Amazing Superstition

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 5, 1903

Amazing Superstition

The Pittsburg Christian Advocate thinks it is amazing that in this enlightened age of the world, this twentieth century, superstition should still so sway the minds of the people as is shown by statistics pertaining to the pilgrimages to the Catholic shrine at Lourdes, France. Under the heading, “Amazing Superstition,” the Advocate gives the following:—

Here are the statistics of last year’s pilgrimages as we find them in a Catholic exchange. The number of visitors was four hundred thousand, including sixty bishops or archbishops, one hundred and seventy religious processions, and two hundred and forty special trains; forty thousand masses were said; there were four hundred and eleven thousand communions; two million two hundred ninety-one thousand and two prayers were offered for special benefits; fifty-one thousand six hundred and forty thanksgivings for special graces were received; there were six thousand and twenty sick people; of pilgrims unable to pay their way there were twenty thousand seven hundred and twelve males and forty-six thousand seven hundred and fourteen females; the number of bottles of Lourdes water sent to America and other countries, one hundred and two thousand five hundred; four hundred and sixty-four tablets were set up recording miraculous cures; and the basilica received eighteen golden cups and a large number of precious stones from grateful pilgrims.

And this is the twentieth century!

And the reason for it is that not scientific enlightenment, but faith, is the safeguard against superstition. Faith is on the decline, and, naturally, superstition is on the increase.