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 PARDIES

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PARDONS

tions to Blessed Margaret Mary Alacoque (q. v.) took place. Next comes the Basilica of the Sa- cred Heart, in charge of secular chaplains, for- merly the church of the monks, which is one of the most beautiful monuments of Cluniac archi- tecture (tenth or eleventh century). The Hotel de Ville, in Renaissance style, the fagade of which is adorned with a large statue of the Blessed Virgin, is also one of the historical monuments. Pilgrimage is also made to the Hieron or temple-palace, erected by a layman in honour of the Eucharistic King, where there is a very curious collection of pictures and ob- jects of art bearing on the Holy Eucharist. Despite the difficulties of the present religious situation in France, Paray still possesses a number of commu- nities or monasteries which justify its surname. Moreover, with this town are connected the associa- tions the object of which is the cult of the Sacred Heart, such as the Apostlesliip of Prayer, the Arch- confraternity of the Holy Hour (estabUshed at Paray itself in 1S29 by Pere Robert Debrosse), and the Communion of Reparation, organized in 1854 by Pere Victor Drevon. The latter maintains its head- quarters at Paray.

From a secular point of view the town is unim- portant, but its religious glory is abundant. It is more than enough for its honour that it should be, as Leo XIII said in his Brief of Coronation of Notre Dame de Romay (25 July, 1896), "Coelo gratissimuni oppidum", "a town very dear to heaven".

Chevalier, Cartulaire du Paray-le-Monial (Paris, 1890); Sackur, Cluniazenser, I (1S92), 241 sq.; II (1894), 40-92.

Joseph Zelle.

Pardies, Ignace-Gaston, French scientist, b. at Pau, 5 Sept., 1636; d. of fever contracted whilst ministering to the prisoners of Bicetre, near Paris, 22 April, 1673. He entered the Society of Jesus 17 Nov., 1652 and for a time taught classical literature; during this poriod he composed a number of short Latin works, in pro.se and verse, which are praised for their dcUcacy of thought and style. After his ordina- tion he taught philosophy and mathematics at the College of Louis-le-Grand in Paris. His early death cut short a life of unusual activity in the sciences. His earliest work is the "Horologiura Thaumanticuni Duplex" (Paris, 1662), in which is described an in- strument he had invented for constructing various kinds of sun-dials. Tliree years later appeared his "Dissertatio de Motu ct Natura Cometarum", pub- lished separately in Latin and in French (Bordeaux, 1665). His "Discours du mouvement local" (Paris, 1670), "La Statique" (Paris, 1673), and the manu- script "Traite complet d'Optique", in which he fol- lowed the undulatory theory, form part of a general work on physics which he had planned. He opposed Newton's theory of refraction and his letters to- gether with Newton's replies (which so satisfied Par- dies that he withdrew his objections) are found in the "Philosophical Transactions" for 1672 and 1673. His "Discours de la ConnaLssance des Bestes" (Paris, 1672) combatted Descartes's theories on the subject so feebly that many looked on it as a covert defence rather than a refutation, an impression which Pardies himself afterwards endeavoured to destroy. His"El(5mensde G6om6trie" (Paris, 1671) was trans- lated into Latin and English. He left in manuscript a work entitled "Art de la Guerre" and a celestial atlas comjjrisiiig six charts, published after his death (Paris, 1(573-74). His collected mathematical and physical works were published in French (The Hague, 1691) and in Latin (.Amsterdam, 1694).

SOMMERVOCEL, Bibl. de la C. de J. (Brus.wl-s, 1895).

Edward C. Phillips.

Pardons of Brittany. — Pardon, from the Latin perdnnare, — assimilated in form to donum, a gift, middle English, to the old French perdun and pardun,

and modern French pardonner — signifies in Brittany the feast of the patron saint of a church or chapel, at which an indulgence is granted. Hence the origin of the word "Pardon" as used in Brittany. The Par- dons do not extend farther east in Brittany than Guin- gamp, the date of whose celebration occurs on the first Sunday in July. There are five distinct kinds of Pardons in Brittany: St. Yves at Tr^guier — the Par- don of the poor; Our Lady of Rumengol — the Pardon of the singers; St. Jean-du-Doigt — the Pardon of fire; St. Ronan — the Pardon of the mountain; and St. Anne de la Palude — the Pardon of the sea. The Pardons begin in March and end in October, but the majority of them are between Easter and Michaelmas. Two Breton Pardons, to which very large pilgrimages are annually made, are that of St. Jean-du-Doigt near

Arriv

___ _ _ _ _F StE-AnNE D-. -

Alfred Guillon, Luxembourg Gallery

Morlaix, and that of Ste-Anne d'Auray in Morbihan. The former occurs on 24 June, and that of Ste Anne d'Auray on 24 July, the anniversary of the finding of the statue of ,Ste Anne by the peasant Nicolazic. The latter is regarded as the most famous pilgrimage in all Brittany, and attracts pilgrims from Treguier, Leonnais, Cornouaille, and especially from Morbihan. Each diocese and parish is known by its costume.

To these Breton Pardons come pilgrims from every side, clad in their best costumes which are only to be seen there and at a wedding. It is a pilgrimage of devotion and piety. The greater part of the day is spent in prayer and the Pardon begins with early Mass at 4 A.M. Its observance, however, has actually com- menced earlier, for the preceding evening is devoted to confession, and the rosary is generally recited by the pilgrims, the whole way to the place of the Pardon After the religious service, the great procession takes place around the church. This is the most pictur- esque part of the Pardon and may be regarded as its mise en scene. At Ste-Anne d'Auray, this procession is especially striking and impressive. In the proces- sion join all those whom the intercession of Ste Anne has saved from peril and danger. The sailors are there with fragments of the vessel, upon which they escaped in the shipwreck; the lame are there carrying on their shoulders the crutches, for which they have