“Your pilgrimage is drawing to a close!.. The end of the combat is nigh!.. You will soon behold my Face in Heaven!”

(Words of Our Lord.)

The establishment of the arch-confraternity for Reparation was a source of joy to Sister St. Peter. “But,” said she, “I am not yet perfectly satisfied, because the Church of Tours, the inheritance of the great St. Martin, has until now remained sterile. When shall this seed which she has so long borne, spring forth?”

Another attempt was about to be made. On the 11th of November, feast of St. Martin, the virgin of Carmel experienced an operation of grace which, as she said, “was a signal for combat. After my soul had been inundated with ineffable graces for six months, Our Lord confided anew to my care, the Work of Reparation. The following Sunday, November 14th, day on which the feast of the Thaumaturgus was celebrated with great solemnity at Tours, she was inspired to renew her supplications to the archbishop. “O God,” she exclaims, “how impenetrable are thy judgments! Let us adore them in silence! All our plans were futile, but I was not on this account discouraged, for the most Blessed Virgin had given me the hope that a work so necessary for the salvation of France would take root and spread over the entire kingdom, and that she would bestow upon us innumerable graces. The child Jesus, on his part, promised me that if this devotion were established in accordance to his wishes, he would bestow upon France the kiss of peace and reconciliation. At another time, the most Holy Virgin again recommended to my prayers this new-born Confraternity, just approved by the Church and enriched with precious favors. Our divine Mother seemed to be so full of joy at the birth of this association, that she demanded of God extraordinary graces for France.”

The future welfare of her beloved fatherland was always uppermost in the mind of the servant of God, and thus we behold her praying for it unceasingly. On the 2nd of December, Our Lord appeared to her all covered with wounds, saying these sad words: “The Jews crucified me on Friday, but Christians crucify me on Sunday! I implore you to solicit the establishment of the Separation in this diocese of Tours, that my friends may embalm my wounds by their expiatory prayers and obtain mercy for the guilty. My daughter, the heavens are overcast, the storm is threatening to burst forth, but I shall keep my promise it my will be done. Speak with humility, but at the same time with a holy liberty.” She made no delay in informing Mgr. Morlot of this communication He was warned of the “storm” which was threatening, and apprised that the last hour for action had come.

If the sister was disheartened with her want of success on one hand, she was encouraged on the other by a vision so much the more pleasing as it was unexpected. Let us listen to her relating the cause of her joy: “Our holy Mother St. Teresa,” said she, “appeared to me this morning. She has been appointed by God to combat the enemies of the Work of Reparation which the powers of darkness are trying to overthrow. She told me that this holy work would be the honor of Carmel for it was truly in conformity with the spirit of our holy vocation, whose sole object is the glory of God and the relief of the necessities of the Church; for this reason she urged me to devote all my energies to this work, and to pray with untiring fervor. Then she recommended me to be scrupulously obedient, giving me to understand that Jesus would work miracles for the soul obedient to her superiors, that she herself had always submitted the lights and communications, received from Heaven, to the decision of obedience. She showed me with what fidelity I ought to acquit; myself of all our religious observances, which are so agreeable to Our Lord that the fulfillment of them alone is sufficient to enrich the soul with merit. In fine, I understood that God gave to this work a most powerful protectress in the person of our holy Foundress, and to me a most powerful consoler in my afflictions. From this moment, I felt united in a most particular manner to our holy Mother, so remarkable for her zeal for the glory of the Most High. It is she who will succor me in my weakness, and help me to pursue my thorny path.”

The “storm” of which the Lord had spoken, was threatening in the distance. About two months later, it was on the point of bursting forth. The Divine Master had foretold it in unmistakable terms.

“During my evening meditation,” said the sister, “Our Lord intimated that he had something to communicate. I resisted several times, for I feared an illusion. But at last, Jesus, having recollected all the powers of my soul in his Divine Heart, told me to recall to mind that I had given myself entirely to him, to labor for the accomplishment of his designs; for this reason he wished to confide to me a new mission. Presently he warned me of the terrible blow which was menacing us: The Church is threatened with a violent tempest; pray, pray, pray!(1) He repeated this several times on different occasions. It would be impossible to express the touching manner in which Our Lord said: ‘Pray, pray!’ He taught me what prayer to say in order to shelter his Church in virtue of the most Holy Name of God: it was the same prayer he had offered to his heavenly Father for his Apostles and for the Church, before quitting the earth.

