isa-normaladvance-1913-00144

Description:	144THE XORMAL ADVAXCEbox revealing the figure of the Madonna. Aftermany prayers and signs, the superstitious devotees raised their heads and handed the priestpolished moonstones, sardonyx which they hadfound, and huge pieces of filmy drawn-work,the work of the watery eyed, village sewingwomen. The father, muttering a prayer,placed the offerings at the foot of the shrineand then with a lift of his right hand gavehis. consent for his followers to address theimage directly, to which they responded withapalling vehemence. First, they prayed for thesick, then loudly lamented their own injustices.For an hour they wailed and pleaded in theirsharp, Mexican language. Finally the priestcommanded silence the excited petitionersbowed to the ground, crossed themselves threetimes, the father offered another prayer, andthe little band arose and slowly marched backto the village, their heads bowed and theirhands clasped before them.Immediately, a group of about forty children wearing white veils and carrying palmbranches and great bunches of poinsettas,marched out in a similar manner, lifting theirchidish voices in a Mexican prayer. When theyreached the cross they knelt three times beforethe Madonna, crossed themselves, and laid theiroffering all over the gleaming white shrine andits rock foundation. Having done this, theyknelt again and waited for the third groupwho were just starting from the village. Thispilgrimage was composed of the first band andsome helpers who supported or carried sickmen, women and children. As the sufferersneared the sacred place their faces lighted upwith the hope of help and recovery. The children grouped themselves upon the rocks andchanted prayers as the sick people, one by one,were brought up and allowed to touch thehealing Madonna and pray with the priest. Anemaciated man, lying on a stretcher and suffering from tuberculosis, was the first one takenup. As he reached out his claw-like hand totouch the image, he was seized with a severeparoxysm of coughing which prevented himfrom saying the short prayer, causing the natives to look on with terror when (accordingto their belief) by the hand of the saint he wasdenied her help. A look of utter dispair cameover the mans face as he realized that deathwould soon come. Next a big, strong, oldMexican carried a feverish looking little girlof about six. She reached out her hand and.prompted by the priest, said the little prayerin her clear, childish treble. An exclamation ofrejoicing greeted this promised recovery. Andso the morning wore on old and young, dyingand convalescent, were given the advantage oftheir faith, until the poinsettas wilted and thehot sun sent his scorching rays straight downfrom the blue heavens onto the worshipers.Finally the last one, a young man with agreat gash across his brow, was brought down.The children instantly began singing a song ofpraise and rejoicing as they descended fromthe rocks and led the procession away, leaving the priest praying alone before the cross.Soon after they disappeared within the village.,the bells against chimed, and the father reverently closed the door of the Shrine, crossedhimself, and walked slowly and thoughtfullyto the town.The cross was left alone on its secure rockfoundation, a veritable lighthouse in this smallsea of life. The waves still frolicked againstthe rocks, the breezes softy whispered, and thechattering birds again perched themselves onthe holy spot. Back in the village the chimesgradually died away the fearful, superstitiousMexicans had performed their yearly cere-monv of the Dav of Healing.
Source:	http://indstate.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/isuarchive/id/34589
Collection:	Indiana State University Archives

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