Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. I.djvu/174

Rh explanation, and I am not sure that they themselves were clear on the subject.

My second question was:—

“The pilgrims to Einsiedeln evidently believe in the miraculous power of the image of the Virgin. Is it, also your opinion that the image possesses any such power?” “No,” replied they, unanimously. “We venerate it only because the holy Meinrad venerated it.” And this they all corroborated.

“But the people here,” I said, “evidently believe quite the contrary.”

“Yes, the people, that is true,” said the abbot, hesitatingly; “and they ought to be enlightened, but, but—” he paused, and Father Brandis went on to say how this must be done: “by degrees, slowly, by degrees!” and Father Gallmorell examined his sandals with a sarcastic expression.

I mentioned the faith which the people had in the mediation and prayers of the saint, and inquired “how they—they, the wise fathers—could explain this also, in conformity with the faith of their church, that God alone hears and answers the prayers of men?”

“We think,” commenced Father Gallmorell, in explanation, “that probably, like as a good father of a family allows to his children as a reward, the privilege of dealing out alms and gifts to poor, beseeching beggars, so also does our Lord, with his faithful servants. All prayers are heard by God alone, that is true, but he sends his nearest friends or servants to convey the answers to them.”