The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-06-19
mThe solemn SCENE of the profession

0-The solemn scene of the profession
of a nun in Rome is thus described in a lett
ter from Baltimorean in the Eternal City,
which we find in the Baltimore American:
At the appointed hour | attended at the
church, and was surprised at the small num-
Der the exciting scene had assembled. Va
riotis were the stories of the past life and
fortune Of the fair being who was this day
to take the veil, which were told in whis-
pers by those assembled. All, however, &C
corded that hers hid been life marked by
events so full Of sorrow, that her history was
not listened to without deep emotion. BY
\ his own hand, OF by casualty, he had passed
/ away, and she, weary of life which he
could not share, now sought shelter in
sanctuary, where the afflicted may weep in
silence, and where, if sorrow be not assuaged
in tears are hidden. All awaited the mo
ment of her entrance with anxious inpa-
tience; every eye was directed towards her
with an expression of the deepest interest
| Spiendidly adorned and attended by the
Princess Rarberin, she slowly advanced to
the seat assigned her near the altar Her
fine fom rose above the middle stature; a
gentle bend marked her contour, and her
| full black eyes, which were occasionally in
piOus awe raised TO heaven, and her long
dark eyelashes gave life to a cOuntenance
on which resignation seemed portrayed.-
| The places allotted TO us as strangers, whom
the Italians never fail to distinguish 10y the
most courteous manners, were such as not
only TO enable us to view the whole ceT-
emory, but TO contemplate the features and
expression Of this Interesting being. Thu
ceremony now began, and, conducted by
Cardinal, be first pronounced rather long
discomse-alter which she passed out of the
Church and into the adjoining Convent,
which was to be her future home. She
now appeared in a small chapel Of the
nmnery, divided from the church by large
open widow, covered with an iron grating.
and the ceremony proceeded In the back
ground, in blazing focus Of light, stood an
altar, from which, in a divided line the
nuns Of the community were seen, each
holding a large burning wax taper The
lobsevances were numerous and imposing.
At length the solemn moment approached
which was 10 bind her vows 10 Heaven
She rose and stood few moments before
the altar, when suddenly, yet with noise
less action, she sank upon her knees. and
he deep silence was broken by the low
tones Of the organ, accompanied by soft and
beautiful female voices, singing the doleiul
requium. Tears were the slight expression
Of the emotion which thrilled through every
heart. This solemn music continued long
and fell mOuTnlully on the ear, until, reced-
ing as it were into the distance, il gently
sank into silence The young novice was
then raised, and, advancing towards the
Cardinal, she bent down, kneeling at his
feet, while he cut a lock of her hair, which
she cast from her, as a type Of the ceremony
;hat was to deprive her Of this, to her, no
longer valued ornament. Her attendant
then despOlled her of the rich Jewels with
which she was adorned her splendid upper
vestures were thrown off, and replaced by a
loose robe of white. the nuns garb-heT
long tresSes bound up, her temples covered
with fair linen, the white crown. emblem
Of innocence, fixed on her head. and the
icmcfX placed in her hands. Then kneel-
ing low once more before the altar. she
brcathed her last vow to Heaven, at which
moment the organ and chOrsteTs burs. forth
in loud shouts of Triumph. She was then
received and embraced by the Lady AbbcSS.
and by each of the nuns in turn, whilst
their eyes sparkled and a smile seemed
struggling with the solemnity Of the moment,
in expression Of their innocent delight in
beholding the approach Of her who had
offered up her vows and became one Of their
community. 1t might have been the solemn
light shed on the surrounding objects, or the
momentary charm lent by enthusiasm.
deceiving the eye and the heart, which gave
this fair being fascination more than real
but such were my feelings, so fixed NV
attention. that when the curtain again was
drawn and their forms faded from nv view,
and turned again towards the busy throng
and crowded street, | felt heaviness Of
heart even to pain weigh upon me. She
shortly after appeared at the entrance of the
convent, and, apparently with a happy
spirit, took a final adieu of her fiendS
from whom she was to be forever separated
-severally offering her hand 10 her male
friends, while she returned the lingering
embraces of those dear to her Of her own
sex, with that happy resignation which p.ety
inspires, while yelling to sacrifice made
to Heaven. will not weary you with
detail of the sad reflections which impressed
me as left that threshold, which she could
not again rePass; but such is the illusion,
such the sensation inspired by the solemn
scene, which ! believe he whose faith allows,
or he whom different persuasion leads to
deplore the sacrifice, will yet, for the mo-
ment, behold with equal emotion