Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-01-04
The Monks of La Trappe.

IHt lOuF Sfduu OTueTS III Tue NO.
man Church are Augustinian, Domin.
ican, Franciscan, and Benedictine.-
The last is the most celebrated. The
first three consist of friars,-the 9th
er Of monks. FriarS (fratres) with
draw from the world to enjoy reli-
gious fellowship; monks (monachi, J
to worship God in solitude. The
houses of the former are converts; of
the latter, monasteries. The one con-
tains society of brethren or sisters !;
the other, of isolated recluses.
The abbey of BelIefontaine is a
monastery of the straitest sort. 1t
belongs to the monks of La Trappe.
SILENCE is absolute. Sedebit solita
rius ct acebit, is inscribed over the
entrance-gates. The cells have each
a table, chair, box, and two trestles
for the plank upon which a mattress
is laid. Invalids may neither keep
their bed nor rest upon their chair.
No change of dress is allowed by day
or night, in summer or winter. All
property is renounced, all friendships
severed. Two brothers met every
day in chapel for twelve years and
never spoke. No news is ever heard.
The common hall is hung with daubs
OF hideous subjects. No one may go
near the fire or sit down to warm him
self. None but the father-prior sees
newspaper, reads a letter, knows
the death Of a relation, hears a rumor
of war, understands the policy of gov
ernments, reasons upon the effects of
public measures, is informed of pass
ing events, appreciates the progress
Of science, passes under review the re-
suits of enterprise, or takes to heart
the achievements of thought in the
physical and moral world. Every
monk Of La Trappe is dead. His sen,
ses live. His mind is neither idiotic
nor crazed. He eats, drinks and
sleeps; is weary and refreshed, de-
pressed and eXhilarated goes with
alacrity to his task, or shrinkS from
it as penance; performs pure devo-
ton or mutters prayers as the galley
slave pulls at the oar; but, for all
purposes of Christian manhood, is as
dead as if he had been buried a thou
sand years.
1t was noon when we reached Belle
fontaine. The drive had been through
thick forests and over dismal roads.
Around the monastery no person was
visible. We opened the gate; enter
ed the court; passed through low,
whited passages; scanned every cor
ner as our possible entrance; thread
ed dark avenues and circuitous ways,
and at last reached a door that yield
ed to pressure. An old man appear
ed. To our surprise, he started back,
covered his face, and made violent
signs for US to withdraw. 1t was the
lady i'll our party. Ignorant of the
rules of St. Bernard, she had accom-
panied US within the walls, but was
compelled to return to the hostel.
Shortly, the monk, who is master
OF ceremonies to the monastery, enter
ed. The hospitality of the house is
his care. lie holds his Office during
life, and is the sole link that connects
La Trappe with the outside world
As he is responsible for the opinion
visitors may form of the Order, he is
chosen from among those who have
formerly moved in good society. The
countenance Of this monk was fine and
expressive; he held his shaven head
erect; and his address, though grave
and earnest, was pleasing and polite.
He first explained the divisions of the
Order. ave are divided" he said,
"into three classes. The choristerS
are educated. Each has his stool in
church. All are clothed in white
Each wears a black scapulary, which
is laid aside during religious service.
The second class are attired in brown.
There are some in the smithy."
as every inmate obliged to labor ?'
one Of our party inquired.
Without exception" was the re
ply. "In former times there were
but three monks in this retreat, which
then possessed a revenue OF 10000
francs. Now we receive but 1900,
and our numbers amount to eighty.
Moderate as are our requirements, we
are forced, therefore, to labor dill
gently to earn our daily bread"
"And is unbroken silence maintain
ed while at work p
"Invariably. Each morning the
prior appoints to every man his task.
Even the field Iaborers are only per-
mitted to communicate by means of
signs; and there are brethren who
would suffer any amount of physical
torment rather than utter a syllable
without the permission of their supe-
rior. The third class is that Of the
lratres oblati, or lay brethren, who
discharge the duties Of servants
These retain their worldly garb."
We entered the church. Our guide
resumed his stool. Placed in the
choir, opposite the high altar, our par
ty lad full view of the spectacle
Thirty monks were present. One Off
ciated. All were clad in white robes.
Behind were bare, white walls. The
shaven heads, immobilo forms, pale
compilations, fixed eyes, haggard faces
and bended attitudes of those nine
and twenty recluses, appeared like
corpses clad in shrouds. Neither the
hollow chant, nor deep responses, nor
slow Ave Marias, nor cultural Pater
Nosters, nor wailing organ notes, dis.
PEELED the illusion. Young men were
of the number, and middle-aged and
old, and all alike bore the stamp Of
the dead. They grouped together al
the conclusion and walked past thro
the long passage, but even then they
resembled the shadows of the depart
ed. The ceiling, walls, pilasters
stools, altar-cloths and robes were al
white, and the images of virgin and
child, and the rosaries they wore, and
the obscured windows, narrow chap
els, plain prien-dicus and braided has
socks. The most cheerful of color;
was tortured by deathly silence ant
automatic sounds into dusky gloom
One of the monks raised his heat
while passing and fixed his large, darl
eyes upon the writer. 1t was a fac,
| Al