‘My Father, keep in thy Name those whom thou hast given me.’ (St. John,) This prayer is more efficacious than any I could compose of myself and since he chose me in his mercy to render glory to the Holy Name of God, I have, in some manner, the right to ask grace in virtue of this Holy Name, the refuge of the Church.”

“My adorable Savior made me understand that his justice was roused by the sins of the world, but particularly by the crimes which are an outrage to the majesty of God. At this moment, I beheld Our Lord in the most Blessed Sacrament, and I saw that the prayers of the just held captive the arms of divine justice. Our Lord recommended me to pray for the Sovereign Pontiff. Lastly, I beheld what seemed to me a thick black smoke rising toward the heavens; it did not, however, obscure the sun, and I was somewhat consoled. This smoke was the figure of enemies, and the sun symbolized the Church. Jesus continued: ‘The effects you will experience in your soul will make you understand that it is I who have spoken.’ And soon my heart was transpierced with a sword of sorrow. I then, commenced my mission of prayer, saying: ‘Holy Father, guard the Church of Jesus Christ in virtue of thy salutary Name, for this was the last will of thy Divine Son, his last desire. Remember the last loving prayer he offered for our holy Mother the Church, Holy Father, keep in thy Name those whom thou hast given me; while I was with them I kept them in thy Name. Most Holy Name of God, refuge of the Church and of France, have pity on us and save us.’”

“Sunday, 20th of February, having offered my holy communion in reparation for the outrages committed against the Divine Majesty, I saw that all was over! — Guilty France was about to be chastised; a celestial ray caused me to observe that the Lord has drawn his bow, he is ready to aim his arrows. On beholding him arming himself against sinners who so shamefully outrage him, I was penetrated with a holy indignation, and entering into the designs of his justice, I cried out: Strike, Lord! I panted for the glory of God to be avenged, for I saw that the blow would not be mortal. Although I prayed the Most High to strike, that he might retrieve his glory, yet I begged him to strike as a father and not as an angry judge. Let us adore the justice of God and at the same time invoke his mercy. It is now more than four years that the arm of the Lord has been raised in anger over our guilty heads!…”

In fact, the hour for chastisement had come; an unexpected revolution had broken out in Paris, the effects of which were experienced all over Europe.

Louis Philip had been under the impression that a reign of nineteen years had secured his scepter, but alas! he was obliged to fly with his family into exile. The Church, however, was not openly persecuted, at least in France, for she is still respected even in the midst of the greatest social disorders. It will not be until later on that the secret emissaries of impiety, will try to tyrannize over her by their diabolical intrigues.

On the 26th of February, after having received holy communion, our Carmelite was much consoled, the Lord having said these words relative to the Community: “Fear not, little troop, thou art reposing under the salutary banner of my Name. No evil shall befall thee, for all power is in my hand, and I will not suffer thee to be wrested from my grasp.”

“Verily,” cries out the pious virgin, “the Lord will recognize and protect all those who invoke his Holy Name; it is an all-powerful rampart, shielding our house, for the members are united by the bonds of charity.”

“Our Lord gave me to understand that the clergy, likewise, will be spared; troubles and vexations will doubtless arise, but the hierarchy will not be openly persecuted; the blood of priests will not be shed as in ’93, because he has not as much reason to complain as in those unfortunate times. I am confident that the Church of France will be protected in virtue of the Holy Name of God.”

“Holy Father, keep in thy Name those whom thou hast given me. This is the prayer which we must continually recite for the Holy Church, in union with our Lord Jesus Christ.”

“Permit me, Rev. Mother, to tell you the words which Jesus said to me after holy communion on the 21st of November; they caused me to shed tears in abundance. He was at the time speaking of the Work of Reparation and said: ‘When I shall shake the throne of France to its very foundations, what, think you, shall be her distress!’”

“With good reason was I overwhelmed with grief, for I saw that the terrible moments of God’s justice were drawing nigh. Alas! the hour has sounded, and in the twinkling of an eye, he will execute what he has sworn. I adore thee, O justice of my God; yet I invoke thy mercy, O Lord most high.”

