Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-04-03

The visit made, the light hearted American
girls returned to their hotel to prepare
for the opera At the Argentine, and plan a
programme for the morrow. During their
visit to the French Sisters Misses Devine
and Fenelon promised to call some other
day and at an earlier hour, in order to
see the school in working order and be
introduced to several of their country
women who were being educated there.
1t was this second visit that probably
shaped the destiny Of the young and buoy
ant tourists. They were eaptivated by
the excellent discipline Of the institution,
by the mannsrs Of the pupils, and tho
benovolence Of the nuns in charge. Tho
American girls thenceforth called often
at the Convent Of the Sacred Hsart. Miss
Divine was accompanied by her father
and Miss Fenslon by her brother, during
their European travel, and these gentle.
men while preparing to leave Rome were
urgently pressed BY the daughter and
sister to consent to their becoming pupils
Of the French Sisters for ut least the pe-
riod of six months. Mr.. Devine calmly
succumbed to his daughters entreaties !;
but Mr.. Fenelon, who is of tho Presby.
terian Church, a. strongly protested
against bis sisters wish. Mr. Fenelon's
father and brothers are Presbyterians, bis
mother and sisters Roman Catholics.
Through Mr.. Devine's psrsuasions Miss
Fenelon's brother reluctantly consented to
negotiate with tho French nuns for his
sisters six months tuition and board at
their Convent. These six months were
extended to year, wh en- about the ami.
versary Of their entrance into the schools
of the French nuns 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 Devine, Alice Furlong, and
Mary Fenelon had devoted their young
lives to the cold solemn Cloister.
In describing the reception of the pos.
tulants a Roman paper says: "'rhe
echoes Of sacred music might still be
supposed to linger around tho precincts
of the little conventual sanctuary, for on
the foregoing Sunday sweet voices we're
chanting tho appropriate hymns on tho
occasion Of the profession Of five other
foreign ladies', who on that auspicious day
sacred to tho name Of Jesus, took the
heroic VOWS of pepetual poverty, chastity
and obedience: pronounced ty him to be
the 'better part The nun protessed irro.
vooably deoicates herself to God. The
nun received but enters on q pro-
baticnary 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 bade
the email congregation prostratc them.
selves in prayer, to utter the response Of
tho blessed virgin to the angelic salutation
and to teseech Of her motherly love to
guard and pray for them now and at
the hour Of DEATH when q procession
formed of little girls bearing At its head q
rich and massive crucidx began to wend
its way from the reception room to tie
chapel. The brilliant hues of the littlo
ones dresses of blue and white, over
which flowed long white veil, crowded
by wreaths Of flowers, contrastej not
unpieasantly with the grave and somber
garbs of the Sisters proceeding the postu-
lants, whose rich apparel far outshone
the fashion, gayety, and magni6ecnc Of
ballroom wardrobes. They passed 10
the foot Of the altar, and knelt while the
appropriate prayers were said by the
Bishop, ,Monsignor Filippi. Throughout the
imposing ceremony th 9 choir, led by our
iiluetrous Coppalona, sang appropriate
pieces. Alter the necessary rites had
been performed, the postulants withdrew
from the chapel, the choir chanting "ln
Exitu de Egypt" during their absence. In
few minutes they returned, divested Of
their gay dresses in which they first
appeared, being now robed in black gowns
Of coarse serge, and wearing white linen
wells. The Reverend mother and one of
the Sisters bore the ciuctu-es, beads and
crosses with which the Bishop was to
invest them, anc for which they joyfully
sacrificed the bracelets, chains, and
ornaments which had craced their persons
on the first entrance. To tho usual ques.
ton put to each by tho Bishop, What
seek you my daughter q both answered
that they desired 70 enter thei life Of the
cloister. Tho Bishop then turning to the
Reverend Mother, asked her whether she
bad made the usual inquiries, and wheth-
er she was satisfied with tho postulants,
and she responding in the Affirmative, he
proceeded to invest both with the insignia
Of their religious 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 that they
had chosen. The choir then began .
joyful anthemw
Muny American ladies and gentleman
were present at those ceremonies anu
among them few personal acquaintance
of the newly received Sisters.