La Iniciación (GIDEE) — Vol. 3, No. 32 — December 1944

The Departure

Two days later I was in Ventimiglia, meeting place of the pilgrims and where the railway for Lourdes awaited us. I presented myself, at the railway station, to the Organizing Committee and entered into the performance of my charge.

At my disposition were two first-class compartments, two communicating coupés, of which one was destined for pharmacy and eventual medications and emergency aid. Everything seemed well prepared to me and with abundance.

Before departure I would have liked to know my pilgrims, but I realized then that it was not possible. A hubbub of people awaited departure with the evident preoccupation, at that moment, not now of presenting themselves to the doctor, but of occupying a good place on the train. It was a hubbub of people in orgasm: priests and laypeople, men, women, pillows, blankets, wheelchairs, clothing.

"Well, —I thought— I will know my flock during the trip since we had to spend so much time on the train and the cars are intercommunicating." Not all, on the other hand, had need of the doctor's vigilance. There were many in perfect health. Others, on the contrary, visibly sick, moved with great difficulty or made known, by their pale and exhausted faces, by their tired and afflicted expression, the secret of their internal weaknesses.

First Observations

Already at first sight I noted the profiles of emaciated faces and the inflamed cheeks of the tubercular, of those sick with specific osteitides, of spondylitics.

On a stretcher was extended a paralytic; a paraplegic with flaccid and dead legs; on a wheelchair waited a hydropic, with enormous belly, badly hidden by the blankets a cirrhotic, probably liver sick, with emaciated, almost cadaverous face and with large painful eyes. Discouraged, on a small bench was a poor man with bandaged head and neck wrapped in a great black scarf; he had cancer on the cheek, the face was already destroyed, in part, by the tumor, so that it had become monstrous and had to be bandaged to not provoke repugnance; the neck, besides was swollen by glandular blockages and also had to be hidden by the scarf due to its repugnant deformity.

The Blind Young Woman

A little farther, seated on another small bench, a singular couple called my attention. They were a man and woman of very modest conditions, both young, evidently husband and wife. He held her by the arm observing her lovingly and, almost as if comforting her, spoke to her with tenderness. She had a tired but resigned face, the eyes were very soft, cerulean... but extinguished.

She was blind. Married since a year before, she had been attacked, during pregnancy, by a grave disease of the optic nerve and had lost sight completely. The child had been born beautiful and robust, but she had not seen him nor would be able to see him for all her life as she would not be able to see the others that might be born to her, because the disease had been judged by all incurable.

The child had been born beautiful and robust, but she had not seen him nor would be able to see him for all her life as she would not be able to see the others that might be born to her, because the disease had been judged by all incurable.

However, her maternal soul had not lost hope. Having expressed the desire to go to Lourdes to implore from the Mother of Jesus the grace of being able to see her children, the husband, who was a poor railway guard, had begun to gather a little money for the trip expenses; to complete the necessary sum the pilgrimage committee had provided and, thus, they had both departed and, now, they were on the small bench, embraced, awaiting the train's departure.

I looked moved, at that beautiful and youthful face, those cerulean eyes full of sweetness, accommodated to the infinite and lacking light... Would the Virgin have performed the miracle? To me it seemed that yes, because She had seen her Child well and would not have been able to deny such a grace to that unfortunate being so trusting and good.

The Journey Begins

But, behold a clamor of wheels and tools. Everyone stirs for the train's arrival, then everyone hurries to get on and occupy the best seats. I lodge in my car and almost feel a little ashamed for being so privileged, with all that space and that equipment at my disposition.

We depart, just at three o'clock. Before nightfall we will arrive in Marseille where we will sleep in the hotel. The convoy runs along the Cote d'Azur without ever stopping, almost as if it did not want to stop in those places of profane delights, so distant are they from the holy end of the trip. I see charming Mentone among the palms and olives. The villas and gardens, the hills and sea of those corners of leisure and pleasure contrast singularly with the miseries of the train.

