St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-22
give myself with all my heart to

EduIe ana NaUeinOlSelle Gle DreckIldTU
We're formally accepted as noyitiateS.
The novitiate of the first religious of
the Visitation was all that might have
been expected from the holy DISPOSE
tons with which they had prepared
themselves for the clustered life.
Every morning they heard mass, which
the holy bishop or his almOner said in
their chapel. and the day was spent in
prayer, meditation and works of piety
and charity. They observed the strict
est retirement, never going out of the
monastery, and i'll it led an angelical
life.
Jan. 25, 1915, the three religious left
Annecy and established house of their
order at Lyons, France. The Bishop of
Geneva allowed Madame De Chantal to
remain eight months there. AT the end
of that time he nominated Mother
FaVre Superi0reSs and recalled the holy
toundreSS to Annecy. 1t was his wish
TO have constantly at the cradle of the
congregation one SO capable of forming
the nOViceS and communicating to them
that spirit of God which filled her own
breast. He also desired to confer with
her about the rules of the institute.
| The first step of the piouS founder was
to appoint the bishops the immediate
SuperiorS of all the houses of his order.
under the age of sixteen was 10 be re-
ceived into the order; that the poStu-
liant must know how to read, if she
wished to be choir sister; that her
temporal affairs were to be in good
order, and her children, if she
were widow, provided for:
that she must have no contagious dis.
ease, no intirmity which would render
her incapable of observing the rule and
following the exercises of the commun-
! ity; that she must be possessed of a
good Judgment and disposed to live
! under obedience and in the practice of
meekness, humility and simplicity. On
these conditions anyone might be re-
ceived, even though she were widow,
deformed, intirm or advanced in age;
and so that the regulations of the house
might be practicable for all, the intro
! ductiOn of any other corporal auSteritieS
than those prescribed by the rule was
prohibited.
According to the constitution the sis
tiers are divided into three classes: Those
of the first class are destined to sing or
recite the divine office, and are thence
called choir sisters; the sisters of the
second class are exempt from the office,
but in all else equal to the choir sisters,
whilst those of the third class.
the chapter. Without dispensation
no house can receive more than thirty
three members. Enclosure is to be
strictly observed; and if necessity re-
quireS the entrance of any stranger.
such as the physician or cOnfeSSOr for
the sick, the mason or carpenter for
work, he is to be accompanied by two
sisters in daytime, and by four at night.
All the sisters are required to obey the
superioreSS. They can neither fast nor
practice any other auSterity without her
permission; but they must open their
hearts to her with confidence and follow
her advice. She has the right of dis
penSation in small things; but the more
important matters arc to be submitted
to the Judgment of the superior or of
the bishop. She is to govern the sisters
mildly, rather entreating than COM
handing them. She must read all the
letters written or received by them, eX-
cepting those of direction between con-
feSsOr and penitent.
At the end of her term of Office, she is
to take the last place and resume the
practice of humility and obedience.
The sisters are to possess nothing in
dividuaIly. Every year they are re-
quired to exchange cells, beds, habits,
linen, books, beads, crosses, medals and
all such things, so as to prevent or de-
StrOy any attachment to the least object.
From Easter to the Feast of st.
Michael, Sept. %, the hour of rising is
5 O'Clock. From half-paSt to med
itation is to be made, which is to be
followed by Prime of the Little Office of
the Blessed Virgin, the only Office APP
pointed for the order. At S o'clock
tierce and SeXt are sung, followed by
mass. and then none, followed by ex-
.nN of
taken at 10 O'clock. after which recrea-
ton begins. At noon, the close of re-
creation, the sisters must present them
selves before the SuperiOresS to receive
her directions for the afternoon. At
3O'clOck veSperS are sung, followed by
spiritual conference until 5, when
cOmptin is chanted, the iitanieS said
| and half hours meditation made.
Supper is taken at o'clock, after which
| recreation begins and lasts until half
past eight, when all again go to receive
| the orders of the SuperioreSS for the
| employment of their time the next
morning. At a quarter before nine
| mathis and laudS are said. These are
followed by the examination of con-
| science and the reading of the points of
| the next mornings meditation. By 10
| O'Clock every one must be in bed.
During every meal piouS book is to
be read. Silence is to be observed every
where, except during recitation hours.
| yet, even in that time of relaxation, the
| sisters are required to speak modeStly
and piOusly, observing the rules of
| charity, meekness and simplicity.
They are not allowed to play at games,
or to keep birds, squirrels, OF any ami
NAL for mere amusement. Converse
| ton in the parlOr is to be as concise as
| speak alone with strangers. When con-
versing with men, they are to lower
| their wells and sit at a certain distance
| from the crate, unless dispensed from
so doing by the SuperioresS. At the
| Angelus, which rings at midnight, the
parlOr is to be closed; and urgent
reasons alone allow it to be reopened.
| Besides the faStS of the church, the
sisters are required to fast on every Fri
day from st. Michael'S day until Easter,
the ewes of Trinity Sunday, of the As
censiOn, of Corpus Christi, of the feast
| of st. Augustine and of all the festivals
of the blessed Virgin.
They are to wear black habits and
wells, to sleep alone, each in her cell;
the bed is to be mattress, but the pill
| low may be made of feathers.
! Four times year the sisters are to
present themselves before an eXtraor-
binary cOnfesSor. Every day three
among them are to go to holy commun-
ion, and Thursdays, Sundays and feasts
the whole community.
Chapter is to be held every Saturday.
Once a month the sisters are to give an
account of conscience to the superioreSs,
read the constitutions and privately re-
new their vows. On the feast of the
presentation of the Blessed Virgin
Mary public renovation of vows is
made by ali. Such is the substance of
the constitutions of the visitation order
as drawn up by st. Francis de Sales.
The introduction of the order of
the visitation into the United States
was due to the most Rev. Leonard
| hn hi Of Dol