The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-03-20
RELIGIOUS RECEPTION AND PROFESSION
Interesting Ceremony at St. Peters Church

The solemn and impressive ceremony of
taking the veil and receiving the cross, wa,
performed for the FIRST time at st. Peter's
church, Rutland, on Monday, March 10,
the feast Of s.. Joseph.
Tho pos,ui,nt, were Miss Mary Anna
Sheridan Of %, land, Miss Mary Grace
| O'Connell OF New York, and Miss Lizzie
Teresa Dixon of Brooklyn. Novices,
Sister M, 'than,sius, Sister NJ. An
toinette ana Sister Miriam. The
Off ciatiug clergyman was Rt. Rev.
Bishop DtGoesbriand, assisted by Vicar
General Lynch, Rev. Charles Boy
Ian, pastor, at d Rev. Fathers Mclaughlin,
O'Dwyer, Lane, O'Reilly, Cunningham,
Gsffney, O'Carroll, Sullivan, and Gelot of
Vermont, Mcdonnell of Whitehall, Gun
ningham of Albany, and Goodwin of
Maine.
The church, which is the grandest in the
state, was crowded 10 excess, the specta-
tors being visibly affected by the touching
scene. The altar was beautifully decorat-
ed with natural flowers, and lighted tapers.
The services commenced about $50 p. m.
The organ pealed forth sweet lay to St.
Joseph, whilst the sacred brides slowly
paced up the aIsles preceded by young
lady carrying floral cross, who was i'm
medistely followed by two little girls bear
ing a silver basket containing profession
crosses, also four little girls bearing baskets
with the black habits and veils. The pos
tulants were attired in white satn. A
wreath of orange blossoms adorned the
heads and fastened the bridal wells in place.
The CROSS and basket bearers were attired
in white Swiss garnished with white bloss-
oms. Each novice and postulant was &C.
companied by two bridesmaids, who wore
white Swiss trimmed with white blossoms,
with veil and buds for hair ornament. While
the young ladies knelt on the Prize Deus.
placed outside the rail of the altar, the
Ri. Rev. Bishop addressed them with q
very solemn and beautiful discourse.
THE BISHOPS ADDRESS.
Bishop De Goesbrand explained that
there were two ceremonies TO be perform
ed; one the taking the habit, and the other
profession. BY profession, people oblige
themselves to serve God by vow. A vow
is mo e than simple promise; IL is more
than an oath. BY it one binds himself to
God himself, and it he breaks his promise
he is guilty Of sin. Vows we're known to
the old law. The nature of the vow is
three-told. A person vows chastity, pow
city and obedience. You ask how can
man make such promise to Godr Ia the
Gospels God gives commands, promises
| and counsels, such as ''sell all that thou
hast and give il 10 the poor" Now oil
men are not obliged to cell sll their posses
sions. A vow is promise TO do what one
was not otherwise bound to perform. 1t
was not known before the birth Of Christ,
Immediately after his death bands
parts of the world devoted them
of such lives is found in the example of
Jesus Christ. Men and women VINO are
very wealthy, looking at the lite of the
poor Fisherman say it is well for the love of
God to be poor in this worlds goods; and
| seeing how tue Son of God submitted lin
| selt to Joseph and Mary they say that 1t 10
| blessed to walk in humble obedience. This
| ia the origin of these vows. Can you i'm
agine anything more perfect? l can not.
these people Can give nothing away be-
| cause they have nothing. They do not
own even the poor dresses they wear. Can
there be anything 80 glorious as obeyiDg
| the law of GJd2 Blessed are the clean iu
neart for they sball inherit the kingdom of
God. Many aeK what is the use of follow
ing the examples of those foolish monks
aud nups2 Those same monks have at
Zines held all Tue learning of the world aud
nave kept 1t from 'apsing into barbarism.
Tne whole Ca n &c world, and / dare say
| tue Protestant .1ild, admires the sister OF
charity. They have been fearlessly doing
| good and now on cur own continent, either
In New F4nndlaud or Nova Scotia
a family of them are caring for a
hospital of lepers. Did you ever
hear of sister of charity
refusing to care for the sickP God gives
them the spirit and grace for the work,
and this ceremony 10 to draw down the
grace of God ON these three young ladies.
Their aids for this work are the spirit of
| God, the sacraments of the Roman Catho-
tic church, and Christ. 1t is sometimes
| said that persons are thrown into a con-
vent againt their wills. say to you that
the church has declared accommodation
against any man who shall attempt to thrust
| a person into convent against his will or
who shall cast them out when they wish
| go. When any one wishes to become o
member of convent the Superior and the
Bishop ask her if she does it freely. They
then put on the habit, which has now been
blessed on the altar. From the putting on
of the habit they become novitiates and
follow the rules OF The convent.
The novitiato in this district lasts
'wo years. The vow which the postu-
lsnis were to take was then read lily
duty is to pray that the blessing OF God
may follow these young ladies. They are
not strangers to you. They will be the
mothers of the poor, suffering orphan chill
iren of Vermont. You, my sisters al
dressing the postulants come here not with
sorrow but with JOY. The world does not
understand what you are to do because
It does not know Christ Thank God the
Catholic church knows him. Make your
VOW with trust in God. He will not de
ceive you. He said to his apostles thai
their life was life of trial in this world
There is no more happy life than that Of
the one who forsakes father and mother tC
follow Christ, for he shall have an hundred
fold and inherit eternal life.
After answering the questions put then
by the Bishop, the habits and wells wer'
blessed, aud the youthful brides babe adie,
to the pomp and vanitles of the world
| Thew marchad down the aiala in the aami