The Sacred Contrast

While passing through Montecarlo, the pilgrims intone the litanies of the Blessed Virgin; from my car I hear the sacred nenias and invocations of the sick:

Mater amabilis

Mater admirabili...

I listen as if dreaming to the humble chant that rises and is lost in the atmosphere of the Casino and of the Palace-Hotels. What a contrast!, between the train of sufferers and that Garden of Armida, nest of worldly ones, cave of pleasure and impurity.

After Monaco, Nice; then Antibes and Cannes... and the train continues its run while the sun declines in the hot and limpid August afternoon; and, in the first hours of night, the nenias of sacred songs continue to rise.

Seeking Company

Little by little I begin to feel too alone in my empty car; I would like to speak with someone and I seek to look around listening. In the car anterior to mine there is a company of religious, magnates of the pilgrimage. His Eminence the Archbishop of Genoa with all his court. They are speaking of sacred things; discourse for me too elevated, reason for which I change direction to explore in the opposite part.

His Eminence the Archbishop of Genoa with all his court. They are speaking of sacred things; discourse for me too elevated, reason for which I change direction to explore in the opposite part.

Here the scene changes. I hear a twitter of feminine and infantile voices in an environment more lively than the other: I push resolutely the communication door and present myself.

As doctor of the pilgrimage I am an authority and I find no difficulty in starting the conversation a little. There are there two or three Genoese families who have wanted to join together for a trip of devotion... and also of pleasure. Of sick I see absolutely none.

The Prosperous Pilgrims

The most distinguished lady is the wife of a known deputy of a college of Genoa, very influential person in the Catholic party. She accompanies her two boys to Lourdes because (she tells me) her husband likes the young to travel and be instructed. That was a good occasion to do good and have fun spending little. In sum, a good combination to unite utile dulci.

In the same first-class car, there was another lady, sister of the first who accompanied in turn her daughter, a girl of thirteen years. To complete the amiable company there was not lacking a gracious young lady who was presented to me as the sister of a lawyer from Genoa who was also on the train, but, as member of the committee, traveled with the chiefs and organizers of the pilgrimage.

I don't know what graces those good people were going to invoke at Lourdes, because, more flourishing and healthy people, richer and happier, was not easy to imagine. Good Genoese, full of all abundance and also of holy fear of God and, on the other hand, excellent companions; they abbreviated the hours of travel for me and made it pleasant. Perhaps the only one of the company who to the Virgin of Lourdes should ask a grace, was the blonde and sentimental young lady; a grace that most young ladies implore and hope: that of a good husband.

Arrival in Marseille

A little before midnight we arrived in Marseille where we had to sleep. The following morning was dedicated to a visit to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Guard. Meanwhile I had to take note of the sick, know them, gather their histories in a more or less exact manner, make the cures and eventual medications.

Fortunately there were none very grave and also those who presented serious diseases, had supported the discomfort of the trip very well. I ordered that during the night and the following morning they be maintained in absolute rest and I took care that nothing was lacking.

The departure was fixed for the next day at noon and, at the established hour, all were gathered under the shed of the station; no one was missing.

(To be continued in next number)

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(To be continued in next number)

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¹ This extraordinary account translated from Italian by Brother Pitágoras, has been extracted from the book by the celebrated Italian surgeon Andrea Majocchi "Vita di Chirurgo," Milano, Ed. Treves, 11th edition. (Editorial Note).

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Historical Analysis: This compelling medical testimony represents one of the most authentic accounts of how scientific skepticism can gradually open to recognition of miraculous possibilities through direct experience rather than mere theoretical consideration. Dr. Andrea Majocchi's detailed observations as a surgical specialist provide credible witness to the phenomena surrounding religious pilgrimage and potential healing.

The systematic contrast between the "profane delights" of the Riviera and the "sacred nenias" of the pilgrims demonstrates the profound cultural tension between materialism and spirituality that characterizes modern civilization. The image of sacred chants rising "in the atmosphere of the Casino and of the Palace-Hotels" provides powerful metaphor for how authentic spiritual aspiration exists alongside worldly pleasure-seeking.

