The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-10-13


go among the tour different Retreats OF thcIas-
si'ni- s. In tlt United rat q. lac Institute Tor
'oviiate- iu llttsh, rgN 4. where all applicants
Tor admission to the order are taken on prota-
Are your rulc- vrrv severe p" | inquired
4 wrAuUcUs Rule.
"Fhcy are So a. stcrc," was the reply. "thnt
the woHder H. tAat any human bcing can We
found to Nu,uut rliN Jurc thr wttll ahd takr
rcrhlpa II tnev were ocvond human en-
duranco viii Tell Won III oi them thyi am
ltFmHttd o.. itcN were written 10y -. w Nl
in 20 q mo, ciu-t. aud u itcrahtc cell, Tor {, rtv
days nuj nisht., under the PARISH Church 81 ~
thulc- iu G.. tell ~. Ihtt". TIC trail
tiuns 81 tho rhGtch. 81 Paul while living ,pun
bread and water aud Sleeping upon the bare
hoor, committcd to writing the .usicre Iuics
that have ever since governed his oid.r. These
rules enter into the minu'e ct details. and m
brace the govern ucni OF each meune' or tlie
congregation. The dress required by he rule
h. this" pointing to hs own, " and II Is worn
alike toy ptiv-t AMI iavmcn, respective OF ohce
We wear II at all seasons Of the year when in
the house. When we 20 out ~ the house u a.
tend to any Of tur duties uriests. We wear the
ordinary dress OF a Catholic priest in this coun-
try, to which We add in winter short. heavy
round CLOAK on which is embroiie cred the same
device or badge which YOU see on the left breast
Of all our habits. We also wear shoes and a
broad brinimed hat when we 30 abroad,
" In addition to the usual lasts observed In the
Catholic Church VIC fast also on Wednesday.
Friday aud saturday. All Catholics abstain
DAY as a fast IA well as day Of abstinence.
MIDNIGHT woRsnir.
" our devotional exercises begin at midnight.
At that hour every Passiunist rises from his
hard couch and repairs to the chapel. There
before the altar we chant the divine ofiice, a
| ceremony which occupies hour and hall.
After tins we retire to rest, but rise again at SIX
aud repair once more 10 the chapel Tor dcNo-
tons, followed toy masses. The morning hours
| are devoted 10y the priests and students TO
spiritual exercises ana study ana Dy the Jay
| brothers To material Offices Our habits, cloaks.
shoes. sandals, every thing we wear or use, Is
| the threshold which divides our cl listers from
| the reception room Il the Retreat So without
| housekeeping Is done 10y men, the lay brothers,
| while the priests and students devote All the
| aple pres, ribed recreation to study.
\ bell sounded at this moment. and knew
that it was the Angelus, for It was now noon.
| aud soon the intouire OF the Ave Maria by
| tue inmates OF the Retreat reached US from the
| distant chapel below.
| fast. said Father Nius, IA the sounds died
away. ave dine at noon. and will oe pleased
| So saving he led the way down several flights
Of stairs. and through another long corridor >
| the rCfectufy. Around the Tour sides OF the
room were placed four long tables, behind which
sat about thirty men OF all ages. all Of whom
were arrayed In the Passionist habit
DINNER IS THE MONASTERY
They had been served with soup. and ate in
| silence. We took the seats which had been re-
| served for Us. and | found the soup, that was
presently brought To us delicious; The next
course, OF roast beef and vegetables. gave as
convincing proof a. the first, bat the barefoot
irisrs knew how TO esok. We were served by
and bringing in the dishe, on large round
wI2dsn s rsys MN ,bs ,.d BANGLE IN on, '
~ we ate a lis6i acid wine Wa Sss served
Ia glass tumblers TO each one. Soon after the
rector entered, me OF the young men. q STU
| dent. l supposed, ascendcd reading desk 1t
| one corner Of the room aud began To read from
| book RELIGIOUS discourse or lesson. Nhei
| dinner Was about hall through his place w.
| taken ty another student. who continued th'
reading of the lesson until tie m al was over
! flights Of stairs. passed into tho commute
room. one end of which was hung with a Grim
| son curtain The fnsstoni-ts fell On their knees
. | and At the same moment the curtain parted
= and falling tack each way, revealed the int rio
. u the church, or rather the arch ceiling Of II
. for We were 10 on apartment the iloor Of whicl
| was ona levclwth the piunacles Of the high alta
r ciasped before their breasts and looking intent
| upward or STRAIGHT rward int the church
: | they utoned in Latin their return ~ thanks,
| A. Father Ntlus afterward explained "a he col.
| duc.ed me
! BACK TO MS CELL.
There we had long, and to me deeply In
, tercsttng. conversation on the growth OF the re
lgous orders OF the Roman Catholic Church II
.b he TN in %n taS SUR rising incren1G
: | other orders thai nave come 80 America. draw
= | their students aud novice not from our iurciE
= | population alone, lux also from native h0r
! | Americans Il several gen, rstiDns' residence b
this country. many OF whom are convert.
ather Nilus said IN connection with tnis sno
The extraordinary success Of the Passion. s,
| IN this country Is indeed to hc wondered az, f.
1 the American mind, win IT. ideas Of liberty au
/ independence, would seem To he total, III
Z | suited Tor the religion. NE where tie vow a
obedience requires such complete submis-to
( OF the individual VAL. This aDpaTeut phenomt
: non may be expllin-d by rejecting tn only q
K | late have Americans mad "A proper coipprcner
= | sion OF the real character Of religious oruen
: They are practically the most perfect system q
r. o democratic government on earth. Inc su
=, perufs are elected by tue members II the ordc
: and only for aspecihed time. During that tim
, their authority Is qualified by "a code OF rcgul,
| WhfFh D.