matter. He appointed a commission to investigate all the circumstances and to examine into the various cures, and not until four years had elapsed did he deliver his judgment concerning them. In the year 1862 he issued a pastoral letter, in which he solemnly acquainted the faithful of his diocese with the fact that supernatural occurrences had taken place at Lourdes, which could not be ascribed to anything other than divine omnipotence. He accordingly solicited contributions for building a church. The sum collected for this purpose amounted to two million francs, so that a magnificent sanctuary could be erected, which has become a celebrated place of pilgrimage.
In 1866 Bernadette entered the convent of the Sisters of Mercy at Nevers; before her death she solemnly stated upon oath that all that she had related concerning the supernatural apparitions at Lourdes was strictly true. Lourdes is now visited every year by millions of pilgrims from all parts of Christendom, and is a thorn in the side of the adversaries of religion. For the Catholic Church, however, the facts of the occurrences at Lourdes are most valuable, as they shed glory on our faith and afford an incontrovertible proof of the truth of our holy religion.