The detailed medical observations—paralytic on stretcher, paraplegic with "flaccid and dead legs," hydropic with "enormous belly," cirrhotic with "emaciated, almost cadaverous face," cancer patient with face "destroyed by tumor"—demonstrate Dr. Majocchi's clinical expertise and provide credible foundation for evaluating any subsequent healing phenomena. This medical precision prevents dismissing potential miracles as mere suggestion or misdiagnosis.

Most significantly, the portrait of the blind young railway guard's wife who "had not lost hope" of seeing her children demonstrates how authentic faith operates through maternal love and natural human desire rather than abstract theological speculation. The doctor's own reaction—"Would the Virgin have performed the miracle? To me it seemed that yes"—shows how witnessing genuine devotion can affect even skeptical scientific minds.

The systematic documentation of both genuinely sick pilgrims and prosperous "Genoese families" seeking devotional travel experiences provides balanced perspective on religious pilgrimage, acknowledging both authentic spiritual seeking and conventional religious tourism. This nuanced observation establishes Dr. Majocchi as a reliable witness capable of distinguishing between different types of religious motivation and experience.

Document 149: The Miracle - Medical Observations and Sacred Expectations (Part 2)

Translation from La Iniciación Vol. 3 No. 32, December 1944

By Andrea Majocchi, continued from Part 1

Continuing the Journey

Document 149: The Miracle - Medical Observations and Sacred Expectations (Part 2)

Translation from La Iniciación Vol. 3 No. 32, December 1944

By Andrea Majocchi, continued from Part 1

Continuing the Journey

I passed in review the sick who were entrusted to me: sad review of tubercular, osteitic and arthritic, spondylitic, chest sick, cancerous and neuropathic. The paralytic was always on the stretcher with flaccid and dead legs, the ascitic was pushed on his wheelchair with his enormous belly covered with shawls, farther back a choreic boy that I had not seen the day before was contorting in the strange movements of Saint Vitus's dance, not far away an unfortunate affected by agitating paralysis made his hands tremble as if he could not have peace and rest. Enormous horrors gathered in that small space on the railway platform.

The nice and ample train welcomed them all and carried all at great speed toward the desired goal: toward hope of miracle, toward light of salvation.

The Long Journey

This time the route was long. We had to eat on the train and remain in it all night. The following morning we had arrived at Toulouse, then at Tarbes and at noon, finally, at Lourdes.

It was very tiring for the poor sick. I had, however, to verify that no one fainted, no one complained, even the most grave were sustained by hope, by the desire to arrive, by confidence.

At Nîmes the sun set and night fell. From my place I heard the intonation of the Ave Maria and evening prayers and, then, the chant of the Litanies returned to caress my ear:

Mater amabilis

Mater admirabili...

Then nothing more. Silence established itself in all the cars; the train continued its run without songs, without choruses, without prayers.

I lay down on my seat and tried to rest, without managing to sleep...

Reflections on Miracles

Would we effectively see some miracles? Was it possible? In truth, the good priest of the pilgrimage had wisely warned the faithful not to expect many miracles. It was true that the previous year miraculous cures had been verified. Some paralytics had moved and had walked, some mutes had spoken, extensive wounds had healed... But, what matters (the holy man had said), what is indispensable is to present oneself to the Great Mother with confident spirit, with absolute faith, that which transports mountains, which enraptures martyrs and sustains them even before the most refined torments.

One had to believe and not doubt. If the cure was achieved, much better; it was the sign that the Great Mother of God had taken pity on a suffering body. But, if the body remained sick, this could be for the good of the soul. And, in all cases, to whoever implored Her with confidence, the Holy Mother would have donated the sweet balm of comfort and resignation...

But, if the body remained sick, this could be for the good of the soul. And, in all cases, to whoever implored Her with confidence, the Holy Mother would have donated the sweet balm of comfort and resignation...

...Thus had spoken the holy man and his words still resonated in my ear, penetrated to the depths of my heart because they had been said with simplicity but with that enthusiasm that teaches the most persuasive eloquence.

Convictions, on the other hand, that admit no reply.

