Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-12-11

For the Union and American.
RELIGIOUS IREOEPTHON AT THE

II EbIGkOOS lkEgEF1HO-N AA 1AAL
CONVENT OF ST. CECILIA.
The Sth of December was the occasion
of most interesting aud impressive
ceremony at the lovely Convent of st.
Cecilia. Two young ladies were received
into the Dominican Order as noyices.
Miss Mary Shay, in religion Sister Veroni-
| ca, and Miss Ellen johnson, in religion,
Sister Imelda.
Miss Robinson, in religion, Sister
Angela, made her solemn vows for life,
bidding an eternal farewell to the world
aud all its vaRities and Illusions. AS an
accomplished and intellectual lady she
has few superiors; how grand, how glo-
Iious is the life which she embraces
Her mission is sublime one, devoting
her life to that noble and self-sacriticing
vocation, education of the young. The
good Mother Superior, and Sisters have
been indefatigable in their efforts to
render this institution benefit and so
far it has proved success. Its natural
surroundings are very beautiful. Seques-
tered and uncovered as it is, ina most en-
chanting spot, everything tends to elevate
the heart and mind to the contemplation
of the sublime and beautiful. Science
and religion receive due attention, and all
that can soothe and quiet the restless
passions of the human heart are found
here. Surely,
'If there's peace to be found in the world,
A heart that is humble may hope for it here"
To-day nature seems more lovely; earth
and air rejoice in the glories of Mary
Immaculate" and as l witness this most
beautiful and impressive ceremony in the
lovely Convent Chapel, all the feelings of
my soul swell up into an ecstacy of de-
light, and like Coleridge l can exclaim,
81 am filled with devotion and awe; l am
lost to the actualities that surround me
and my whole being expands into the
infinite; earth and air, nature and art, all
swell into eternity, and the only sensible
impression left me is, that am moth
ing" Cold indeed must be the heart, and
unimpassioned the soul that such a grand
and glorious sacrifice does not affect
The Chapel was most tastefully orna-
mented with flowers and plants of every
description, and where are natures fairest
offerings more appropriate than to adOrn
the temple of religion9
"BIing flowers to the shrine where We kneel in
prayer,
They are natures offering, their place is there
They speak Of hope to the faintidg heart,
With voice Of promise they come and part;
They sleep in dust through the wintry hours,
They break forth in glory-bring flowers, bright
flowers "
The Ri Rev. Bishop Feehan officiated,
lalI q oil Cd
dress. The entire ceremony was beauti-
full, and long will remain treasured in
MemOIy's golden casket.
so! that sight
1t glimmers still before me, like some landscape
Left in the dstance-some delicious landscape"
Cecilia's halls are glad to-day,
Her sunny bowers In beauty beam:
angels unseen hosanrahs sing
To honor heavens great, glorious Queen.
o, Mary Virgin pure and bright,
Our hearts implore thy aid;
Save, save thy child from sin and blight,
and may virtues flowers ne'er fade
Thy holy shrine to-day is deoked
With fair and fragrant flowers;
Zen now thy Convent bells deep tones
Proclaim the festive hour.
One by one the liz hts are beaming,
On the affairs sacred shrine;
Flowers and plants perfume are shedding,
Whilst yhe organ softly chimes.
pure and stainless soul to-day,
Unto thy care is given;
Scoring lhe world and its pleasures vain,
To seek home in heaven.
The world is full of beauty,
Hills and wales all glorious seem,
But these fairy scenes soon vanish,
Like gems last flashing CLEAN.
No sound breaks the h,ly stiffness;
Music heavenly doth arise;
Incense alone ascending,
Like our suPphant prayers to the skies. q
Cecilia abode of true ssnctity,
ash gaze on this fair scene to-day,
My heart is filled with devotion,
And my soul seeks bright realms far away.
Dee. s, 1870. An OBSERVER.