The New York herald., 1873-09-26
RELIGIOUS vows.

vice at the Convent OF Mercy, In East
Houston Street.
At an early hour yesterday morning the unfash
ionable precincts OF East Houston street might be
seen filed with some OF the best OF New York..
favored daughters, who were hurrying to the lovely
chapel OF the Convent OF Mercy, there to witness
the solemn profession Of Miss Anna Aufenanger
who is known in religion as Sister Mary AntonIa.
As the guests entered the massive portals of st.
Catnerine's Convent they presented their cards
OF invitation to the lady In waiting, and
were Immediately ushered into the chapel,
where they were greeted with myriad
OF glowing lights and the perfume OF
sweet flowers which filed the air with the
enough for expectation to anticipate what might
follow, the guests were greeted by the grand
tones OF the choir, singing joyously 80 Gloriosa
virginum." and simultaneously with the first
strains of the music the procession entered the
chapel; first the postulants then the novices fol-
lowed by the proiessed nuns, the Superioress lead.
ing by the hand the candidate for the black veil.
These having retired to their respective places in
the chapel, the young novice remaining kneeling
near the altar. the reverend clergymen then en-
tered the sanctuary, and the celebrant kneeling
the foot Of the altar intoned the "venl Creator
Spirltus." The choir took up and continued the
refrain TO it's close. all the rehgious remaining
brant ascended the steps OF the altar and blessed
the ven, saving, "Our help is In the name OF the
heaven ana earth, i these, WITH other he rH Vers'
icles, responses and prayers, concluded the
Ssssng esseo the veil wnen the
with the same formula, "Our help is in the name
Of the Lord;' after which he recited the
Gospel Of the ceremony-Matthew xvi, 24-2S-
wherein Christ told His disciples that taey VINO
would come after Him should deny themselves
take up their cross and follow Him.
m n htnn tnrflc fn11A Auvndt thn
exhorting this young soul to persevere in the path
she had chosen alter two and a half years of ma
sity OF seli-denial and sefrenunciation, If She
would indeed he like the meek and lowly Jesus
VINO went about doing naught but good With re.
peated words OF encouragement the sermon closed
where the celeprant asked, "My child, what is your
demandr' The novice replied, "Reverend iather,
holy profession" Tae ~ ceiebrant then Il asked d
her II she considered herself sufficiently in
structed In what regards the vows of religion and
the obligations contracted by the holy profession !;
and she replied, "Yes, reverend father, by the
grace OF God" The celebrant then prayed God to
grant her perseverance, in her holy resolution and
then turning TO the altar he began the celebration
OF the mass OF the Hsly Ghost, praying especially
for the novice who was about to consummate her
vows. Alter the ceebrant had communicated, the
Superioress SAID aloud, "Oner to Goa the sacrifice
o pay 1
III Will pay my VOWS to the Lord In the sight or all
His people, in the courts Of the house Of the Lord"
brant uttered the words, "LOrd, l am not worthy
that Thou shoudst enter under my root" and ap-
preached the novice with the adorable sacrament,
which he held before her eyes while she pronounced
the vow that now binds her indssolubly to the
vice OF God In ministerlng to the poor, sick
and ignorant; and she then made the sign
of the cross after her signature, which
she had previously appended to her written vows,
om the God Sss S"s
thee may He Himself perfect: and, rising from
her knees, she retired q step and again knet, dur
& Advanced to the altar and again inet s down SS
during the continuance OF other prayers, when she
ra S ana nd sas i'm Thou mast held my rgntt
glory Thou hast received me-" The religious re-
piled, "For what have IN Heaven, and besides
icies followed, and then the choir sang, Come,
spouse of Christ" while the knelt to receive
the black yeil, "the emblem OF modesty and
upon my forehead that i should admit no other
lover but Thee" the choir singing, meantime,
blessed ring was then placed upon the third finger
OF her left hand with the words, ~ espouse thee
to Jesus sns Christ the Son Of Ut the Father
Receive, therefore, this ring, the seal OF
faith and Oh OF the Holy Ghost, that thou mayest
serve Him faithfully thou shalt be crowned forever"
The newly proiessed nun then retired from the
altar rectng appropriate verslcles and prostrated
herself, while the choir sang the "Te Deum." The
hymn being finished the celebrant again prayed
the Lord to look with mercy upon this young
virgin, and them bade her arise. The assistant
raised her. conducted her to the Superoress, where
she knelt for the blessing this dear lady gives so
tendery to ali her daughters IN Christ, received the
kiss OF peace and conveyed 1t to her companions,
the choir singing "Behold how good and how pleas
ant 1t Is Tor brethren to dwell together III unity.'
The psalm ended, the religious retired In the same
REV. Fathers Mclean, McDowall, Kearney, Kes-
seller and Kean were present. Rev. Father
Eugene, Of the Franciscans, Of1lciated and Rev.
Father 0'Callaghan, ofCork, graced the assemblage
with his presence.