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SEA COAST ECHO, J
Shrine of Our Lady of The Woods Still Unharmed After Hurricane
Once more the little Shrine of Our Lady of the Woods at St. Joseph Academy in Bay St. Louis withstood the ravaging of the elements. On Friday, September 19th, when the hurricane, which struck the Gulf Coast, uprooted huge trees, blew away parts of the dome under which Our Lady stands, yet the little statue (which is made of plaster of Paris) was unharmed.
The Shrine of Our Lady of the Woods was erected by Rev. Father j Stanislaus Buteux, a French Priest,1 who came to Bay St. Louis in 1847.! Some years later he returned to j France and after a short stay, the good priest reurned to his beloved Mission in Shieldsboro, now known as Bay St. Louis.
Enroute, a violent storm arose, the vessel sprang a leak, and the mast and sail had blown away, destruc-
tion to all seemed inevitable. Father Buteux knelt, invoked the protection of the' Blessed Virgin \pnd promised, if their lives were spared he would erect a shrine in her honor. A miracle was performed and the vessel with all aboard entered safely into port.
A few months later a statue arrived from France and Father Buteux with his parishioners, the Sisters of St. Joseph, Brothers of the Sacred Heart, went in procession to the rear of the St. Joseph Academy grounds, then a wilderness. Here he placed the statue on the trunk of a tree felled for that purpose. Soon the Sisters aided by a few ladies, built a wooden pedestal and began to plant the lovely avenue of cedars that now lead to the Shrine.
Some years afterwards, a gentleman involved in serious difficulties solemly promised to “Our Lady of the Woods” that if she would help him in his great need, he would erect a suitable shrine in her hon-
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The Louisville and Nashville Railroad about 1000 feet from the shore line.
or. The grace was obtained and the present shrine was erected. The woods have almost disappeared, but the little statue sands pure and immaculate in a leafy bower.
That the original statue has withstood the force of the elements for nearly one hundred years is almost a miracle. More than once the Sisters have thought it dsetroyed, buried beneath the debris of storms, but it has never been injured This is all the more wonderful, as the statue is made of plaster of Paris with no other protection from the elements save a tiny dome overhead. And again after the hurricane although the dome was partly destroyed and the little statue receiving full benefit of the rain and winds it is still unharmed.
W. B. A. To
Octol
The regular m the W. B. A. wi home of Mrs. Nel man avenue on Mi at 8 p. m.
Because of the ant business must all members are
S. J. A. Pa
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On Tuesday Oc Joseph Academy hold its regular mi in thfe academy 1 bers and friends vited to attend.
GEO. S. HORTC
REFRIGERATION & ELECTRIC SI MOTOR REWINDING
Phone 82-R	218 1


Hurricane 1947 Emma Sea Coast Echo Oct 3 1947 (06)
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