Two women were reciting the Rosary in a train...

On Sunday, June 29, 1891, the village of Münchenstein, Switzerland, was holding a festival, with concerts, shooting competitions, and a variety of many other stands. In the afternoon, an overly crowded passenger train from Basel pulled by two engines was about to enter the Münchenstein station.

On this train were two women from the Jura region, who were returning from a pilgrimage to Our Lady of the Hermits in Einsiedeln (northern Switzerland). These women began praying the Rosary together, which drew mocking remarks from the travelers who were going to the festival.

When the heavy train passed over the Birs bridge, the bridge collapsed! The front part of the train fell into the river, pulled down by the two engines. The cars were literally crushed, one on top of the other. This disaster claimed the lives 73 victims and seriously injured 171 people.

As for the two people who were reciting the Rosary, they were completely unharmed, despite the fact that their clothes were torn and bloody. They were the only survivors or uninjured passengers in their car. Many victims were found with crushed limbs.

Bishop Millot

Adapted from Allons à Jésus (Let's go to Jesus)