The New York herald., 1872-11-10
SISTERS OF OUR LADY OF MERCY.
Imposing Ceremony at the Convent Of Mercy in
East Houston street-Two Young Ladies
Receive the White Veil and Two
Others Receive the Black Veil
and the Blessed Ring

OLncrS hecelVe the BLACK ven
and the Blessed Ring.
The fortunate possessor Of the tiny card bearing
the inscription ceremony OF Reception and Pro-
fesslon at the Convent OF Mercy, nine A. NJ Novem-
ber o. might well prize the rare privilege this
accorded, for it Is seldom indeed that the devout
mind ia permitted to contemplate IN all its solemn
grandeur the ceremonial OF religious reception
and profession at one and the same time. Long
before the bright rays Of the morning sun had
penetrated the dim recesses Of the little chapel
where the devout Sisters OF Mercy perform their
daily orsons the sacristan and her assistants were
busily engaged weaving bright garlands of richly
colored Autumn leaves with which to deck the
affairs, aud disposing rare Mowers here and there
with brilliant effect amid the lighted wax tapers
and shining gas jets.
At the appointed hour the procession wended its
way into the chapel In the following order:-Cross
bearer, postulants, novices, prolessed nuns, and
lastly the Superioress, leading by the hand Miss
McGean and Miss Graham, the aspirants for the
white veil. As is the custom, these two young
ladies were attired In white silk dresses long
illusion wells floating over the deep trains and
fastened on the head with wreaths OF orange BIOS
SONS, in all respects clad as the bride whom the
man OF the world leads to the hymeneal altar.
liglous took their places and the young ladies
knelt in the middle Of the chapel. The hymn being
finished the Rev. Father STAIRS, vested in the stole
and cope, then blessed the postuants' candles, and
the pOstulants advancing, knelt while he placed
the lighted candle in each ones hand; then, re-
turning to their places In the middle Of the chapel
they remained sitting while Father STAIRS ad-
dressed them briefly but earnestly, upon the step
they were about to take. He congratulated them
upon their choice OF the religious state,
and their consequent freedom from the rigid
exactions and customs Of fashionable society,
exhorting them to perseverance. He then alluded
to the graver and irrevocable step about to be
taken by their companions, the two novices who
had already passed the term Of probation To these
last he declared that there yet time to retrace
their steps up to the last moment, but having of
their own free will come thus far they could OF that
same will determine whether or not the expert
| ence OF two years and half should be consum-
mated by the that bind the religious eternally
to the service Of God. Bidding them be faithful,
| after making these solemn vows, he prom
ised them the enjoyment Of those blessings in
store for all faithful souls
The p6sfuiants then knelt before the altar, while
| the reverend Father made the prescribed inquiries
| and having received satisfactory responses, the
| postulants were led from the chapel The cele-
brant Immediately blessed the habits the sacristan
carried them away, and the celebrant continued
the service by blessing the wells, the choir mean
a,oa time singing appropriate HYMNS; As the new
| "Who is she that cometh up from the desert, fow-
ing with delights, leaning upon her belovedf' and
ceived the cincture the veil and the white cloak the
Superoress and her assistant adjusting each article
h las the co @ M
speak my words to the King" The choir re.
| loved whom ] have believed, and towards whom
my heart incineth." The novices replying-'T
have chosen to be an abject in the house Of my
they remained In silent prayer while the choir sang
the ''ven creator spritus", at the close OF the
| hymn the Vicar General and his assistants con-
tinued the appropriate prayers and responses to
the end, the celebrant sprinked the novlces with
rise and approaching the Superi0ress for her bless
ing they retired to their seats.
scene the Vicar General kneIt before the altar and
intoned the "veni Creators" the choir took up
and continued the refrain to its close, while the
celebrant blessed the black wells and rings The
gospel of the ceremony was read and the novices
lnterrogated by the Vicar General, they giving the
answers IN clear, firm tone that, by the grace Of
God they hoped to persevere.
Here the celebration OF the solemn mass of the
Holy Ghost was begun and continued as far as the
| celebraGts communion, when the Superioress
said, "0ner to God the sacrifice OF praise" and
the reltgteMse answered kneelng, "And pay thy
will pay my vows to the Lord in the sight or all His
| people, In the courts OF the house OF the Lord"
blessed sacrament in his thumb ana finger and
held 1t before the eyes of the novice, while sne
read her vows in a distinct voice. promising to
service of the poor, sick and ignorant, and TO
persevere until deathr in the exercise of these
deeds. She then signed the "act of profession"
and received the blessed sacrament, her companion
going through the same formula, and the mass
then concluded in the usual manner. The Vicar
| General then proceeded with the prayers, the
newly professed advanced and knet at the altar
until the prayers were finished, when they arose
and said. "Th0u hast held me by my right hand,
and by thy will Thou hast conducted me, and with
glory Thou hast received me-: For what have in
heaven and besides Thee wnat do
s when the S'u choir ' sang %co1e spouse els''ee q
Christ, receive the crown which the Lord hath
prepared for thee forever.n The newly professed
Thy word and l shall live, and let me not be con
founded in my expectation" Then kneeling. the
black veil was placed upon the head OF each newly
professed, who then arose, saying, "He has placed
His seal upon my forehead that should admit nj
other lover but Him." The choir then replied il
thrilling strains, "Come. my beloved, come to b
espoused-the winter is past, the voice OF the tur
tie is heard, and the towering vines yield thei
sweet perfume" The newly proessed again knelt
the third finger OF the hand. with the words
81 espouse thee to Jesus Christ the sor
nG @ seal
faith and of the Holy Ghost, that thou mayest be
called the spouse Of God. And If thou shalt svere
Him faithfully thou shalt be crowned forever In
the name Of the Father, and OF the Son and OF the
Holy Ghost, Amen" The newly professed then
ana wbase Seany tho 70 s SnS e
admire" Then the Vicar General pronounced the
special blessing, the newly professed replied In
middle OF the chapel, while the choir sang the 'Te
Deum;" the Vicar General then finished the pray
ers sprnkled the newly professed with holy
Superloress for her blessing, and then conveyed the
kiss OF peace, in company with the new novices tC
the assembled religeuse. The procession left the
chapel in the same order as it entered. Miss
OReilly Sister M. Austin) and Miss Ferrier (Sistel
M Regis were the recipients OF this last high honor
In fhn hnn nf Ind xphi1 fhn nytn Mtgs