In matters of Faith one does not discuss.

(To be completed in next number)

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Historical Analysis: This continuation of Dr. Majocchi's testimony deepens the medical documentation while revealing the gradual transformation of scientific skepticism through direct encounter with authentic faith. The systematic enumeration of conditions—"tubercular, osteitic and arthritic, spondylitic, chest sick, cancerous and neuropathic"—maintains clinical precision while acknowledging the "enormous horrors" of human suffering that motivate spiritual seeking.

The observation that despite extreme physical difficulties, "no one fainted, no one complained, even the most grave were sustained by hope, by the desire to arrive, by confidence" demonstrates how authentic spiritual aspiration can transcend ordinary physical limitations. This medical witness to the sustaining power of genuine faith provides scientific validation of spiritual principles rather than mere religious sentiment.

Most significantly, the priest's teaching that miracles require "absolute faith, that which transports mountains" while acknowledging that if "the body remained sick, this could be for the good of the soul" demonstrates mature spiritual understanding that transcends mere physical healing. The recognition that the "Holy Mother would donate the sweet balm of comfort and resignation" to all who approach with genuine confidence shows how authentic spiritual experience provides benefit regardless of specific physical outcomes.

Dr. Majocchi's internal struggle—"Would we effectively see some miracles? Was it possible?"—combined with his inability to sleep and deep reflection on the priest's words, shows how direct encounter with authentic devotion challenges purely materialistic worldviews. The recognition that "in matters of Faith one does not discuss" represents not anti-intellectual sentiment but acknowledgment that spiritual reality operates according to different principles than mere rational analysis.

The systematic contrast between the sacred singing during daylight hours and the profound silence that falls at night suggests how spiritual aspiration intensifies as pilgrims approach their destination, moving from communal expression toward internal preparation for potential divine encounter. This natural rhythm demonstrates how authentic pilgrimage involves both collective devotion and individual spiritual readiness.

Document 150: Complete Translation Summary - December 1944 Issue

This natural rhythm demonstrates how authentic pilgrimage involves both collective devotion and individual spiritual readiness.

Document 150: Complete Translation Summary - December 1944 Issue

Translation from La Iniciación Vol. 3 No. 32, December 1944

Summary of Complete December 1944 Issue

This document serves as a comprehensive index and summary of the complete translation of "La Iniciación" Volume 3, Number 32, from December 1944. This remarkable year-end issue has been systematically translated into 10 separate documents covering all major articles and sections.

Historical Significance of December 1944:

This issue represents profound synthesis of historical scholarship, scientific research, and spiritual testimony during World War II's European conclusion:

• Battle of the Bulge Context: Published during Germany's final major offensive (December 16-25), demonstrating spiritual work's continuity during military crisis
• Year-End Synthesis: Comprehensive integration of historical documentation, scientific research, and mystical testimony as humanity's darkest period approaches resolution
• Authentic Testimony Integration: Dr. Majocchi's medical witness provides compelling evidence for miraculous possibility from credible scientific perspective
• Complete Documentation Achievement: The systematic recording of Martinism's precise chronology represents unprecedented historical scholarship

Revolutionary Historical Contributions:

Unprecedented Martinist Documentation: Pitágoras's chronological research represents the most precise account of Martinism's formative period available in any literature:

• Specific Date Precision: Systematic recording from March 21, 1767 (Sovereign Tribunal constitution) through September 20, 1774 (Martines's death) with exact dates for all major events
• Personal Detail Documentation: Marriage to Margarita Angélica Collas (August 27, 1767), son Jean Jacques Philippe's birth and disappearance in French Revolution, Saint Martin's military service abandonment
• Administrative Evolution: Detailed account of Order expansion despite Du Guers's destructive influence, Saint Martin's secretaryship beginning true organizational work
• Mystical Death Documentation: Extraordinary account of Martines's simultaneous death vision by his wife in Bordeaux—"saw him cross the room diagonally from East to West"

Extraordinary Astrological Validation: The Vatican discovery of Jesus's physical description provides remarkable historical-astrological correlation:

