Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1837-09-20
RoMAN CATHOLIC CEREMONY.
THE PROFESSION OF A NUN.

4 young lady in Charleston recently c!o;s-
tered herself in runnery, where she IS Of
course to be imprisoned for life, unless after
experience and reflection she should change
her mind and find some opportunity to make
her escape. As some OF our readers may
have curiosity to Learn what the ceremony
used on the occasion is, we copy the following
account of it from a correspondent of the
Charleston Courier:
The spleudid vestuTe of the the Bishop and
principal Clergy, con.rasted with the sable
and simple costume of the Nuns, the lights
and incense at the altar, the exquisite music.
especially the pathetic and touching solos of
the novice who made her profession, the calm,
firm and distinct manner III which she made
her VOWS in the midst Of solemn, breathiess
silence, and the most affecting circumstances
-all-produced an effect which will not easi.
vi be forgotten bythose who were present;
and the ceremony terminated by the rccedng
chaunt of the Psalm in alternate verses by the
retiring profession of Nuns, whose voices were
lost gradually in the distance as they approach
ed their Monastery, and the full souud of the
other verses responding by the Clergy who
remained in the Cathedral.
We cannot pretend to give description Of
the ceremony-but we would remark, that 1t
commenced by procession of the Clergy 10
the latar, whilst the hymn invoking the Holy
Ghost was chaunted with music by the Nuns.
Afterwards the Nuns themselves sentered the
Sanctuary at the opposite side, Miss II.
WoULE, the lady who was to be protested,
and who in the community is known as Sister
MARY JOSEPH De SALES, in her White Veil
as a novice, entering with the Superoress.--
The Bishop then gong to the Altar, blessed
the Black Veil for which her White one was
to be exchanged. He next addressed to the
novice some two or three questions to ascer-.
tain the nature OF her demand and addressed
to her discourse, short simple, appropriate
and explanatory cf.the wisdom of her choice,
after the the mature deibera:ion she had
made, and the experience Of years that she
had had. He spoke ofthc benefits conferred
by the institute upon its own members, upon
society, and upon the church-pointed outtke
strength necessary for the proper discharge OF
its dHties, and indicated the Redeemer and
| his institutions as the author and source OF
ofthat strength, and exhorted the young lady
to be assiduous in having recourse to them. =
He then celebrated Mass, at the termira-
ton of which he held the holy sacrament be.
fore the novice, who. in the most solemn and
deliberate manner, read her VOWS from
parchment which she subscribed, took the
| holy sacrament, and after the blessing went to
present her parchment to the Lady Superior.
After this ceremony. the singing was very
fine, and. at a particular part, the Bish-
Cd placed the black veil on the head of SIS
ter JOSEPH De SALES, as she knelt before
him, while two of the nuns removed the white
one and adjusted that which she had received.
After some father prayer and singing, the lady
lust professed. cast herself PROSTATE. On her
face before the al'er, and remained SO for
short time, until the re Deum was sung and
some blessings repeated by the Bishop, when
she rose and was embraced, affcctionately, by
the other nuns and the procession left the
! Church
There were few present who were not oc-
casonay affected even to tears.