The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-11-17
Seventeen Hours of Silent Work, Study and Prayer
Each Day, and Only One Msatlsss Meal.

Eacu Oay, "A@o SAAS SAAo AASoSAeoS A1o"A
Special Correspondence Of the N. World.
= Louisville, Oct. 22.-I have just returned
from a short visit to Gethsemane Abbey, q
Trappiet monastery in Nelson County. 1t
I having been announced very generally by
the newspapers that the TIapPists had
purchaeed large tract of land in Pennsyl
vania for the purpose of founding a new
monastery, interest in this Order of monks
and their peculiarly austere mode of life
Ahas been to an extent reawakened; how
H.ver, the announcement must have been
rather premature, for the Abbot, Father
Benedict, had not heard of the plan, and
3be pointed out to me that it could scarcely
&be true without his knowledge, as he is
member Of the general council of his con-
fregation of Grand Trappe. He further
aid that it would be impossible for the
snonastery to be founded, as the Philadel-
phia Times said it would be, by delegations
2kom the monasteries of Sept Fonds, in
France, Mount Mellary in Ireland, and
{Mariastern, in Turkey, for the reason that
while the two latter monasteries belong to
the congregation of Grand Trappe the
first one is of the COD aggregation of Sept
Fonds, and these congregations are inde-
pendent and have different rules. Though
in all the world there are bat thirty six
ITrappist monasteries an twelve Trapistine
'nunneries, there are three independent
Congregations, each presided over by
i Vicar General Abbot, who reports directly
i, to Rome. The Pope has decided, however,
/ to unite the Order. and has directed that
an election be held in Belgium on the 3rd
of September 1879, when one of the Wears
4 General will be chosen as general of the
2Qrder. When the other two presiding
Abbots die no SUCCESSOR VIII be elected, 30
THAT after O while each abbot will report
directly to the General. This separation
Of the Ordor was occasioned by the French
revolution, when an effort was made en-
tirely to suppress the Order, and there is
still, understand, law in France against
the existence or establishment of such
|monasteriee, though it evidently ia not en-
forced, for of the thirty-six monasteries
nearly all are in that fair land of consistent
Inconsistencies.
Before detailing the incidents of my
visit it may be well to give brief sketch
of the history of this remarkable monastic
Order. In 1908 the Benedictine Abbot,
Robert of Moieme, founded the Monastery
of Citeaux, near Dion, France. Fifteen
years later st. Bernard of Cairvaux be-
came q Cistercian monk, and his laburs and
influence for the new Order were so great
that in a century it had more than 1900
abbeys in different parts of Europe. In
honor of this great man the French CHS.
terciaus called themselves Bernardipes.
They were distinguished all over the
Christian world for their severe rule, strict
poverty and absolute simplicity. Among
the Cietercian monasteries was the Abbey
of La Trappe, which under vent the
changes in government incidental to the
other institutions of the Order, so that in
1868 but few traces of the ancient religious
obeervances were left. In that year the
celebrated Armand Jean le Bouthiller de
Rance became the Abbot of La Trappe,
having been ordained by the celebrated
Oliver Plunkett, Archbishop of Armagh,
and at once set ethimselfaboutinstitu such
thorough reforms that the monks of La
Trsppe were soon as austere in their mode of
life as had been any of their monastic prede
cessors, AID during the two centuries and
q quarter that have passed since thai re-
formation the Trappist monks have pre-
served through all their peregrinations the
severe characteristics of the original Cis-
tercians. Rance was ordained a priest
twelve years before he became TIE Abbot
of La Trappe, but during these years he
led most desipated life. He was o god
son and protege of Richelieu, and at the
age of twelve published an edition of
"Anacreon" with notes aud comments.
Being introduced to society by his god
father, aud his tastes leading him into the
gsyest circles of the French capital, he did
not pretend to relinqaish these associa
tions even after he had taken orders. He
was constant visitor at the Hotel Ram
bouillet, and there fell in love with the
Duchesse de Montbazon. She died about
1862, and Rance growing tired of the
world gave all his property to the poor and
resolved to spend the remainder of his
life in severe penance. While such de
termination was new, he became the Abbot
of La Trappe and instituted the monastic
reforms 1 have already ailuded to.
Before l left this city on my way to
Gethsemane l secured letter of introduc
ton to Father Benedict from that most
courteous gentleman, Bishop McCloskey
of this diocese. When 1 arrived at the
station was met by a negro boy, who
showed me the path across the fields to
the monastery, and informed me that he
had for seven years been the guests cook
at the abbey. He had the same precise
manner that is acquired by those in the
service of elderly spinsters. At the lodge
gate was met by a lay brother who served
as porter, who ushered me into the guests
parlor. The guest soon appeared,
and, taking my credentials politely, with
drew to deliver them to the Abbot. 1t
will be well to say here that the Trappists
are fgmOOa far THAR