The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1881-03-25

RELIGIOUS RECEPTION.-The chapel Of
"Our Lady OF Lourdes" at Mt Gallitzin
Seminary, In this place, was the scene on
| last Monday afternoon of another Of those in
| teresting and impressive ceremonies known
as religious reception. On this occasion
Miss Mary Hayes, of Hollidaysburg, was en-
dowed with the habit OF reIigieuse and re-
ceiyed into the community of the Sisters of
! st. Joseph. At the hour appointed, 2 O'Clock
P. NJ, as Very Rev. Father Ryan, of Altoona,
who oficiated at the ceremony, preceded by
Rev. Father Reardon and two acOlytes APP
preached the altar procession led by little
Mary Seaman as crOss-bearer, followed by
the postulant, who was accompanied by little
Annie Blair and Agnes McPike as brides
maids, marched through the chapel and also
drew near to the altar. To impress upon the
minds of all the Importance of even the eX-
ternal change which was about TO take place,
the candidate and her little bridesmaids and
cross-bearer were neatly dressed in spOtless
white. The postulant kneit before the altar
and after satisfactorily answering the ques-
tions asked by the Very Rev. Father, was ad-
dressed by him in a few words appropriate
and touching He congratulated her on the
commendable step she had just taken, there
by renouncing the world and its allurements
and declaring war on the flesh and its pleas
ures and the devil and his temptations. lie
also congratulated her on the fact that she
had resolved to embrace religious iife niheT
eally youth, and not after years OF diSappoint-
ment, veXatiOn and bitter trials, thus offer
ing To God heart which had not been sur
feited by the Giittering vanite5 of this world,
but, on the contrary, one that was still in the
spring tide Of promise, with worldly pros
poets bright and daZZlinC-that she had sac
rifced these and herself on the altar OF Gods
love by avOwing her purpose to practice not
merely the preceptS but the counsels of the
Gospel, and still further denied herself by
submitting her will and her intellect to the
holy rule of the religious community which
now numbered her among its devoted men,
bers. He likewise expressed the hope that
throughout life each day and each moment
would bring to her heart and soul the same
heavenly Joy and peace she at present eXpe-
renced--that the faitn she then manifested
would ever burn brightly i'm her bosom, and
that the hope with which she was animated
and the love of God which had impelled her
to a religious life would each hour grow more
intense and consuming
At the conclusion of the address, Of which
the above is but mere outline the poStuiant
retired for few minutes, and when she
turned. 10 what q change She wha but
short time previous kneit before the altar in
all the magnifcPnce of q bridal costume now
approached in the sOmbre habiIimentS of
Sister of st. Joseph. The Very Rev. Father
on receiving her in this humble gaTb, an
nOunced that she would hPncefOrth he known
in religion as Sister Mary Benedict. Thus
ended the reception, which was followed by
the BentdictiOn of the Blessed Sacrament
and the singing of the'Te Deunl by the choir
The hymns and psalms, the singing of which
forms part of the ceremony, were admirably
rendered hv the church choir, under the di-
rcction of Miss Mand Kittel who presided
at the organ.