The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-09-02

place wonderfully conducive to prayer
and religious meditation. A repose-
ful silence, holy it seemed, pervaded
this sanctuary, and a lingering per-
fume OF incense was light upon the air.
A sweet.faced Madonna opposite the
door smiled benignly upon all who
entered. Occasionally a novice came
quietly in, knelt for u moment with
thoughtful countenance in front of
the tabernacle, and silently departed
again. Among the sacred emblems
hanging on the walls was frame
containing the letters A. Nj. d. G. /
had observed Them before in various
parts of the house, and asked
my guide their meaning, his re-
ply being: They signify Ad Majorem
Del Gloriam, or to the Greater Glory
OF God. We use them in the heading OF
our works, and our pupils also use
them at the beginning OF their every
written exercise. In other words, we
strive to make each daily task and
action tend towards the glory of the
! Creator"
From the chapel we went to the re-
fectories and dormitories. henovices
occupy the latter in common, much us
students in boarding school would
do. They retire to them at 10 o'clock
in the evening, and the awakening bell
sounds at 4:3O in the morning. This
severe rule for early rising is in force
winter and summer, and was inform
ed with a smile that it was one of the
most difficult regulations which the
young novices had to contend with.
Most of them require some time to be-
come used to it. The hedormitory walls
were hung with sacred pictures, and
frames containing the words, Humili-
ty, Propriety, Obedience and other
mottoes.
Twas admitted to the novices re.
| fectory during their evening meal, and
must confess that never saw hap
pier lot OF young men in my life. AS
entered, one of the group was relating
an innocently amusing story, which
had q most enllvening effect on the
rislbilities of his listeners. Every face
was lit with good humor, and many
were the jests which went round the
table when the narrative had been
concluded. Those people who talk
about thegloom ofconvents and mon
asteries should have seen these nov
ices as / saw them, should have heard
their peals of laughter, and should
have seen their radiant faces. There
was anything but gloom apparent.
| Sometimes the retectory was hushed
in silence, conversation not being per.
mlssible. 1t is forbidden during Lent,
and also during what is called the
"thirty days retreat" This latter
period of strict contemplation occurs
| yearly. 1t is not an unusual thing
during these retreats for novice to
discover, in serious meditation. that
he has made mistake in entering the
novitiate; that he has not been called
to a life in the cloister, and that his
proper sphere is in the outside world.
In such cases he departs at once, being
perfectly free to do 50 at any time OF
the two years probation.
Just before retiring for the night, my
friend came in tor O little chat. He
was fresh from evening prayers, and
his face wore an expression which
would have inspired painter. Dur
ing our conversation 1 asked him to
outline the rules of the house for me.
He did so as follows: "We rise at
4:3O in the morning and l can assure
you candidly that for the first four
months of my novitiate l never heard
the rising bell without q shudder. 1t
seemed as if I could never become
habituated to the early hour. Now,
however, experience no difficulty il
complying with it's call, A half hour
meditation follows our departur.
from the dormitory, this being suc'
ceeded by mass in the chapel. Break:
fast comes next, after which we have
an instruction from the master q
novices. He is also our confessor,
and, of course, is enabled to study tn,
mind and dispositions of all under hi
charge, this being absolutely neces'
sary for the grounding of the noviceS
in the future life which they are to
lead. Breakfast over we go about
our task for the day, some to the
kitchen, some to the dromitories, and
others to the gardens, or wherever
their various duties may call them,
Besides q half holiday twice q week.
we also have two hours of recreation
daily, one after dinner and another
after supper. It is not hard you see,
and is merely q slight foretaste of the
work to come when the novitiate
ends. This is simply probationary
stage during which we can change our
minds at any time and return whence
we came. It is after the noviceship
that the serious work begins. This is
like home where we are large fami.
ly of brothers. Once we leave it we
are scattered for the remainder of our
lives, and rarely return to it again for
any length Of time. We are trans
ferred from house to house, always
prepared to obey our superior in
whatever he may direct. To-day a
Jesuit may be here, q little late. he
may be vending his way to Europe;
or preaching to the Indians on tho
plains. He is a pilgrim with no fixed
abiding place, who only finds homI
when death comes to him. Do you
think you would like the life?"
Twas not quite sure, and so ir3
formrd my friend as he said good,
night at the door. decided, however,
to make an essay at rising the follow
ing morning at 4:3O. You will not bs
surprised when l tell you that tn;
trial was a failure, not only on tn;
first day, but also during my wholi
visit. The opening clause in the days.
regulations was o terrible stumbling
block to me. =
/