Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-08-29
Taking the Veil Nine Young s-Edies
IOfr, fl.s, Sisters of Mercy,

have never seen the veil taken before, we
will give brief history of the origin and
aims of the Sisters of Mercy.
This order was founded in Dublin in
1927, by Miss Catherine McCauly. She
embraced the Catholic faith soon after
reaching the years of discretion and de-
voted her life and time to the service of the
poor. She induced a number Of ladies to
Join her, and purchased house in Dublin
and opened an asylum for destitute
young women and a school for poor
children. After going through regular
noviceship she took the veil in the con-
vent of the Presentation Nuns. The Sis
tiers of Mercy have in view, besides other
charities, the visitation of the sick and
prisoners, the instruction of poor girls and
the protection of virtuous women in dis
tfess. Whenever their means have per-
mitted, they have founded "houses of
mercy" where destitute girls of good char
acter are cared for until employment can
be found. They have the control of sew
eral asylums in the United States. The
t)AobCAhOOd ID dANAGNO AutO AMQ CidScCS-
Choir Sisters and Lay Sisters. The Choir
Sisters are employed about the ordinary
objects of the order, and the Lay Sisters
about the domestic avoeations of the con-
vent. Candidates for mem bership of either
class undergo preliminary postulancy of
six months; at the end of that time they
assume the white veil and become novices.
This novieeship lasts two years. The VOWS,
which are taken for life, bind the members
to poverty, chastity, obedience and to the
service of the sick, poor and ignorant.
The habit of the order is black robe
with long loose sleeves, a white Golf and a
white or black veil. In the street bonnet
Of black Grape is worn instead of the Golf
and veil
Having now explained the designs and
regalia Of the order, every one can easily
understand the impressive and solemn cere-
was beautifully decorated with the richest
bouquets of flowers, which threw out their
odorous breath over the vast crowd Can
dies burned brightly on the altar, lighting
up the dark background with thin, soft,
rremulous light. Then from the choir and
organ "came sense of music which was
rather felt than heard, /" and young lady
dressed in the purest white, with tall cru
cifx in her hand, advanced down the aisle,
followed by a crowd of beautifully dressed
little girls, with folded hands and meek,
downcast eyes, as though the echo of each
football was but funeral march to the
grave" The nine postulants followed with
a slow and noiseless tread. They were
dressed in white tulle or muslin, with white
wells on their heads. Most of them had
their hair flowing in loose, waving ringlets,
though several still chung to their water
falls. Two little boys were standing in
front Of the altar swinging silver censers.
Bishop Feehan, Fathers Walsh, Jarbeau,
Cain and Repas were 10 their robes. Then
a wave Of soul inspiring music descended
from the elevated organ and choir, like
heavenly benediction on the awaiting null
titude. The Sisters, during the music, were
in deep devotion, and the little girls were
all kneeling.
Each candidate then advanced and re
ceived lighted candle, and filed off to the
sides of the altar-place, the Bishop pro-
nouncing some blessings which we could
not hear.
Bishop Feehan then delivered a most
impressive discourse on self-sacriice and
of body and soul to Christ
After the discourse, the candidates arose
and approached the altar, one at time,
and kneeled. and the Bishop read to them
some questions, to which each one re-
sponded in a clear, calm voice. They then
retired to side room to have their hair cut
off While they were out the wells which
they were to assume were brought in. All |
came back, dressed in black, with white
wells, and took position in the aisle, 'front.'
ing the altar, all kneeing.
They then commenced approaching the |
altar, one at a time, and when getting to the |
foot of the altar, where the Bishop was
standing, the candidate would kneel, and |
Mother Superior Mary Clare assisted by
another Sister of Mercy, would take off the
little white bonnet or veil and quickly put |
on the one prepared for the occasion, the |
Bishop consecrating it as it was placed on
the head. A large black leathern belt was |
then handed by the Bishop to the Mother |
Superior, who buckled it around the waist |
of the candidate, and then placed new
white robe upon her which reached nearly
to the floor.
The choir then sang hymn to the Nir-
gin Mary, the newly installed sisters join |
ing in and filling the cathedral with their |
rich, sonorous voices. Then came the most |
solemn part of the ceremony. The nine |
young ladies stretched themselves in their |
snowy robes at full length upon the floor,
before that curious, gazing throng and the
choir and organ chanted "a mass for the
dead" The last notes of the organ, dying
away in the high arches like the echoes of
departed joys, seemed to say, dead
dead !" A sob was heard bubbling up from
a sad heart, and tear "from the depths of
some divine despair" hung like a dew
drop on the fringes over more than one eye.
Then all arose and stood a moment, and
then kneeled. Father Walsh then took
censor, on which a fame was burning, and
the Bishop poured from a spoon some in
cense, which soon threw cloud of smoke
in the air. The clergy seemed to make an
effort to inhale the incense as it arose. The
newly installed sisters then arose and
kissed each one of the sisters on each cheek,
and the benediction was pronounced, and
they marched in slow procession through
the church to the seminary across the street,
and the crowd dispersed.
To one not accustomed to these ceremo-
malls, they are full of mystery. The world
cannot understand how one of its blooming,
lovely daughters can renounce all its gay
sllurements for the sanity seclusion Of the
monastic life. That life to which they have
dedicated themselves will lead them to the
couch Of the suffering, and to the abode of
woe and misery. No green palm trees wave
their bright arms, nor bright flowers bloom
along that solitary life. The joyful songs
of girlhood are lost in the solemn risse'e,
which is ever yelling up from the oppressed
heart of humanity.
The following are the names Of the ladies
who took the veil:
Miss Alice Feehan, St. Louis, Mo; in re-
ligion, Sister NJ. Catherine.
Miss Margaret Foley, Pautucket, R. l..
in religion, Sister NJ. Joseph Clare.
Miss Bridget Harley, St. Johns, New
Brunswick; in religion, Sister NJ. Angus
tine
Miss Maria Cassidy, Woonsacket, L. l.
in religion, Sister NJ Gertrude Clare
Miss Kate Flynn, Pautuoket, r. l. in
religion, Sister NJ. Rose.
Nj NeIIis no,auon prouidauca =