The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1850-03-07
The Nuns PRoFEssIoN.-We extract
the following incident from Seymour's

HE NUN fROFESSION.-We extract
the following incident from " Seymour's
Pilgrimage in Rome :"
To the novice the opportunity is
nominally offered of withstanding, il
she wishes. The truth is, that she dare
not accept this nominal offer, however
much or anxiously she may wish it.
The feelings of her own family, and the
state of public feelings, impose an
insuperable obstacles to her fulfilling
her desires, and she passively resigns
herself to her fate. 1t is not that she
finds her noviciate happy spring time,
as some have ina agined nor is it that
the other nuns, though naturally anx-
+, ioes for some new companion TO en-
tighten the dull monotony of the cloister,
weave all their arts to fascinate and
ensmre the novice; it is not this that
impels and precipitates the fatal step,
but tits the impossibility of overcoming
the Obstacles arising from the feelings
of herfamily and the tone of public
feelings on the subject If her parents
oppose ler wishes, she mas no alterna-
tive but TO take the final plunge, unless,
indeed, she can depend on the honor
and love Of some man who may have
won her affections, and who will open
to her home and secure her protec-
ton.
A curious instance of this kind oc-
cured at Rome, and was narrated to US
by a general officer who was present at
the time. A young lady was destined
by her parents for the cloister. She
had regarded herself as the wife of one
to whom she was much attached. The
parents not approving this marriage,
placed her, as is usual in such cases, in
monastery, where she could never
see him.-and she commenced her
noviciate. Before doing so, however,
the young gentlemen found means TO
communicate TO her that he would at
tend in the church at the conclusion of
her noviciate; and that if she still loved
him and preferred marriage TO the
taking of the veil, he would be there
TO claim her. and to give her the home
and protection which her own family
would deny her.
The year rolled slowly away. The
noviciate had ended The procession
was publicly announced; the bells rang
merrily as for bridal; the first flowers
were blooming on the floor of the mon-
astic chapel. The cardinal had arrived /;
the young novice. fair as the young
moon in May, knelt with her white veil
floating behind her, and her eyes
glanced eagerly from face to face in
the assembly, until it rested on him,
whom for that long and sad novicia.e
she had never seen. and whose presence
at this moment assured her of his faith
fulness in the past. The service pro-
ceedcd until the cardinal asked the
usual question as TO her willingness for
the life of cloister; she at once de-
clared her unwillingness. The cardi-
nal was astounded. This assembly was
greatly excited. On her being asked
for her reasons, she pointed to the young
man who was present, and said boldly
q Nh srih is to be married to that gentle
man :"
Shewa the next instant on her knees
to the cardinal, beseeching him to for
give her, and to permit the marriage.
The feelings of the cardinal and the
assembly were deeply moved. The
service ceased. The cardinal declared
tina. she must not be received into the
sisterhood, as she had herself refused
her consent he made inquiry, and in
the end himself married the young
couple. And thus she found at once
the home and protection she required,
and the want Of which would otherwise
have consented her own wishes to the
cloister forever.