308 MY LIFE [Chap. 



It is clear from these accounts by fervent Catholics that they 

 see in all these cures, not any special effect of the water — that 

 is only an outward sign — but a real spiritual agency, which 

 they believe to be that of the Virgin Mary. They also clearly 

 recognize that either the power or the will to cure is limited, 

 that only the few are cured, and that those few are not those 

 who are the best, or the most religious, or the most de- 

 serving, but are, so far as can be seen, chosen at random. 

 This, again, exactly corresponds with modern spiritualistic 

 phenomena, which evidently depend upon special conditions 

 in the individuals termed mediums, which conditions do not 

 seem to consist in any superiority of mind or character. 



There is another point which seems indicated by the 

 detailed narratives of these remarkable cures. This is, that 

 not only are they rare cases, but that they have been, as it 

 were, selected and induced to try the Lourdes water often by 

 a very unusual combination of circumstances. If we look 

 upon these cures as analogous to those of the many " healers " 

 in the modern spiritualistic world — Dr. Newton, the Zouave 

 Jacob, Mr. Spriggs, and many others, and performed probably 

 by a band of spirit-healers of exceptional power, and who 

 wish to produce that effect upon character which such ap- 

 parently miraculous cures by the supposed direct agency of 

 the Virgin are calculated to produce — it is not improbable 

 that they should be always searching for cases of ordinarily 

 incurable disease, which are yet amenable to their powers. 

 Having found any such, and having satisfied themselves 

 that a cure is possible, and having perhaps already begun to 

 effect such a cure in a way not perceptible to the patient, it 

 then becomes necessary to induce him to make use of the 

 means which will have the desired effect on his own mind 

 and of those who hear of it. Hence the often curious com- 

 bination of circumstances which first induce the patient to 

 go to Lourdes (or use the water), and then to go at a 

 particular time, even on a particular day. This may be 

 necessary, both because at a particular stage only can the 

 cure be instantaneously or rapidly effected, also because, if 

 delayed, the patient might feel himself getting better, and 



