ns pour la vertu. Lui aussi herita
du pouvoir de guerir de la rage.

"Les habitants de Noyon et des environs n'ont pas cesse
de recourir a son intercession. Les personnes qui
touchent ses reliques ou portent sur elles son nom beni
esperent echapper pendant leur vie aux atteintes des
demons, de la rage et du tonnerre.

"A Aire, diocese de Frejus, on invoque aussi sainte
Quitere contre la rage.

INVOCATION

"Dieu tout-puissant, qui avez forme le coeur de vos
saints avec une admirable bonte, afin qu'ils deviennent
pour nous une source de bienfaits et de consolation;
assistez-nous dans le pressant besoin ou nous nous
trouvons et sauvez-nous de la mort, par les prieres at
les merites de saint Hubert de Bretigny, afin que nous
puissions vous louer et vous benir. Par N.-S. J.-C.
Ainsi soit-il.

"_Saint Hubert, qui preservez de la morsure des betes
enragees, ou qui guerissez leur morsures mortelles,
priez pour tous les affliges qui vous invoquent._"

While there was probably some advance when the saints of the church
took the place of the zodiacal constellations in the government of the
human body, the church prevented the development along scientific
lines, although there were many ramifications of saintly influence.
Not the least among these was the healing efficacy of holy wells,
pools, and streams, which had been empowered in some way by the
saints. In some cases the bones of holy men have been buried in
different parts of the continent, and after a certain lapse of time,
water was said to have oozed from them, which soon formed a spring and
cured all the diseases of the faithful.

Perhaps the cure of leprous Naaman by bathing in the Jordan, and the
restoration of the sight of the blind man by washing in the Pool of
Siloam may have served as examples which the credulous were only too
ready to follow. We must also note, however, as a reason for their
use, that in classical times the greater number of thermal waters,
more frequently used then than in the present day, remained
consecrated to the gods, to Apollo, to AEsculapius, and, above all, to
Hercules, who was named Iatricos, or the able physician. At any rate,
many wells and fountains were dedicated to different saints, and
various rites were performed there at Easter and other particular
days, where offerings were also made to the saints.

In Ireland, many such sacred places have been visited by the sick for
centuries