The pilgrims were singing a hymn, in which the words, “Help us, Maria,” occurred frequently. The poor cripple endeavoured to join in the hymn, but could not, he was so weak.
At last he made a great effort, and the words from his lips were scarcely audible, but immediately he was relieved: his voice returned to him, and his limbs became strong again; so that he no longer needed his staff, which he therefore presented to the chapel.
SAINT RITZA.
Ritza lived in Little Coblence, just opposite to the Church of St. Castor. When the bells tolled for morning prayers she used to walk over the waters to attend at the service, returning by the same road.
One day the waves were high, and the sky full of storms; she hesitated, and finally gathered a vine-branch, with which she endeavoured to assist her tottering steps: but faith had deserted her, and she sank deeper and deeper into the waves—the prop was utterly useless; then she thought on her Saviour and prayed for assistance; instantly she rose again from the waters, and, casting away the false prop, gained the opposite shore.
After her death Ritza was canonised, and her bones were laid in the Church of St. Castor.
Another legend also relates how prayer saved those who had faith. It was on the occasion of a great flood, which submerged a large portion of the town, the people prayed at a shrine and the waters dispersed; then on the sands, by the bridge, a figure was found, which all declared to be the Virgin: it was taken up, and with great pomp placed in a chapel. In after days this image was again thrown into the water by the enemies of Coblence, but again it was washed on to the shore; and, according to the legend, it is now placed near the harbour, where it watches over the safety of the good city of Coblence.
The other stories of Coblence are of a more material character. One tells us of