Pretended Virgin Mary Apparition Draws Crowds in Italy
— The manner in which the credulity of adherents of the Roman Catholic Church is imposed on by pretended apparitions of the Virgin Mary and sundry miraculous events frequently mentioned in Catholic journals, is illustrated by the following, which is printed in the London Pall Mall Gazette, to which it was sent from Milan, Italy, under date of June 11:— “For the last twenty days great excitement has reigned in the Marches of Ancona. It was asserted, with every appearance of probability, by several people, that the Virgin Mary had appeared to a young shepherdess on the Mountain of Strega, near Ancona, and had bidden her to have a church built and dedicated on the top of the mountain. “It was not long before the news had spread through the surrounding country, and was implicitly accepted as true. Several thousand country women started on a pilgrimage to the mountain. The halt, the lame, and the blind were dragged by their relatives along the steep slope, it being confidently hoped that the sufferers would be miraculously cured of their several complaints and infirmities. “The scenes witnessed reminded one of what takes place at the Madonna’s shrine at Lourdes. All work in the neighborhood was suspended, and the crowd of devout believers grew so enormous that the authorities became seriously preoccupied. Every worshiper brought money, goods of value, or candles to lay at the feet of the holy apparition. “There seemed to be no reason to doubt the reality of the visions. At night a number of little flames sparkled on the mountain, and an image of Our Lady really appeared again and again. “The authorities knowing that there must be something more than the supernatural at work, contented themselves in the beginning with keeping more or less order, hoping that something would turn up. However, at last things assumed such proportions as to become a public menace, and it was decided to take energetic measures. With great secrecy a detective, accompanied by six carabineers, went to Mount Strega, where the miracles took place, and surprised three men in the very act of working on the credulity of a large multitude. They were immediately arrested, and all the tools of their trade found in their hands, principally a large hoop covered with white paper, attached to a long pole, and adorned with colored ribbons, and innumerable rosaries, crosses, and pictures of the saints, which were sold at fabulous prices. “The rage of the pious dupes far exceeded the rules laid down by their revered saints, and the carabineers had some trouble in protecting the miracle workers, who, however, will not ply their trade for some time to come. Mount Strega has returned to her usual tranquillity.”