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

"""HIS ILLNESS. 179describe, but which deeply moved me. I could not addanother word. I feltmy throat swell, and left the roomwith my heart and my eyesfull of tears. A mournfulsilence reigned throughout the village there was sadness;in every face,as if death were in each man s house. Thepilgrims were wandering around the church, like sheepwithout a shepherd, with their eyes turned towards thepresbytery, to catch the slightest incident, or gather themost trifling detail. Whenever any of the attendants inthe sick room appeared, a hundred questions were asked.How is the holy cure ?*How is the good father ? Andwhen the sad reply told that he was no better, theyflocked into the church, redoubled their prayers and tears,endeavouring to do violence to heaven, and to obtain ofGrod, by the intercession of our Lady and St. Philomena,the restoration of health so precious to them all."Meanwhile the malady gained ground rapidly, and theAbbe Valentin, M. Vianney s confessor, judged that it wastime to administer the Last Sacraments. Seven ecclesiastics, who were at the time in the presbytery, were aloneto be present ; and it was agreed, in order to avoid increasing the sorrow and desolation of the people, that thebell should not be rung. The holy cure overheard thesearrangements from his bed, and turning to the person whowas watching by him, said quickly:Go, and tell themto ring. Ought not the parishioners to pray for theirpastor?" No sooner was the mournful sound heard thanthe whole village was astir. Tidings of this kind," saysM. Monniii, have rapid wings;they fly with the air,they glide with the light,they travel everywhere, thoughno one can trace their electric path."All his children would fain have knelt around the bedof their dying father ; but a very small number only could