The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-09-26
Making the Solemn Vows.

novices, Miss Josephine Schwarz; Miss Rose
McArdle, Miss Mary Ellen Carter and Miss
Adele Picard, whose names in religion are
respectively Sister Mary of st. Mechtilda,
Sister Mary of st. Marciana, Sister Mary of
st. Paula, and Sister Mary of st. Coletta.
Tho sympathy of friends and the piety of
the faithful caused the chapel OF the Inn
maculate Conception, appertaining to the
Convent, to lie filled to overlooking before
the ceremoni % commenced. The issuing
of the community from their domestic hall,
in form of procession, took place about X
O clock z. NJ, and indicated that the expect
ed moment had arrived The Sisterhood,
some fifty in number, we've headed by the
Superioress of this Province, Mother Mary
of the Nativity, accompanied by Mother
Entychius, local Superioress, all carrying
lighted tapers. This pale, modest light,
contrasting with the black dresses and
wells, of the Sisters, their slow measured
tread, and the sweet melody of tue hymn
which they chanted, were calculated at
once to lift the spectator out of the ordinary
world of strife and intrigue. He was
brought into contact with the spiritual and
the supernatural
Immediately following these were the four
novices, who were on the point of making
| their solemn vows and being admitted into
the order, and they in turn were followed
by three young ladies who were about being
accepted as noVices, These three were
Misses L. Franzelli, Mary Vincent and Ce-
celia Clark. Then came the reverend
Clergy; closing the procession, and consist
ing of Very Rev. Father Perche and Fa-
theirs Toohcy Theirs, Foltier and Hubert.
The procession having entered the chapel,
Very Rev. Father Perche, who was the
officiating clergyman, as Vicar General and
Administrator of the diocese, blessed the
candles held by the young ladies, applicants
| for noviceship, who by this time were
kneeling near the altar. He reminded them
/ of the apparent sacrifice they We're making
and the responsibilities they were assum-
ing of the vanities, cares and distractions
which make up greater portion OF the So
called pleasures of the world, and the
duties of the holy estate to which they
aspired. portion also of his remarks
was addressed to the applicants for the
black veil, explaining most lucidly and elo-
quently the VOWS of poverty, chastity and
obedience, which they were about to pro-
nounce, and which were to govern them
during life.
After this discourse, a series of questions
were propounded to the applicants for
noviceship, calculated to ascertain whether
! +l--:- a:~r-oa;siuI,s nor tho important step
about to be taken were of the necessary
kind. These having been answered salts
factorily, the habits which they were about
to assume We're then blessed, and they
withdrew for the. purpose of being invested
with them. Upon their return they were
presented with Il rosary and a copy of their
rules.
The four candidates for the solemn vows
We're then interrogated as to their nten-
tions and convictions Their full and earn
est desire for holy profession being made
known, the venerable Mother Provincial
notified her assent to their reception, and
they advanced to the railing, where the
vows of poverty, chastity and obedience
were audibly pronounced by each. This
most solemn promise WIS then accepted on
! the part of the order, and the newly made
Sisters signed their names to the written
VOWS. They then received the black veil at
the hands of the Very Rev. Vicar General,
who also presented each with silver heart
and blue cord. After some further delay,
each of the new sisters was presented with Il
crown, in allusion to that eternal crown to
which all their aspirations tend, n re Deum
was intoned, and the procession left the
| chapel IN the s1me order with which It had
entered.
| On a future occasion we shall take
pleasure in laying before our readers some
account of the extensive and important
works carried on by the community of this
Convent. The care of orphans and the
Catholic education of children form the
main features of their active employments
and the immense labors which they under
go in these different departments, are GER
| tainly worthy of more special and de-