The sister felt inspired to invoke mercy with renewed fervor. Listen to her supplicating cries: “My soul is sorrowful even unto death, and I feel the necessity of confiding my troubles to you, reverend mother. When I consider the predictions which Our Lord has made, I say: soon, too soon, shall they all be fulfilled! My God! have I not reason to fear, when I think I have been charged with such a formidable mission! when I recall these terrible words: ‘If through your fault, my designs are not accomplished. I will demand a rigid account of the loss of these souls at your hands.’ Several years have now elapsed, since I made known that the Lord demanded a Reparatory Work, in order to stay the threatening arm of his Father; for Reparation would appear as the rain-bow in the heavens. Happily, the work has been founded and even now sheds around its beneficent influence, but it is still too feeble to arrest the arm of the Most nigh. Oh! if this work were spread in the entire diocese, I would be without fear, for God is faithful to his promise. For some time, I have implored my good Master to give monseigneur an indisputable sign of my mission, so that he would do something to establish the Reparation. I have set forth the present difficulties of his Lordship to Him who can do all things, and I have supplicated him to give some proof of his will. O Lord, I implore thee, send him a sign so marked and certain that entire France, beholding, will recognize this work as thine. Grant this great sign I implore thee.”

“Our Lord, seeing that I begged this favor solely for the glory of his Name and for the accomplishment of his will, heard my prayer. On the 13th of February, I had the vision of which I have spoken. It was in confirmation of what I had announced to monseigneur in the communication of December 2nd. My Divine Master at that time told me to inform his Lordship that the storm was threatening in the distance, that it was time for action. On the 13th of February. I saw that this storm was about to burst forth, and I beheld a black cloud rising from earth to heaven which did not, however, obscure the sun (the Church) because the Church of France had then invoked the Holy Name of God, this Name, her refuge during the tempest. The Lord told me that in consequence of this work, France would not be humiliated as she deserved, but would be only slightly chastised.”

“Our Lord has done what he has promised; yes, indeed, he has shielded his Church in virtue of his life-giving Name. Before striking the awful blow of his justice, he said: ‘Holy Father, keep in thy Name those whom thou hast given me.’ Therefore have those who belonged to him been spared. Oh! how I desire to make known this consoling truth to all bishops:— that the Holy Name of God is the impregnable fortress of the Church of France! How I would beg of them with all the earnestness of which I am capable, to propagate this Work of Reparation! I have always said, and I still repeat, that Reparation alone can disarm the justice of God and save France. Happy shall we be if we know how to use this plank of salvation.”

If unable to proclaim this truth to all bishops of the world, it would be expedient that at least she should be allowed to make it known to the prelate who, from the year in which she submitted her communications to him, appeared convinced of the truth and of the heavenly origin of her revelations. On the 3rd of March she addressed the following letter to the mother prioress: “At the conclusion of my thanksgiving, I hasten to write what Our Lord has communicated to me during holy communion. He positively commanded me to speak to monseigneur, or to his secretary, telling me that I should boldly proclaim what has been revealed to me during the past four and a half years. My good Master assures me that he will place the proper words in my mouth. He added: ‘I have again taken the rod of justice in my hand, if my people wish to avoid it, let them put in its stead the Work of Reparation. For your part, be faithful to fulfil your mission. How noble to be chosen to manifest my will! If you remain deaf to my voice, you will expose yourself to the blows of this rod; use all your efforts to withdraw it from my hand.’”

“Behold, as nearly as possible, reverend mother, that which Jesus has communicated to me. I must continue to recite this prayer in union with him: Holy Father, keep in thy name those whom thou hast given me! According to what I have beheld, it is he who says this with me and I who say it in him. Oh! what tenderness he has for his Church! It seems that he has no other thought but for her welfare; he desires to save her, to shield her by the adorable Name of his Father. If the Church of France could speak, she would implore the establishment of the Work of Reparation. I demand it in her name, for it is her only rampart against the assaults of her enemies.”

“Reverend mother, in obedience to my Divine Master, I very humbly beg you to solicit the favor of a visit from monseigneur. If his lordship be too occupied, beg him to send his secretary to record all that I feel it my duty to reveal on this matter.”

The request was forwarded to Mgr. Morlot, and the object of the desired interview was explained to him. The prelate sent his secretary, l’abbé Vincent, who held the following conversation with Sr. Mary St. Peter; we shall give it literally, according to the account written by herself.

“Reverend mother, I shall give you a short extract of my pleadings with the archbishop’s secretary on the subject of the Work of Reparation. I assure you that Our Lord assisted me as he had promised; for I was neither troubled nor intimidated, and spoke with the greatest facility. I will now relate, as nearly as possible, what passed during the interview.”