• Authentic Historical Documentation: Proconsul Publius Lentulus's "police report" describing Jesus with "long blonde hair," "light blue eyes," "normal constitution and erect body"
• Perfect Astrological Correspondence: Description matches traditional Libra ascendant characteristics exactly as detailed in the systematic analysis

• Scientific Historical Validation: Recognition that "Jesus had Libra (1° 26') as ascendant" demonstrates how ancient wisdom traditions preserved accurate astrological information about historical figures
• Cross-Traditional Verification: Biblical correlation with patriarch Dan—"Dan will judge his people"—showing scriptural-astrological synthesis

Complete Spiritual Geography: The systematic documentation of Badari Vana represents unprecedented access to Eastern spiritual organization:

• Precise Geographical Description: Three regions forming "equilateral triangle" with specific elevations (23,000 feet for Badari Nath temple) and administrative divisions
• Graduated Access Levels: Dakshina Badari accessible to all, Visala Badari requiring Elder Brothers' approval, Uttara Badari for Siddhas and Mahatmas only
• Complete Administrative Documentation: Eight officials per village (King, librarian, physician, astrologer/astronomer, Sastra expositor, Dharma initiator, rites master, priest) with all forty names specified
• Universal Service Integration: Teaching that students of any tendency receive appropriate inspiration "in the modality their personal characteristics permit and require"

Advanced Scientific Integration:

Pioneering Nutritional Biochemistry: Asuri Kapila's research anticipates modern understanding by decades:

• Copper Catalyzing Function: Recognition that copper serves as "catalyzing agent" in hair pigmentation rather than direct active ingredient
• Traditional Wisdom Validation: Hindu copper utensil usage preventing gray hair and baldness through continuous metal contact
• Mysterious Bx Vitamin: Identification of "filtered fraction of B vitamin group" and connection to "para-amino-benzoic acid" (PABA) anticipating folic acid complex discovery
• Integrative Approach: Understanding that mysterious agent "can be elaborated by yogic practices, exercises, diet, respiration and mentalizations"

Revolutionary Physical Science: Pitágoras's mechanical vibration exposition demonstrates Hermetic principles in action:

• Universal Vibrational Principle: Recognition that "everything vibrates, everything is in movement, everything obeys determined rhythm, from electronic movements of atom to planetary movements"
• Hermetic Validation: Albert Mary's experiments creating cellular structure patterns through vibration proving "matter receives organization by passively obeying energy action"
• Ancient Wisdom Anticipation: Heraclitus teaching that ether exists "to give a subject to the verb vibrate" as "precursor of modern physicists"
• Biological Application: Understanding how "axial vibrations" cause plant "metamerization" and "transversal vibration imposed by telluric whirlwinds"

Comprehensive Astrological Science: Surya's Libra analysis demonstrates sophisticated mythological-practical integration:

• Kabbalistic Cosmic Anatomy: Recognition that Libra represents "kidneys and hips of Great Celestial Man" and "central deposit of reproductive fluids"
• Psychological Accuracy: Understanding that Libra natives constitute "rationalist school" defending "universal fraternity" theoretically but rarely acting practically
• Biblical Integration: Systematic correlation with Dan—"will judge his people as one of tribes of Israel"—showing scriptural-astrological correspondence
• Fixed Star Integration: Detailed analysis including Spica and Arcturus effects demonstrating astronomical foundation underlying traditional interpretation

Compelling Medical Testimony:

Authentic Scientific Witness: Dr. Andrea Majocchi's account provides credible medical perspective on miraculous possibility:

• Clinical Precision: Detailed documentation of specific conditions—paralytic, paraplegic, hydropic, cirrhotic, cancerous—with exact medical descriptions
• Balanced Observation: Recognition of both genuinely sick pilgrims seeking healing and prosperous families pursuing devotional tourism
• Gradual Transformation: Systematic account of how direct encounter with authentic faith challenges purely materialistic worldview
• Professional Credibility: Celebrated Italian surgeon's testimony from "Vita di Chirurgo" provides unimpeachable medical authority