The beads her people use for prayer.
Ave.
The child prayed fast; then from her eyes
Tbe vision passed to Paradise.
Ave.
In her poor home the girl abode,
But daily pressed on the self-same road.
Ave.
"O Lady, Lady, what do you seek?"
Then came the time for her to speak.
Ave.
"Come fifteen times to this mountain cave.
Thou shalt be glad after the grave."
Ave.
And day by day did the people press
After the feet of the shepherdess.
Ave.
And on her face they marked with awe
The brightness of the things she saw.
Ave.
She saw that bent was the Lady's head.
"Madam, why are you sad?" she said.
Ave.
The Lady answered, "Pray, my child,
Entreat for the unreconciled.
Ave.
"I call upon the multitude
To walk, and pray, and bear the rood.
Ave.
"I will have here a holy shrine,
And the dedication shall be mine."
Ave.
Then twice the morning dawned, but not
The light, the vision, in the grot.
Ave.
Oh, Mother, and did'st thou then not know
Thy little girl was troubled so?
Ave.
Nought was the trouble when once more
The Lady stood by the torrent shore.
Ave.
"Madam, I am to ask a sign.
There is no flower on the eglantine.
Ave.
"We pray you make a rose out-break
For our poor faith's and your mercies' sake."
Ave.
"Drink of the spring," the Virgin said.
The child went down to the river-bed.
Ave.
"Nay, here is the spring of my command;"
And a spring leapt under the little hand.
Ave.
"I am to ask you to tell your name,
That we may be certain whence you came."
Ave.
Three times over this prayer was said;
And the fourth time it was answered.
Ave.
'Twas the name that is sung at Heaven's gate.
"I am called and conceived Immaculate."
Ave.
See, Mother, thy people have done thy will.
There is a church on the southern hill.
Ave.
These thirty years, and from age to age,
Thy children are coming on pilgrimage.
Ave.
The waters fail not, nor their feet.
They drink, they are healed, they praise thee,
Sweet.
Ave.
Hither the distant nation wins;
France weeps here upon her sins.
Ave.
The sick, the mourner, the forgiven
Come to Lourdes on their way to Heaven.
Ave.
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Lourdes: Yesterday, To-day and To-morrow