But what made it more wonderful was
that upon every leaf, in gold letters, appeared the words "Ave Maria!"
This apparent miracle was soon noised abroad, and people flocked from
far and near to see the flower, which remained perfect for six weeks and
then began to fade. All the priests and ecclesiastics of the
neighbourhood, the nobles and the officers of the Duc de Rohan, decided
that they should dig about the root of the lily and discover its source.
This was done, and it was found to spring from the mouth of Salaun the
idiot.
Of course such a miracle could not remain uncommemorated. Jean de
Langoueznon, Abbot of Landevennec, one of the witnesses of the miracle,
wrote an elaborate account of it in Latin. Pilgrimages were constantly
made to the grave, and at last a church was built over the spring of the
poor idiot, whose faith and blameless life had been so strangely
rewarded. Such is the origin of one of Brittany's finest and most
remarkable churches.
It is in the second Pointed Gothic style, and is built of a mixture of
granite and dark Kersanton stone. The tone is singularly beautiful, and
harmonises well with the dreary plain. It is at once sombre, dignified
and impressive, relieved by great richness of sculpture. Kersanton stone
lends itself to carving, as we have seen, and here many parts will be
found in perfect preservation. Some of the rich mouldings in the
doorways have worn away, and some of the small statues have been
mutilated by time or have altogether disappeared, but the tone chiefly
marks the age of the church.
Pages:
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105