The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-11-26 00:00:00

TAKING THE WHIM VEIL.

Oa Saturday afternoon, at the Roman Catholic
Church of Sr. John of Jerusalem, Great Ormond.
street, London. there wee a public reception of a
postulant into the convent of the Sisters of Mercy
attached to the hospital in connexion with the church.
The ceremony was performed by Archbishop Manning,
assisted by the Rev. Father Paul ttila, of the Order
of Dominicans, and Yather Callaghan, of Lincoln'e-
inn-fields. The church was crowded to excess, many
of the postulant's friends were present, and thongh
the admission was only by half-crown tickets many,
fig want of apace, were unable to gain admission. The
postulate was Mae Power, of Waterford, Ireland, a
young lady of considerable personal attractions; the
convent name given to her in the course of the core.
niony by her Rev. Mother, the Lady Superiors's, was
"Satter Mary Evangelist."
Shortly after the time appointed for the service—
half-past three—two proceesions entered the church, the
priest. and choir from the left aide of the altar, and the
procession of Sisters from the right. The chair then
commenced the processional hymn, "Oh, glorious
Virgin," as the nuns advanced to their respective places.
First carte one of the Sisters dressed in white, bearing
• large brass crucifix ; next came, two and two, the
postulants on probation waiting for reception, then the
novices who have taken the white veil, afterwards the
Sisters who have taken the black veil and perpetual
vow of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and lastly
the /tev. Mother, the Lady Superioress, leading in the
postulant who was about to take the veil, the Lev.
Mother baying hold of her right hand, and an assistant
Sister her left. The poetulant was in fall bridal dress,
wearing a white satin gown with long train, • beautiful
white lace veil, a wreath of orange Silvers, and costly
bracelets and necklace. All the Sisters carried lighted
tape's. The taper for presentation ti the postulant
having been placed on the altar for blessing, the pistil.
last took her place, kneeling, in the centre of the choir.
the Archbishop then offered up this following prayer
fix the blessing of the candle :

ob, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living Cod, we humbly
beseech Thee bless this cludle, Infuse Into It by the virme
of Thy lI,Iy Cress Thy Heavenly benediction, wh, Molt
granted It to mankind to dispel daritseis, and may It receive
such. blessing by the sign of the Holy Cress that In what-
ever place it shall be lighted or placed the princes of dark-
ness with all their powers may depart, anti tremble, and fly
dismated from those habitations, cmi never more presume
to trouble those who Nerve thee. . . .—Amen."

The celebrant, next having put incense into the
thurible, incensed the candle, sprinkled it with holy
water, and presented it to the postulant. The Arch-
bishop then preached the sermon, and especially ad-
dressel the pos.ulant, urging her to continue to over-
come her worldly desires, and though at times worlcly
friends, or relations, or desires might seek to divert her
from her course, yet still to continue in the better path
she had chosen. The Archbishop then addressed the
postulant. as follows :

" My child, whit do you desire?"
Postulant —.The mercy of Gad, and the holy habit of re
liglon."

The Archbishop —.ls It with your own free clii )ou d
rosin, the holy habit of rellAn ?'
Todulant —•' Yes, my Lozd."
The Archhishop.—. Key. Mother.—llave you made the
necestary toquiries, and are you satisfied r
Lady Superiotss..—" Yea, my

_
Ihe Archbishop—' My clal,—llave you the firm Inten
Moo to persevere In religion to the end of your life, not do
you hope to have sufficient strength to carry constantly She
sweet yoke of our Lord Jesus enlist solely for the love and
tear of God?'
_

Postulant —"Relying on the mercy of God, I hope to be
able to do so."

The Archldshop.—. What God has commenced In yeti may
Ile perfect

The Lady Stmerioress, attended by her assistant,
then took hold of the pontnlent by her hands, and,
having a-tinted her to rine from her knees,
they conducted her to the Lady's chapel to cut cff her
hair, divest her of her bridal dress, and clothe her in
the garments of the Ordev. While she was divesting
herself of her secular clress the Archbi-lhop incenstd
and sprinkled with holy water the postulent garments
of the Order, which weir afterwards taken to her. In
the meantime the choir sang Psalms 113, 15, and ti 3.
The Lady Superiorees and assiatant then re-appeared,
leading the newly-made novice arrayed in the garb of
the Order, and carrying their tapers lighted. As soon
an they appeared in sight the choir commenced the
antiphon, Who is she that cometh up from the desert,
II owing with delights, leaning upon her beloved
Thou art all fair, my beloved, meek and beautiful.
Come, soy spouse, from Libanns ; come from Libation,
thou shalt be crowned. - -

The p Atulant having returned her place, kneelina.,
before the celebrant, the Archtithep said, " Receive
thou the white veil as an emblem of purity." The
Rev. Mother then adjusted it and settled it upon the
pusthlarit's bead. The Archbiehop then presented her
with the cloak of the Order, saying, "Receive thou the
cloak of reliOon, and may the Lord restore to thee the
robe of immortality." The postulant then knelt
down and the celebrant havirg sprinklei her with
holy water, the sang "My heart Lath uttered a
good thing. I opeak to the Rine, whom I have seen,
whom I have loved, in whom I have believed,
and towards whom my heart inclineitu I have
chosen to he an abject in the house ef ray Lord
Jrau4 Christ." The aesistant then took the lighted
taper from the postulant, and the postulant imme-
diately fell prostrate upon her face, and in this position
lay full length before the altar tor n.ore than a quarter
of an hour, durinr the singing of other portion of the
service, pray tog that she might he kept from worldly
vanities and carnal desires. The Archbishop then
sprinkled her with holy water, and the Rev. Mother
afterwards directed her to rice. The newly.made
novice then went rouud and embraced all the Sisters,
kiwine thorn all on both cheeks, aol afterwards kissed
her Rev. Mother. The choP then sang the hymn,
" Veld Creator," and afterwards the Psalm,
" Behold how goo] and how plewant it is for brethren
to dwell together in utity."
The bet, iiction was then pronounced, sect the pro-
ceseions again reformed and emerged from the church.