The Secretary: “Sister, I have come to tell you from monseigneur, that he has presented your letters to the members of his council, and that all, unanimously, have pronounced against the establishment of the work you demand. Monseigneur has seriously examined the matter before God, and finds it impossible to take any part in it; we do not recognize the validity of your mission.”

Sr. St. Peter: “I do not pretend to importune Monseigneur, nor to uphold my own opinion of the mission which I believe has been imposed upon me by Our Lord for the salvation of France. My intention was to fulfil my duty conscientiously. When I had the honor of speaking to his Lordship about the communications which I have received from God, he said to me at the time: ‘My child, be tranquil; there is no illusion here for I discern the finger of God.’ It was on the authority of those words, which I received as coining from the Holy Ghost himself, that I persevered in my mission.”

The Secretary: “My good sister, monseigneur told you this at the time, because he knew not to what lengths this affair would go; but since then he has minutely examined all the particulars; he has prayed:— this cannot be.”

Sr. St. Peter: “Very well, reverend sir, that is sufficient. All I desired was to have the decision of his Lordship. My conscience obliged me to do as I have done for the work of Reparation; now I am in perfect peace. But allow me to tell you that the reason why I desired to speak to monseigneur, was in order to discharge my duty. Since you are his representative, I shall depose my mission in your hands, leaving the responsibility to the authorities of the Church. They will answer for it before God.”

The Secretary: “But my good sister, the association of which you speak is already established.”

Sr. St. Peter: “It is true, but the Church of Tours should have had the honor of being the mother of this association. I begged it from monseigneur but he did not deem it advisable to establish the work, and I submitted! What proves the Reparation to be really the work of God, is that without any concurrence on my part it has been established.”

The Secretary: “But there are many members here in Tours. And has not monseigneur approved a little book of prayers on Reparation?”

Sr. St. Peter: “Yes, very true, reverend father, but there must be at Tours an association aggregated to the one at Langres. The work has need of the patronage of the archbishop, all eyes are fixed on him because it is in his diocese that the idea was first conceived.”

The Secretary: “Sister, I tell you quite candidly that this work established at Langres is not very prosperous, it has even been the subject of comment in the daily papers.”

Sister Mary St. Peter: “That is not very astonishing, sir, for Our Lord has warned me that the work would be opposed by all the powers of darkness. Have you not observed that the devotion to the Sacred Heart met with nearly the same opposition? And that there were many difficulties to be overcome before the feast of Corpus Christi was established? The Lord has imposed similar missions on souls more worthy than I, it is true, but they also have suffered from unjust accusations and persecution.”

The Secretary: “All the works of God have suffered from persecution, among others, the arch-confraternity of the Sacred Heart of Mary. This is a most admirable project embracing all good works, for its primary aim is the conversion of sinners.”

Sister St. Peter: “Our Lord was fully aware of its existence when he demanded another confraternity; for he made me understand that the first was not sufficient; because if we wish to obtain pardon from a person offended, it is but just that we offer reparation of honor. The Lord has given me to understand that it is the transgressions against the first commandments that have aroused his wrath against France. If these disorders cannot be prevented by the authority of the Church, or that of the State, they should at least be atoned for by a suitable reparation.”

The Secretary: “Very true, but there lies the difficulty, my good sister. How are we to be assured that God exacts reparation? You may be deceiving us.”

Sister St. Peter: “That is very possible, yet I hardly think that the imagination could invent anything like unto this, lasting for five years, without the influence of any mortal being. My prudent superiors have not countenanced me in my ideas; they have even forbidden me to think of the subject, yet they have not wished to pass any judgment. Our father superior has always referred me to the decision of the archbishop.”

The Secretary: “Very well, my good sister, be perfectly tranquil; you have done your duty in making known these communications to the archbishop. Now I say to you in his name, think of these things no more, cast them entirely from your mind.”

Sr. St. Peter: “Monseigneur, doubtless, does not forbid me to ask of God the accomplishment of his designs?”

The Secretary: “No, but do not pray for this work.”

Sr. St. Peter: “Reverend sir, I pray you to assure monseigneur of my obedience to his orders.”

