(Christmas Eve) was rendered remarkable by an extraordinary event. A boy of about twelve years of age, who had for several month attended catechism, finding himself incapable of learning the prayers, gave up in despair, and discontinued his attendance. On the Eve of Christmas, his mother said to him – “Paul, the Great Spirit will be angry with you, and will never admit you into heaven, if you do not learn your prayers.” “Mother,” answered the boy, “the Great Spirit will take pity on me – I tried to learn my prayers, and I have been unable to do it. However, I will go again and try.” He then directed his steps towards the lodge of one of the catechists. On opening the door, he saw a person standing about two feet from the ground, in the midst of bright rays of light, dressed all in white: under the person’s feet was a sphere, a half moon, and a serpent, with a strange fruit in its mouth. Above the person’s head was a bright star – the heart was visible, and rays of light preceded from it.

At first he was afraid, and was upon the point of running away. But on taking a second glance at the person, he perceived a smile on his countenance, which filled him with confidence, he kneeled and begged the person to teach him his prayers. Suddenly he felt his mind clear, and his heart warm – (such are the child’s own expressions) and he recited the whole of the prayers without difficulty. He returned immediately, and told his mother he knew his prayers. She could not believe it – he recited them in her presence, and he knew them so accurately, that he corrected his sister, who mistook in two or three words. He then related the story, it soon became the subject of conversation among the Indians; none could imagine who the person was, nor could they ever decide whether it was a man or a woman – unable to solve the problem themselves, after the lapse of several days, they came to us – I showed them an image of an apparition of the B.V. to Paul. He recognized her immediately, with one difference, that he saw her only with one star, with her hands joined before her breast, and with her heart visible. The circumstances of the single star coincided singularly with the festival of Christmas.

- Pierre-Jean De Smet, SJ Origin, Progress, and Prospects of the Catholic Mission to the Rocky Mountains, 1843.