New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-03-30
TAKING THE VEIL.
Three Southern Bellies Take tine Wnlte
Veil in Reme-A Tour that Ended IN
Convent.
Rome Letter to the New York SUM-

Veil in Rsme-A Tour that Ended in a
Convent.
Rome Letter to the New York Sun.
have lust learned that three American
ladies were received on the nineteenth in
slant at the Convent of the Presentation.
In conveutual phraseology receiving means
taking the white veil. During their life in
the world these ladies were Miss Clara De.
vine, a native of Savannah, Georgia, and
Miss Alice Furlong and Miss Mary Fenelon,
both of New Orleans. For nearly two years
these young women were associated at the
schools of the French Sisters of the Sacred
Heart, on Pincian Hill. In these famous
schools ladies representing almost every
civilized nation congregate, and our own
republic has several of her worthy daugh-
tiers imbibing culture and grace from THESE
fountains of learning and virtue.
Two of the newly received sisters, the
Misses Deyine and FenelOn, were wrapt IN
the enjoyment of a continental tour when
they paid d casual visit to the Convent OF
the Sacred Heart. 1t was merely one OF
the lions which absorbed their interest
while in the City of the Seven Hills. The
visit made, the light-hearted American girls
returned to their hotel TO prepare tor the
opera at the Argentine and plan the pro
gramme OF the morrow. During their Visit
to the French Sisters Misses Devine and
Fenelon promised to call some other day,
and at an early hour, in order 10 see the
schools in working order end be introduced
to several Of their countrywomen VINO
were being educated there. 1t was thls
second visit that probably shaped the ues'
tiny of the Young and buOyant tourists.
They were captivated by the excellent dis
cjpline of the institution, by the manners OF
the pupils and the benevolence OF the nuns
in charge The American girls thonce1orth
called often at the Convent OF the Sacred
Heart Miss Devine was accompanied by
her father, and Miss Fenelon by her brother
during their European travel, and these
gentlemen while preparing to leave Rome
we're urgently pressed by the daughter and
sister to consent to their becoming pupils
Of the French Sisters for at least the period
of six months. MIR. Deyine calmly sue
cumbed to his daughters entreatles, but
Mr. FenelOn, who is of the Presbyterian
Church, as strongly protested against his
sisters wish. Mr.. FenelOn's father and
brothers are Presbyterians, his mother and
| sisters Roman Catholics. Through Mr..
Devine's persuasion Miss Fenelon's brother
somewhat reluctantly consented TO nego-
tate With the French nuns for his sisters
six months tuition and board at their con-
vent These six months were extended to
| a year, when, about the anniversary OF their
| entrance into the schools of the Fronch
| nuns, a scene was presented IN the convent
| of the Presentation which proved that
| three Young American ladies had closed
| their accounts with the wOrld-that Clara
| Dev1ne, Alice Furlong and Mary FenelOn
| had devoted their young lives to the cold,
| solemn clOiSter
In describing the reception of the pOstu-
lants Roman paper says: "1he echoes OF
sacred music might still be supposed to
| linger around the precincts OF the little
| conventional sanctuary, for on the fOregO-
| ing Sunday sweet voices were chanting the
| appropriate HYMNS on the occasion of the
| profession of five other foreign ladies, who,
| on that suspicious day, sacred to the name
| of Jesus, took the heroic VOWS of perpetual
poverty, chastity and ODE iieIca pronounced
| by Him TO the better part" The nun pro-
| fessed irrevocably dedicates herself to
| God in the religious life. The nun
received but enters on a probationary
term of two years, at the expiration of
| which she either assumes the black veil,
should she feel assured of her vocation,
or withdraws again into the world to
| serve God in that state which best may
please Him The convent bell had just
| tolled the '.Angelus," which babe the small
! congregation PROSTATE themselves in prayer
TO utter the response Of the Blessed Virgin
| to the angelic salutation and to beseech of
| her motherly love TO guard and pray for
| them ''now and at the hour Of their DEATH"
when a procession formed by little girls,
| bearing at its head a rich and massive cru
| citix, began TO wend its way from the re-
| ceptlon room to the chapel. The brilliant
hues of the little ones dresses of blue and
white. over which flowed long white veil
crowned by Wreaths OF flowers, contIasted
not unpleasantly with the grave and som
Der CARDS of the Sisters preceding the
pOstulants, whose rich apparel far Outshone
even the fashion, gayety aud magniticence
of ballroom Warehouses. They passed to the
foot of the altar, and knelt while the ap-
prOpriate prayers were said by the Bishop,
Monsignor Eilippi Throughout the i'm
posing ceremony the choir, led by orr
illustriOus Coppaloni, sang appropriate
pieces. After the necessary rites had been
performed, the p6stulants withdrew from
the chapel, the choir chanting - In Exitu
Israel de Egypt" during their absence. In
a few minutes they returned, Invested Of
the gay dresses III which they first ap-
peared, being now robed in black gowns of
coarse serge, and wearing white linen wells
/ The Reverend Mother and one Of the
Sisters bore the cinctures, beads and
crosses with which the Bishop was
to invest them, and for which they
.iOyfully sacrificed the bracelets, chains
and ornaments OF precious metals
which had graced their persons on
the first entrance To the usual question
put to each by the Bishop, what seek you,
my daughter 2" both answered that they
desired to enter the life of the cloister.
The Bishop, then turning TO the reverend
mother, asked her whether she had made
the usual inquiries, and whether she was
satisfied with the postulants, and she re
spending in the affirmative, he proceeded
TO invest both with the insignia of their re-
ligious reception, and, covering their heads
with the white wells, he prayed that that
might be an outward emblem of the inward
purity of the lives they had chosen. The
choir then began joyful anthem.
Many American ladies and gentlemen
were present at these ceremonies, and
among them few personal acquaintance
of the ne1ulu renniued sisfnrs