The sister was faithful to her promise. A few days after, she writes:

“Our Lord has entirely divested me of the desire of beholding the Work of Reparation established in Tours. Were but one word requisite for its erection, I would not pronounce it, and this through obedience to ecclesiastical authority which I shall always respect. I have been not a little grieved over these last refusals, but Our Lord consoled me, notwithstanding my unworthiness, for he gave me to understand that his work would take root and flourish, that it would remain firm in the midst of storms, and that if it were not planted in one soil, it would thrive the better in another. This latter promise was fulfilled two days after, for we learned that the Reparation has been established at Lyons, where it has been pushed forward with great zeal.”

As if to receive from his servant some compensation, the Divine Master applied her anew, with greater intensity than ever, to the contemplation of his Holy Face. There is no more powerful means of appeasing the irritated justice of the Almighty, than to offer the most Holy Face of him who has borne the thorns of our sins on his sacred head, which became as a rock(2) under the blows of his divine justice.”

“He has paid our debts, he is our security, this is why our most amiable Savior has commanded me to remain unceasingly before the throne of his Father, offering him this divine Face, the object of his complaisance. My tender Savior gave me this consoling promise: ‘Every time that you present my Face to my Father, my mouth will demand mercy. My good Jesus promised me that he would have pity on France. Let us then be filled with confidence; his all-powerful Name will be our buckler, and his adorable Face, our rampart. But he gave me to understand that he desired to see the devotion to this adorable Face take root in the hearts of the faithful. O good Jesus! conceal thy people in the secret recesses of thy Holy Face, that it may be to them a tower of defense and an impregnable fortress against the attacks of thy enemies.”

After communion, the Lord appeared to the sister as “Ecce Homo.” “He desired that I should contemplate his Holy Face. But soon, he drew my attention, in a very special manner to the reed which he held in his hand, this he presented to me as a sword with which to light the enemies of the Church, promising that they would smart from its blows. He also gave me to understand that this feeble reed was the figure of my soul. Verily, I am indeed but a weak little reed, yet in the hands of Jesus Christ, my Spouse, I shall become all-powerful against his enemies, I shall say with faith and confidence: May the malice of the devil become powerless before the reed of Jesus Christ; like young David, I shall behead the giant Goliath in the name of the living God with my javelin, I mean with the adorable Face of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Nothing is more conformable to the holy scripture than this idea of the “rock,” applied to the Face of Christ. As we have seen, it is the expression used by the prophet, Isaias; and St. Paul says, that Christ is the “rock” by excellence. The Prince of the apostles, in one of his epistles, uses a similar figure, calling Our Lord the “corner-stone.” He predicts that this stone will crush to atoms the enemies of God. Thus we behold how appropriately our simple little Breton applies her comparisons!

“These, reverend mother, are the projects with which the Lord fills my soul. Eternal Father, I offer thee the most Holy Face of Jesus. This is the mysterious coin of infinite value which alone is capable of discharging our debt. I offer thee the most Holy Face of Jesus to appease thy anger: remember that it has been pierced with the thorns of our sins; that it has become like to a rock under the blows of thy justice. Look upon these divine wounds of which I would be the voice to cry out incessantly: ‘Mercy, mercy, O my God! mercy for poor sinners!’ Another day, March 30, 1848, she proposed to receive holy communion to honor the most Holy Face of Our Lord, to comfort him in the sufferings caused by his ghastly wounds She implored him to imprint this adorable Face upon her heart so deeply that it would never be obliterated. “Before communion,” said she, “a celestial light dawned on my soul and I beheld that the Face of the mystical body of Jesus Christ is the holy Church, which is now covered with wounds by the wicked!”

“Then, I was inspired to offer to Our Lord the virginal milk of his Holy Mother as a precious and fragrant balm wherewith to heal the wounds of his most Holy Face; my soul experienced great joy in performing this act of simplicity and love.”

“After communion, my divine Savior, in his infinite goodness, was pleased to show me that this exercise was most agreeable to him and that I should continue it. He told me that in return he desired I would taste the milk of his divine consolations in order to alleviate my sufferings. Then I beheld Our Lord resplendent with glory and all my senses were ravished with joy. Soon he caused me to hear these sweet and consoling words: ‘Your pilgrimage is drawing to a close! The end of the combat is approaching! You will soon see my divine Face in heaven!’”

