Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-09-06
AN INTERESTING EVENT.
Profession of0ne Young Lady at the
Catholic Church and the Reception
of Five Others.

of Five Others.
Thursday morning large congrega-
ton was assembled at the Catholic
church in this place, to witness the
profession and reception of six young
ladies, of whom one novice, named Sis
ter Sebastian, made the vows of pow
erty, obedience and chastity, and five
postulants received the habit of the
Sisters of st. Joseph, who are hence
forth to direct the academy of Mount
st. Joseph.
The celebrant was the Rev. J. F.
Leary who chanted the mass, aided by
well-appointed choir, presided over
by Miss B. Berry. In the sanctuary
we noticed the Very Rev. Dean Harley,
of Junction City, and Father Henne-
berry, of California. At the conclu-
sion of the mass the last named rev.
erend gentleman intoned the Veni
Creator, which was then taken up and
beautifully rendered by the choir.
The opening part of the reception
ceremonies having been terminated,
Father Hennebery proceeded to the
pulpit and delivered suitable address
from the text, Wisdom ", l: so how
beautiful is the chaste generation with
glory, for its memory is immortal. -
In substance he said:
To cultivate and preserve the virtue
of chastity is highly laudable. One of
the ancient Fathers of the church calls
the virgins the more illustrious poI-
ton of the flock of Christ. According
to st. John Chrystom they are angels
in flesh. st. Bernard says they are
more than angels. In the Apocalypse,
st. John tells us that he saw the virgins
in heaven following the Lamb, singing
songs of praise to him that no one
could sing but themselves. Whoever
is nearest to the Savior in heaven has
the highest glory. The virgins are
near him; therefore they enjoy a
special happiness, an exquisite felicity
Here on earth Christ our Lord was
the head of the virgins. His own dear
| Mother came nearest to him in the
practice of the virtue of purity. In
imitation of those highest models.
thousands and tens of thousands of
both sexes have since graced the church
by retiring into those nurseries of per-
feet chaStity-convent establish
lishments-where by the aid of their
much-loved solitude, and the exercises
of all piety, they mount up the grades
of all christian virtue to heights of
christian perfection. In effect, those
good souls who abandon the dangers
| of the world, and embrace the religious
state, are the happiest in this life; they
live purer life than people can well
do in the midst of society; they die
more TRANQUILITY and are rewarded in
heaven more cOpiOusly.
In conclusion he congratulated the
young ladies upon the noble sacrifice
they were about to make and their
parents in furthering their efforts.
After the sermon, the five young la
dies dressed in white satin, yelled and
wreathed as brides, went forward to
the altar and knelt at the railing. Rev.
Hennebery, assisted by Fathers Hurley
and Leary, asked the following ques-
tions: What do you come for my child?
They each answered: L ask that
may become member of the Order of
st. Joseph, They were then asked if
they did it of free choice, and other
questions of that kind according to the
ritual. All being answered satisfactor-
lily. they then retired to the parlor of
the parsonage where, assisted by
Mother Bernard, they laid aside their
gay attire and dOnned the venerable
habit of the order of st. Joseph. They
then returned and knelt at the altar
when more questions were propounded
and their promises made in a clear and
decided tone, and thus they were ush-
cred into the religious state.
Next IollOWeu the receiving OF the
vows by Sister Sebastian, after which
the congregation was dismissed.
During the whole ceremony the
church was crowded to its utmost ca
pacitv, and those present were most
attentive to all the ceremony and the
strictest order was preserved.
The names of the ladies, who, ON this
occasion .oOk their final entrance into
the sisterhood of st. Joseph are, with
their new names, as follows: Mary
SINNERS, Sister Mary Rosa; Annie
Kennedy, Sister Mary Louise; Rosa
Casper, Sister Mary Joseph; Nora Nc
MilleD, Sister Mary Patricia; Mollie
McInerney, Sister Mary Agnes.