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 u lingering per-
fume OF incense was light upon the air.
A sweet-faced Madonna opposite the
| door smiled benignly upon all who
entered. Occasionally q novice came
| quietly III, knelt for II moment with
| thoughtful countenance i'll front OF
the tabernacle, and silently departed
| again. Among the sacred emblems
hanging on the walls WAS u frame
containing the letters A. Nj. d. q. |
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 Glorlam, 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-
| factories and dormitories. Thenovlces
occupy the latter III common, much Us
students in u 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 q 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 dormitory walls
were hung with sacred pictures, and
frames containing the words, Humili-
ty, Propriety, Obedience and other
notices.
was admitted to the novices re-
fectory during their evening meal, and
must confess that never saw hap
pier lot OF young men i'll my life. AS
entered, one OF the group was relating
an innocently amusing story, which
had most enllvening effect on the
rislbilities of his listeners. Every face
was lit with good humor, and many
were the tests which went round the
table when the narrative had been
concluded. Those people who talk
about hegloom 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 huahed
in silence, conversation not being per-
mlssible. 1t is forbidden during Lent,
and also during what is called the
"thirty days retreat" This latter
| 90. NJ H 10
yearly. 1t is not an unusual thing
during these retreats Tor q novice to
discover in serious meditation. that
he has made a mistake in entering the
novitiate; that he has not been called
to q 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 so at any time OF
the two years probation.
Just before retiring for the night, my
friend came in for a little chat. He
was fresh from evening prayers, and
his face wore an expression which
would have inspired q painter. Dur
ing our conversation l asked him to
outline the rules OF the house for me.
He did so as follows: I'VE rise at
4:3O in the morning and can assure
you candidly that for the first fous
months OF my novltiate l never heard
the rising bell without a shudder. It.
seemed as if I could never become
habituated to the early hour. Now,
however, / experience no difficulty ~
complying with its call, A halfhour'S
meditation follows our departur,
from the dormitory, this being sues
ceeded by mass in the chapel. Break:
fast comes next, after which we have
an instruction from the master {.
novices. He is also our confessor,
and, of course, is enabled to study TIL J
mind and dispositions of all under hi
charge, this being absolutely neces-
sary for the grounding of the novice1
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 half holiday twice q 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 slight foretaste of the
WOEk W COIIt WllCl UhC lioNle w
ends. This is simply q 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 home where we are a large faml-
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 i'll
whatever he may direct. To-day q
Jesuit may be here, u little later he
may be vending his way to Europe,
Or preaching to the Indians on the
plains He is a pilgrim with no fixed
abiding place, who only finds HON
when death comes to him. Do YOU
think you would like the life?"
| was not quite sure, and SO in
iormrd my friend us 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 bg
surprised when | tell you that tn;
trial was a failure. not only on TIL;
, first day, but also during my Who'll
, visit. The opening clause in the day.
regulations was terrible stumbling
block to me.