The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-25
ST. GATHERINGS CONVENT OF
MERCY.

Ceremony OF Solemn Profession at st.
GATHERINGS Convent OF Mercy, East
HOuStOn Street.
Although the pentential season Of Lent began
last week and all devout Chrsta ms are supposed
to be spiritually clothed In sackclOth and ashes
and to have bid adieu to the gay scenes Of the
fashionable world until the dawn of the glorious
Easter, and although the Catholic Church forbids
marrying and giving IN marriage during this sea-
son OF prescribed penitence, devoted daughter OF
this Church yesterday celebrated her nuptias with
'Him whom the angels serve, whose beauty the
sun and moon ADMIRE" At the appointed hour
the convent doors were opened to admit the rela-
tives and friends Of Miss Bridget Dreamer (who Is
known In religion as Sister Mary Evangesta).
This lady, so well known as the sister Of Mr.. Thomas
}. Dreamer in the world OF society, has been
Tor the past two years novice in
the Order OF the ''Sisters OF Our Lady
OF Mercy" in their convent, No. IS East Houston
street. That those two years have been probably
and acceptaby spent in doing the will of God as
evinced by her superi0rs the ceremony OF yester-
day fully attested. Clothed In their dark robes OF
religion, and each wearing on her shoulders the
spotless choir mantle, the religious entered the
chapel two by two, the Lady Superioress coming
last, conducting by the hand the SISTER who was
to receive the black vei and, leaving her kneeling
to their respective places in the chapel, while the
venerable Archbishop McCloskey, vested in cope
and mitre and attended by his chapiains, ap-
preached the foot Of the altar. The hymn "veni
Creator Splrltus" being finished and the proper
t ana ,a ns gwen the
after which the Gospel according to st. Matthew,
XVII, 242s inclusive, was read and the Archbishop In
his usual unctuOus manner addressed the assembly,
but particularly exhOrted the young lady who was
about to irrevOcaby take up her crossu and fol-
follow closely IN the footsteps OF that Lord who
was and Is all charity. He said that the life OF the
Sister of Mercy must be continual sacrifice Of
self; and greater charity than this there Is none;
that gives an entire liie with all it's thoughts,
hopes, feelings and aspirations, to the service OF
others; for the poor are always in our midst the
afflicted ever need consolation, the rich require
sympathy and the ignorant cry aloud lot instruc-
ton. In calling the religious to this emulation Of
Counsellor and tenderest Friend that the afflicted
knew gave such abundance OF grace to His follow
these blessings to others, and In the vow which
she would shortly pronounce the candidate would
especially bind herself to the practice Of the most
perfect char1ty-a complete subsection Of her en-
tire self to the service OF God.
At the conclusion OF his exhortation the Arch
bishop interrogated the novice as TO her desire,
and she replied, my lord, most humbly beg to
be received to the holy profession" The ceiebrant
then inquired as to her knowledge OF the obliga-
tons she assumed, and, the responses being salts
factory he laid aside the cope and mitre aud began
the celebration OF the Mass OF the holy Ghost,
praying especially FOR the novice who desired to
make her profession. After the ceebrant's COM
munion the Superi0ress said aloud :-"Oner to God
the sacrifice OF praise" the religious replied "And
pay thy vows to the Most High; ~ the novice re-
sponded, 81 will pay my vows to the Lord In the
sight o all HIS people, In the courts OF the house OF
the Lord" After the COntteOr had been said the
Archbishop approached the novice and held the
adorable sacrament before her eyes while she pro-
nounced her vows, and In the presence OF all those
assembled attached her signature thereto; the
Archbishop then gave her the holy communion,
saying, "What GOD mas commenced IN thee may He
Himself perfect" Special prayers and antiphons
swering, "For Thee my flesh and my heart hath
tainted away; Thou art the God OF my heart and the
God that Is my portion forever.u The religious
rephed-"For what have In heaven and besides
Thee, what do desire upon earth r' and the choir
sang the antiphon Come spouse of Christ,
ceive the crown which the Lord hath prepared for
thee forever" The newly prolessed then re-
peated thrice, uphold me according to Thy Word
and shall live, and let me not be confounded in
my expectation" Then kneeling down she re-
celved the black veil at the hands OF the Arch
bishop, he saying "Receive the holy veil, the EN-
blem OF chastity and mOdesty,u to which she
replied, he mas placed His seal upon my forehead
that should admit no other lover put him," when
the choir sang out In joyous strain "Come, my be-
loved, come to be esp0used-the winter Is past,
the voice Of the truth Is heard and the towering
vines yield their sweet perlume.u
The Archbishop then placed the ring upon the
tnlrd nnger OF ner left hand, saying, II espOuse
thee TO Jesus Christ, the Son OF the Most High,
who shall preserve thee invioate. Receive, there
fore, this ring, the seal OF faith and Of the Holy
Ghost, that thou mayest be called the spouse OF
God, And thou shalt serve Him faithfully thou