The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-09-21
LETTER FROM vlcKsBURa.

Editor Morning Star:
Although q constant reader of your worthy
journal, I seldom see anything in its columns
concerning our City of Hills. 1t is true, we
have many inequalities to be smoothed over,
hills to be laid low, and valleys to be filled
Dup, both physical and moral but still, il must
not be supposed, because all has not yet been
| accomplished, that we are inactive. There is
among . vital power, which knows no rest 4;
| q power which in time will do much towards
| the removal Of the moral inequalities of this
Hill City: that power is Catholicity. We have
here q church and q congregation of three
Thousand, together with q convent and school
| under the care of the Sisters OF Mercy. Tho
good Sisters have already done much, and
| from their untiring zeal promise much more in
| the future. From very small beginning, un-
der the most adverse circumstances, they have
| accomplished wonders, which can be accounted
for only by the indomitable energy and untir-
ing patience with which they go about the
work to which God has called them. Hitherto
their labors have been too great for the number
of members in the community. Our dear Lord
therefore, on the Feast of the Nativity of His
Blessed Mother, sent them a colaborer in the
person of Miss Della Spangler, of jackson,
Miss, who, on that day, was made the happy
recipient of the White Veil, receiving at the
same time the name of Sister Mary Gepevieve.
The ceremony, which was not only beautiful,
but deeply impressive, was witnessed by a
large number of friends of the young lady and
of the Sisters. The neatly and elegantly ar
ranged decorations of the beautiful little con-
vent chapel were creditable to tho good taste of
the Sisters and gave an additional charm to the
scene.
The Very Rev. +. \. Leray, d. D., assisted
by Rev. Father Vally, of Meridian, Miss, and
Father Bohmert, of Yicksburg, ofiiciated on
the occasion, and from the words Of st Paul,
" Put &c on the LORD" delivered an appropriate
address, setting forth the advantages of a re-
ligous life as contrasted with the dangers of a
life in the world, which was listened to with
marked attention by all present. The beauty
of the ceremony which followed, together
with the profound impression made on the as
sembled friends, when the newly received Sis
ter made her first appearance in the garb of re
lgious, after having laid aside the magnif-
cent bridal costume, in which, during the GER
emony, she had hitherto appeared, must be
witnessed to be fully appreciated.
Now, that the good Sister Genevieye has
chosen the better part laboring with love and
humility in the vineyard of her Lord, what a
pleasing and consoling thought it is for us who
are called to another field oflabor, while trav-
cling through this noisy and ambitious world
of ours amid the continual struggling for its
riches and honors, to see young maiden, the
loved ono of the little homo circle, the pride of
pressing votaries, tho loveliest of earth's fair
daughters, throwing aside the trappincs of
place and pride, and setting out upon the
unfrequented path of humility. To look upop
her throwing aside the pomps and maani6 |
sepGs Of the world. bidding adieu to home, its
inmates and loved associations and seeking
eternal refuge from the world, beneath the
peaceful shades of some lonely cloister or |
convent: to live there far from home, from
friends, from the pleasures that mako life
deaf, to remain there for ever, save when
called upon to administer consolation to some
poor wretched, dying, despairing sinner of
earth. Glorious indeed is it to see q young
maiden bending her steps to earth's homo of
prayer, to know that there 10 one moro pure
soul to look ehecringly upon us, g We travel |
on thro1gh this labyrinth Of trsals end
krorl1,ln~a n r