Life of St John Vianney.pdf - the Catholic Kingdom!

""OOC ORRENCES AT THE "PROVIDENCE." 135This man s heart was heavy with recent sorrow, whicli hadleft a vague religious terror upon his mind, impelling him,he scarcely knew why, to the confessional.tated ;truth at once attracted and repelled him.Still he hesi44As he was slowly moving towards the presbytery, hewas startled by a strange sound, which seemed to comefrom the window. He listened, and heard a strong, shrillpiercing voice, such as might be that of a lost spirit, repeat several times, !Vianney, Vianney come, come ! Thepoor man s blood froze within him with horror at the infernal cry. Just at that moment the church-clock struckone, and M. le Cure appeared with a light in his hand.He found the poor man overcome by terror, reassuredhim, and before asking him a single question, or havinheard one word of his history, he astounded him by saying, My friend, you are in great trouble ; you have justlost your wife in her confinement. But take courage, thegood God will come to your assistance. You must setyour conscience in order first, and then you will moreeasily arrange your affairs. *I no longer attempted toresist, said the soldier ;I fell on my knees, like a child,and began my confession. In my trouble I coukl hardlyput two ideas together ;but the good cure helped me, andrevealed to me things, tomy inexpressible amazement, ofwhich he could have had no natural knowledge. I didnot believe that any one could thus read the heart.Mysterious noises and footsteps used also to be heardat the Providence, and at one time they continually foundpieces of meat in the soup on abstinence days. They wouldempty the saucepan, and fill it again with water fresh drawnfrom the well ; but all to no purpose, the meat would reappear at the bottom. At last they went to ask the cure whatwas to be done. Serve the soup, and eat it all the same,*