Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 47.djvu/792

774 veterinarian gave the animal some medicine, which the priest had blessed, and benedictions were pronounced upon the entire building with all its inmates, men and cattle. Shortly afterward it was found that the devil, instead of going back to hell as told to do, had taken up his abode in the well, which was about half a dozen yards from the house, for no sooner did the cows drink the water than their hair bristled and stood on end; also the woman had a relapse after taking a sip of it. Dr. Bischofberger expelled the devil from the well by throwing into it a little consecrated salt, and, after chasing him with the weapons of the Church from one nook and corner to another, finally succeeded in getting rid of him and purgating the whole premises. "We thus see," he concludes, "how the demon makes every effort to deceive, weary, and discourage the officiating priest."

Another important sacerdotal function is the cleansing of milk pails, churns, and other vessels used in the dairy from demoniac infection, which is frequently caused by women touching such vessels during menstruation. However excellent the cream may appear to be, no amount of churning can convert it into butter. In such cases the churn and all the other vessels connected with the dairy should be scalded with hot water and then sprinkled with holy water and dried in the sun, after which it would be well to ward off the possible return of the evil spirit by pronouncing over them the benedictio ad omnia. "The hot water removes the natural hindrances and the holy water the demoniac hindrances to the production of butter."

The secret and inexplicable abduction of milk and eggs is also the work of devils. "It is well known," says our author, "that angels, at least some choirs or orders of them, have the power of moving visible objects in an invisible manner from one place to another." Ecclesiastical history, especially in the province of hagiology, contains numerous instances of the exercise of this power. Thus, in 1867, when St. Francisca of the Five Wounds (or Stigmata) was canonized, her claims to sainthood were based in part upon a legend of this kind. It was seriously related on that occasion that while her pastor and confessor, Father Bianchi, was celebrating mass, after the transubstantiation in the eucharist had taken place, the cup suddenly disappeared for a moment and returned to the altar. "This happened repeatedly, and it was subsequently ascertained" (how, we are not informed) "that the archangel Raphael had meanwhile carried the cup to Saint Francisca at times when she would otherwise have had to go without the holy communion." (Leben der Heiligen (Francisca). Mainz: Kirchheim, 1880, pp. 193 sqq). It is easy enough to explain how a blear-eyed priest in a dark church might for a minute lose sight of a small object on the altar, such as a goblet or a pyx,