The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-04
TAKING THE VEIL.


Interesting Religious Ceremony mt the Com
vent Of Mercy, East Houston street.
At nine O'Clock yesterday morning Miss Mary
Kane IN religion Sister Mary Philip made her "sol
emn profession" Of the VOWS that now bind her for
all time as well as eternity to the service OF
her Maker. HIS Grace Archbishop McCloskey, of
New YORK, oniclated assisted by Rev. Fathers
Kearney, Kane, Mclean, McNamee and McNlerney.
The gem OF O chapel In which the Sisters OF Mercy
perform their daily dev0tlOns was brilliantly ilumi
mated for this occasion, numerous gas jets, inter-
spersed with wax candles, making the several affairs
one dazzling ray of beauty, while the rarest flowers
OF potn natural and artificial hue lent their perfume
and glowing tnts to the brightness OF the scene.
BY half. past nine O'Clock the chapel was comfort
ably filed with the relatives and friends OF The
young novice, anxiOusly awaiting the entrance OF
the clergy and relgieuses. First came dark robed
man bearing the standard that always precedes
Catholic procession OF any Kind the crucinx, fol-
lowed by the pestulants, novices and protested
nuns all OF the latter being clothed In their long,
trailing robes Of black, covered with the white
"cnoir mantlen the reverend Super1oress, leading
the candidate for profession by the right hand, the
venerable Archbishop and the above named clergy
beln the last 10 enter the heavenly inspiring pre-
cIpcts OF the sanctuary. The novice kneeling alone
facing the altar the reverend Archbishop addressed
her upon the Importance Of the step she was about
10 take impresslng upon all his hearers the perec.
ton required OF her who, after mature deberation
prefers to become the spouse OF Christ" and,
through her superi0rs, render obedience 70 His Will
alone. Could many OF the devotees OF fashion
course upon the beauty OF practising, IN all
their perfection, the three VOWS that bind the
rettgeUseS to her God some Of them must nave deter
mined to follow the example OF the bright young
creature who yesterday welded her Lord. At the
close OF the Arcnbshop's remarks Rev. J. Kearney
began the celebration OF mass at the conservation
the most reverend prelate TO the altar and
taking the c0nsecrated Host in MS hands, ap.
preached the kneelnR candidate, who, In an audi
sion," with her eyes fixed upon the sacred emblem
wnicn tue Archbishop afterwards administered 10
her In the form OF holy communion. All present
appeared deeply affected with the profound awe so
solemn an act usually inspires; but the nnal act
cannot be contaminated until the mass Is finished
her assistant led the lady TO the ioot OF
the altar where, kneeiing before the Archbishop,
he placed upon her head the black veil and on her lett
hand the ring wnicn mad been previously blessed,
Christ" in such Joyous notes as the angels might
have sung az the birth OF another Immortal soul.
Inc newy-pr0Iessed now pr0strated herseH before
the altar while the choir, IN heartthrllng ecnocs,
| cnanted the 'Ie Deum," while the ear-dimm ie
| eyes OF the entire assembly attested the emotion
they could not restrain at beholding the semolance
OF death presented IN the silent form OF her WI nau
| espoused none other than the son OF COD. me .ae
Deumn ended, the celebrant again blessed tue Pfvs-
trate ngure and the assistant approacns, 'v ns r
risen sister cthe reverend Superoress Wme,e
she again knet Tor an embrace tnat was kn vrnni
An JUNCTION that would convince the nos. Snops' ~
Of the fervent affection that Is the only truo uv 80
Christian unity. Rising from her last knee'ans pvs
| ture inc Young sister sauted In turn eacn memeea
OF the community, when tney reIrea.e "J IN ~, ~"
chapel 10 the same order ~ uDon enterin2' ia the