The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-09-03

more devoted to philosophy and
natural sciences. Then the scholastic,
AS he isnow called, is sent forth to be-
gin his career as q teacher. Later on
he devotes four years to the master
ing of theology, after which comes
ordination. This ceremony generally
takes place in the Jesuit's SD year,
being the preface to q life-work OF
preaching and teaching so long as the
subject is held by the vows OF the or
der, and those vows can only be
loosened by the Pope. The vows OF
poverty, chastity and obedience are
taken directly at the close of the two
years noviceship."
My friend being called suddenly
away at this point by q violent ring
ing at the door-bell, which it was his
duty to attend. found a lay brother
who kindly volunteered to pilot me
through the institution. The chapel,
though small was, with its subdued
light and a perpetual lamp burning
before the tabernacle on the altar, a
place wonderfully conducive to prayer
and religious meditation. A repose-
full 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 a moment with
thoughtful c~ountenance in front of
the tabernacle, and silently departed
again. Among the sacred emblems
hanging on the walls was q frame
containing the letters A. NJ. D. G. l
had observed Them before in various
parts of the house, and asked
my guide their meaning, his re-
ply being: They signify AID 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"
l was admitted to the ~novices re,
fectory during their evening meal, and
must confess that | never saw O. hap
pier lot of young men in my life. AS /
entered, n of the group was relating
an innocently amusing story, which
had q most e%nhvening effect on the
disabilities 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.
INVISIBLE. 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 a novice to
discover, in serious meditation. that
he has made a 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 ct once, being
perfectly free to do so at any time OF
the two years probation.
just before retiring for the night, Iuy
friend came in for q little chat. He
was fresh from evening prayers, and
his face wore an expression which
would have inspired a painter. Dur
ing u cor yersation / asked him to
outline the rules of the house for me.
He did so as follows: "We rise at
4:30 in the morning and / can assure
you candidiy that for the first four
months of my novitiate | never heard
the rising bell without a shudder. 1t
seemed az if / could never become
habituated to the early hour. Now,
however, / experience no difficulty in
complying with it's call. A half hours
meditation follows our departure
from the dormitory, this being sue
ceeded by mass in the chapel. Break
fast comes next, after which we have
an instruction from the master Of
novices. He is also our confessor,
and, Of course, is enabled to study the
mind and dispositions of all under his
charge, this being absolutely neces-
sary for the grounding of the novices
in the future life which they are to
lead. Breakfast over we 90 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 a week,
we also have two hours of recreation
daily, one after dinner and another
after supper. 1t is not hard you see,
and Is merely a slight foretaste Of the
work to come when the novitiate
ends. This is simply a probationary
stage during which we can change our
minds at any time and return whence
we came. 1t is after the noviceship
that the serious work begins. This is
like q home wbsre we are q large fami-
ly Of brothers. Once we leave it we
are scattered for the remainder OF our