Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-06-05
HOW TRBPPIST's LIVE.

HOW TRBPPISTS LIVE.
Able Marquand, who has come to Wash
ington from the Trappist Monastery, at
Gethsemane, KY, to look after site for
new monastery, has caused stir in reli-
gious circles. From the lAbbe himself, who
has been Trappist for nearly thirty years,
the following information was obtained
''The Order of La Trappe was founded in
the fourteenth century for the purpose of
affording an asylum to repentant criminals
and other men who desired to expiate their
sins by long punishment of the flesh.
Up to the French Revolution the order was
confined 10 France, Switzerland and Italy.
During the ascendency of Robespierre the
Trappists were ordered to leave Fran &c, and
many of them came to the New World,
founding monasteries in Canada, at Getbsem
enc, KY, and more recently, at Dubuque,
Iowa. Their members have increased very
slowly in this country, but having several
more brothers than are needed at the exist
ing monasteries they have determined 10
build another one and think of selecting
Washington as the site. When glance is
taken at their mode Of life little wonder will
be expressed at their slow growth in NUM-
Der. In the first place the Trappist takes
VOWS of poverty, chastity and otedi-
ence for life, as do all priests Of
the Catholic Church. Then he agrees
to bury himself in monastery and work
at any kind of occupation, however
menia}, to which his superiors may assign
him. The applicant for Trappist's coll is
thoroughly tested before he takes these
VOWS. He must for several years 90 through
hardships. We rise at y midnight. AS
we always wear our cossaCks there is no de-
lay about dressing, and we are in the chapel
by 1915. Then we sing the mathis and
a high mass lasting till i. Private medita-
tions and pious reading follow till daylight,
when all the monks dsperse to their occu
pations. At our monastery in Kentucky
every brother is q mechanic or does work
Of some kind, so that, with our 200 acres
of land, we manage to support ourselves
without any outside assistance, and can
even help the poor Some OF us are car
penters, some blacksmiths, some do the ne
cessary tailoring, and a few are employed
as cooks and housekeepers. Work is kept
up from daylight till 6 p. M, ard during all
this time absolute silence must he preserved.
The only words spoken are tho 'Memento
Moriers' Remember thou wilt die'), which
is the morning greeting. Meals take up lit
tie of our time. Before going to work We
get a slice of bran bread and a cup of
water. At noon we dine Off vegetables
and milk. At o'clock another collation. of
bread and water is served. We are strict
vegetarians, not for purposes Of health, but
to deny the animal appetite. [ might men,
ton, though, that the rules of the order al
low the use Of meat once in seven years
when Christmas falls on Frday-but fow of
US take advantage of this relaxation. Re
cent statistics 10 France show that as class
the Trappists are the longest lived men in
that country. We generally die of old age,
except in cases where chronic diseases were
contracted before entering the monastery,
and even then the lives of the sufferers are
greatly prolonged by the mode Of living. All
the necessary doctoring is done by broth
er who was once drug clerk, and who
binds fractures aud plasters cuts to our sat
isfaction. I have not seen doctor for
more than ten years. After our days work
is done and the collation. of bread and water
is taken we retire to our rooms, or rather
cells. for rest. These cells are ten feet by
four. have stone walls and stone floor, and
arc furnished with wooden bed, a chair,
and a washstand. Our bed is big plank,
like a coffin in outline, but without the ris-
inc sides and ends. We use mattresses or
ticks and covering only in cold weather.
Our cassocks are never taken oil except
when cleanliness requires q change OF
clothes. As hard board is not comfort
able bed, you may imagine that we are not
loath to rise when the bell rings at mid
night for mathis. With regard to our ap-
parel. He constantly wear rough hair shirts,
which are very painful, especially 10 warm
weather. Our cassocks are heavy woolen
in summer and alpaca in winter. Clean
linen collars are donned every morning.
Since we have not the facilities for making
shoes and boots, we must content ourselves
With sandals, which are, after all, quite as
comfortable and serviceable. Some of our
rules, outside the daily routine, may also
seem unnecessarily severe to people in the
world. but we are satisfied with them.
When . relative, however close, of any
monk dies, all are called into the chapel,
the announcement is made that one of the
brothers has lost father, mother, or other
relative, and all pray for the soul of the de-
ceased. The object of concealing the name
ia TO prevent grief and the recalling of
worldly things from interfering with the
| tenor of each mans life. When monk
himself dies be is buried with pompous re.
lipious services, and, after prayers and mass
90 the bio record book is taken down from
behind the altar and q red cross placed oppo-
site the name of the departed. Most of our
recruits come from France and other Catho-
lie countries of Europe"
list FROM THE FAcToRY-1o dozen of the
,r,N1T1 A -