“At these words, I prostrated myself on the ground, saying: ‘Lord, I merit only hell-fire.’ But my good Master replied: ‘The virtue of my Holy Face has restored the image of God in your soul. Those that contemplate the wounds of my Face on earth, will one day behold the glory and majesty with which it is surrounded in heaven.’ I was then on Tabor, and like the apostle St. Peter, I would willingly have cried out: ‘Lord, it is good to be here; let us erect three temples for the three powers of my soul, that they may always enjoy this sweet repose which surpasses all the pleasures of earth. But our Divine Lord gave me to understand that his true spouse ought to prefer the heat of the combat to the repose of contemplation, that to defend his glory she need not fear casting herself in the midst of the battle. I told him that I would combat the enemies of his Church with the instruments of his Passion, and I perceived that my design was agreeable to him.”

“This is the substance of what passed during this last communication; I say the substance, because it would be impossible to find a literal conveyance for these interior words, still less to describe what my soul experienced. How unworthy and despicable it is to fix our heart on creatures! Eternal Father, I offer thee the most Holy Face of Jesus to appease thy anger. Look upon his wounds, behold his humiliations! He is the only worthy reparation for our crimes; He is the glory of thy Holy Name! Eternal Father, I offer thee the most Holy Face of Jesus to pay our debts! This is the coin of infinite value stamped with the effigy of the King of kings.”

The next revelation is short, and bears the same impress of simplicity, as do all the others. With a feeling of piety and veneration which we doubt not will be shared by our readers, we shall transcribe it entire, as it is the last penned by this good sister.

“For several days,” said she, “I have perceived myself preoccupied with the holy infancy of the Word Incarnate. You are aware, reverend mother, that my soul is vowed to this mystery. Our Lord invites me from time to time to contemplate the other mysteries of his holy life; but the stable of Bethlehem is, so to say, my refuge and my home.”

“Our Lord gave me to understand last Sunday, that many pious souls devoted themselves to the contemplation of the humiliations endured during his dolorous Passion, but that few thought of the annihilations of his Holy Infancy. He desires that I should contemplate this phase of his life, with the intention of fighting against the spirit of pride, of ambition and of independence, being armed with the humiliations, the poverty of his manger, and the captivity of his swathing bands. I think that the Eternal Father would not be the less pleased with the Face of the Infant Jesus in the lowly manger, covered with tears on account of our sins, than with the Face of Christ covered with blood and forsaken upon, the cross; for he is the august victim for our sins both in the manger and on the cross. Therefore, I offer this divine Infant to the Eternal Father; I place him between heaven and earth to appease the anger of the Most High. The Holy Ghost directed me anew to contemplate Jesus reposing in the arms of his Holy Mother, and toward the end of my prayer, the most Blessed Virgin deigned to appear to me, notwithstanding my unworthiness. She told me that she was the Queen of Carmel, that she would protect its houses during the days of calamity, and that we should have great confidence in her and in her Divine Son. She also told me that we should labor with zeal to attain the end of our institute, that is to pray for the necessities of the Church, and to offer violence to heaven for the conversion of sinners. This tender Mother desired me to say the hymn O Gloriosa Virginum, in honor of her divine maternity, as many times as we have houses in France, promising me that she would bedew the flowers of Carmel with her virginal milk, emblem of mercy.”

“She also told me that the more the army of God would be augmented (here she meant the defenders of his Holy Name) the more the army of Satan would be weakened (the enemies of the Church and of the State.)”

“Behold, as near as possible, reverend mother, what has passed in my soul. Seventy-two times I repeated the hymn indicated by Mary, in honor of the years of her blessed life, and I prayed St. Joseph, our good father, and our holy mother St. Theresa to offer them to the Queen of Carmel for the preservation and perfection of our dear monasteries of France.”

“Oh! Divine Mary, water the flowers of Carmel with the mysterious milk of grace, that they may be strongly rooted in this ground of benediction and that they may never be touched by the devil.”

In recommending the “flowers of Carmel” to the “Divine Mary,” the dear sister was inspired with the purest sentiments of gratitude towards a blessed ground where for nine years she had been favored with numerous graces, and blessed with abundant benedictions. How could the Mother of the Infant Jesus refuse to grant a prayer so worthy of her maternal heart!

1. It may be well to remark, that this prediction was fulfilled that very year, 1848, in France and Italy, particularly in Rome, for the Holy Father was obliged to fly to Gaeta.

2. This word is applied to our Lord in Isaias: “I have set my face as a most hard rock.”