Morning journal and courier., 1885-04-27

lfFoin Cne SaJuruay REVIEW
The name EsTrappistine" was given to
them after the Revolution, when the edict
was pronounced against the Cistercian con-
gregations of women, who thereupon retired
to the Val Sainte and adopted the ordre de
Citeaux, followed the same observances as
the monks, and received the of Trap
pistine in 1896. could petis?" is the ques-
ton put by the priest to the novice who
would enter La Trappe. "Miserico1diam
Del ct vestram" is the answer, and the no
vice puts on the white cowl, the tunic, the
1eather belt and the veil, and henceforth pre-
serves an absolute silence. The Bernardines
of the Refuge follow much the same rule,
but it is not so strict. For instance, at first
they We're allowed to speak on Sunday, and
even now they may see their friends and
have certain other privileges; but their gene
raj rule is that of La Trappe. The approach
to the convent is along sandy road through
a belt of forest; one then comes to the large
clearing occupied by the convent and its gar
dens and passes through a gate-above
which is a board with the request to stran-
gers to speak in low voice-up a long san
DIV avenue of pines, where the feet tread
noiselessly. There one is met by CHEEKY
little Servante de Marie, whose interest in
the world breaks the oppressive silence as
she leads the visitor into the convent court,
where two white-robed figures are picking
violets, and others are piling wood to the ac-
compartment of sort of litany. The build
ing of the convent has nothing remarkable
about it, and consists of a low one-storied
structure built round garden. The visitor
is shown the chapel with the aisle shrouded
by white curtains where sit the Bernardines,
the refectory the first chapel built of straw
wit Ha1 Ap0r and a an of the
straw cells in which the nuns lived before
the convent was built. The dress cf the
Bernardines consists of coarse robe of
white wool, with cord round the waist and
a large black cross on the back, and cowl
drawn over the face, and they wear a bronze
cross on the breast They rise every morn
ing at 4:30, then prayer and mass till Z
O'Clock, breakfast at 7:15, consisting of soup,
dry bread and water recitation of the 'Mis-
ereren at 7:30, and then they disperse to their
various occupations in the fields. At every
hour bell gives the signal for prayer. When
they are working far away in the fields the
sister in charge of the party gives signal,
and each one remains in prayer in the pos
ture of 1aborer resting on his spade. At
Ills the whole community go to the chapel
till 12 after which they march in single file
to the refectory for dinner, which consists of
soup and one dish, sometimes meat, some
times vegetables. During dinner a chapter
from the writings of the saints or fathers is
read aloud, and the meal is occasionally in
terrupted by the ringing of a little bell as a
signal for everyone to stop eating for space
Every Friday they take their dinner kneel-
ing. After dinner, chapel, and then recrea-
tion till o'clock. This consists in walking
or tilling their little private gardens. At
1:30 religious reading and at 2 o'clock they
go back to the fields to work At supper,
consisting of vegetables and water; at $50
chapel, then, in summer, more work in the
fields till s; in winter work indoors till the
same hour At o'clock prayers in the
chapel and at o'clock bed. On Sundays
and fete days the working hours are occupied
by PRAYER. The Bernardines now number
fifty and are under the care of Mother Abb
bess and four Servantes de Marie.