The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1885-09-18
TEE BLACK VEIL.
Sineteen Young Nuns in Minnesota Take |
the Black Veil at the Same Time.

Sineteen Young Nuns In Minnesota Take
the Black Veil at the Same Time.
An eye witness thus describes the taking
of the black veil, a few days since, by nine
teen young nuns of the order OF st. Bene.
dict at the convent OF st. Joseph, Stearns
county, Mimi, this being the first time in the
history of the order OF st. Benedict in the
United States that the perpetual vows have
been taken by as great a number at once.
The order in this state is in fourishing
condition, numbering as many as 1856
sisters. 1t maintains, at the mother house
in St. Joseph, an excellent academy,
where a great number of the young maidens
OF minnesota have received and are receiving
a valuable Christian education. 1t manages
three orphan asylums, where many little
waifhas been housed and made useful MEM
Der OF society. 1t also supports nine sub
priories in different parts Of Minnesota and
Dakota. When entered the church at 8
o'clock a. m, found devout congrega-
tion gathered to witness the impressive
ceremonies. Soon after came the nineteen
candidates in the habit of tine order, but
with long white wells on their heads. walk
ing up the aisle preceded and followed by
sisters prominent in the order, and
were seated in the front pews. Pontificial
high mass was then celebrated by the Rt.
Rev. Abbot Alexius Edelbock, the ecclesias-
tical head of the order in the west. The
prelate as well as all the priests assisting
were over six feet tall, and in the magnifi-
cent robes they looked excellent. After a
very effective and eloquent sermon by
Rev. Father Ulrik, the rites began.
The nineteen sisters moved slowly up
toward the high altar where they knelt in
silent devotion. After this they went in
pairs to the Abbatial throne where they,
Oft t.or hoo IL L.,
the reverend abbot, kneeling read one after
the other, the solemn vows. binding them for
the term Of their natural lives to chastity,
obedience and poverty. These VOWS were
written by the candidates themselves on
parchment, and after reading them they
were conducted to the high altar, where
they affixed their signatures to the instru-
ment on the sacred gospel book. The cere-
mony over, the candidates knelt in front of
the high altar in a double row and prayed.
Suddenly they all prostrated themselves
with their arms extended and their hands
folded as if in silent prayer. A deep silence
reigned in the church, while the four attend
ing sisters covered all the prostrate candi-
dates with
HUGE BLACK CLOTH,
in the middle of which appeared as it was
unfolded, a large white Benedictine cross.
Candelabrums with lighted wax candles
were placed at each of the corners of what
now looked like one giant bier and at each
corner one sister in black veil stood with
bowed head as if guarding the grave. Now
the organist intonates solemn dirge,
and from an unseen choir comes as from a
subterranean crypt the doleful strains of
the "Miserere." The effect was immense,
and when a solemn 'De Profundis" was
waited as if on slow, long ways over our
heads, and the beautiful voices flooded
the immense building you could hear as
one sob all over the church. The tolling
of the bells ceases, the last deep
the far distance, the black cloth with the
white cross is lifted, the candles disappear
the candidates rise to receive the blessed
feast habit of the professed siste: (the Gu
culla, SO called), and which being worn over
the ordinary habit is, by the assistance of
the sisters in waiting, put on. The rever-
end abbot then presents to each the black
veil instead of the white they wear, and
places ring on their finger as token that
they hereafter are to be the bride of Christ.
Thereupon the crown of green leaves and
orange flowers is placed on their brows, as a
promise OF the crows ofglory they hope once
to wear, and the candidates, who have now
become professed sisters, with silent, slow
tread, move toward the pews reserved for
them. While the Credo is sung each sister
lights large wax candle, and g. beautiful
sight it is to see the many sisters kneeling,
each with a burning candle in her hand, held
forth as an Offering to the creator. During
the offertory, while the censers are swung
and the hymns of praise watt forth in the
high dome, two and two they move up to
the alter and offer the candles to the Lord.
This ceremony over, the mass is resumed,
and all the candidates receive the holy COM
munion from the hands OF the reverend
father abbot, and thereupon his pontificial
and the solemn rites are over.