The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-14

The Season of DevOtiOns and Meditations Now
in Progress at st. Johns Church.

The annual retreat of the priests of the do
cese of Vincennes is now in progress the priests
occupying the Bishops house, and their devo-
tions and meditations being held in st. Johns
Church. Only the secular priests of the diocese
attend these annual retreats and only half Of
those attending come at the same time There
are exactly one hundred secular priests in this
diocese; besides these there are thirty-six regu-
lars or monks of the Bendictine and Franciscan
orders. The retreat of those now attending be-
gun on Monday evening. There are thirty-eight
in attendance and their meditations and devo-
tions will continue until Friday morning, when
they will receive the holy communion from the
Bishop Next week the other priests of the do
cese who can be spared from their duties, proba-
bly, like number, will go into retreat This re-
treat of priests is given in imitation of the retire
rrent of Christ, when He prepared for His
ministry and also in obedience to His injunction
to His apostles. who He sent them out to
preach, were told to retire now little time for
meditation"
The priests in this retreat rise at o'clock in
the morning and engage in prayer and medita-
ton until a quarter before 7. when mass is said
After mass. they breakfast and are unoccupied
until quarter of 9, when they recite a portion
OF the breviary. At 10 o'clock they give an
hour to meditation, and at ii o'clock an hour to
ing. At o'clock, portion of the divine Office
is given, with vespers and comp!ius At3oclock
there is spiritual conference, lasting an hour;
at o'clock mathis and lauds; at o'clock, medi
tations; at 615, the rosary, then supper. In
the evening there is held very impressive
service, the devotion of the stations or the way
Of the cross. The procession is led by the cross
bearer with two clergymen carrying candles.
There are fourteen stations. representing the
different stations in the passion of Christ and
appropriate prayers said at each one of
them. After the stations the 5enediction of
the blessed sacrament is given. At the close
the points of meditation given for the hours
of meditation of the following morning after
which the priests retire for the night, to again
rise at o'clock in the morning. During the re-
treat as perfect silence is maintained as possible,
no unnecessary conversation is permitted, and
no business transacted.
These conferences and meditations are in
charge of Rev. Walter Hill, S. j., of St Ignatius
College, Chicago. The oldest priest In attendance
is Rev. j. p Dion, chaplain of the boys orphan
asylum at Highland. near Vncennes. He is
eightytwo years old, but of wonderful
vigor for his years. In his early manhood he
was French soldier. and all his life he has been
noted as a pedestrian. 1t is his custom now
almost every day to walk from Highland to
Vincennes, round distance of seven miles. He
cannot be persuaded to ride, declaring that he
considers it dangerous Father Bessonies is
the oldest in the priesthood among those in at
tendance. having been ordained nearly forty
seven years. Among those who have been in
the priesthood over forty years are Father Aud
dBan, Of Jacksonville; Father Meurschina, of
GAINESVILLE. Harrison county, and Father Faller,
of New ALBANY.