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 matter. He appointed  a commission  to  investigate  all the circumstances  and  to  examine  into  the  various cures, and  not  until  four  years  had  elapsed  did  he  deliver his  judgment  concerning  them. In the  year  1862 he issued  a pastoral  letter,  in  which  he  solemnly  acquainted the  faithful  of  his  diocese  with  the  fact  that supernatural occurrences  had  taken  place  at  Lourdes, which could  not  be  ascribed  to  anything  other  than divine omnipotence. He accordingly  solicited  contributions for  building  a church. The sum  collected for this  purpose  amounted  to  two  million  francs,  so that  a magnificent  sanctuary  could  be  erected,  which has become  a celebrated  place  of  pilgrimage.

In 1866  Bernadette  entered  the  convent  of  the Sisters of  Mercy  at  Nevers; before  her  death  she solemnly stated  upon  oath  that  all  that  she  had related concerning  the  supernatural  apparitions  at Lourdes  was  strictly  true. Lourdes is  now  visited every year  by  millions  of  pilgrims  from  all  parts  of Christendom,  and  is  a thorn  in  the  side  of  the  adversaries of  religion. For the  Catholic  Church,  however, the facts  of  the  occurrences  at  Lourdes  are  most valuable, as  they  shed  glory  on  our  faith  and  afford an incontrovertible  proof  of  the  truth  of  our  holy religion.