The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1890-12-05
In A ROMAN CONVENT.
The Life Of Monks and Lay-Brothers De-
.x..li,..I Harl.riiAn.

The Life of Monks and Lay-Brothers De-
scrIbed by Dr. Parkman-
The lay-brother appeared at day
break, and told me that in fifteen min
utes was TO join the Italians in retreat,
and go with them TO mass, writes DR.
Francis Parkman, in Harper's Magazine
The mass was followed by another ser
mon. after which we were all summoned
TO coffee in the room where we had
taken tea the evening before. The re-
port of my heresy had got abroad and
found myself an object or curious atten-
ton.
After coffee we were dismissed TO our
chambers for an hour, and then listened
to another sermon in the chapel. This
consumed the morning till eleven
o'clock, when bell rang for dinner,
and monks and laymen together moved
in solemn procession 10 the rcfcctory.
The monks went first, the Superior at
their head, then followed the laymcn,
and while the procession was forming
in the corridor they all kept up the dis
NAL, unintermitted chanting. The re-
fectory was a long, high, dimly' lighted
hall. A table of bare wood was
stretched across the farther end Tor
the dignitaries of the convent, and
on right and left, sat the rest of the
monks, forty or fifty in number, and the
laymen sat below them, nearer the door
The seats were wooden benches, placed
on the inner side of the tables only. On
the wall over the heads of the dignita-
ries was 4 fresco of the Last Supper, as
usual in refectories, while on the side
walls hung grim pictures OF saints with
upturned eyes and palms pressed to-
gether. High up, near the ceiling, was
a small pulpit The entire hall was
whitewashed above and pancllcd With
oak below.
At the head of the tables stood the
Supefior, who was General of the whole
order, tall. portly man with stern
and austerc countenance. The monks,
motiouless and in dead silence, stood
ranged on right and left, robed in black
from head to foot. and wearing on the
breast the badge Of their order-a heart
surmounted by a cross Their harsh.
cadavcrous faces bespoke the rigor OF
their discipline, which is extremely Sc
we're. Whom all were in their places
the Superior raised his finger, and the
whole cmblagc broke out into an
other chant. When at last IL was ended
the finger was raised again, and all took
their seats Not n word was spoken;
hut 4 monk entered the pulpit from =
narrow door in the wall, and in dtawl-
ing, monotonous tones read Latin ser
mon, which lasted throughout the meal
lie had hardly begun when file OF
lay-brothcrs entered. each carrying a
receptacle formed of three trays, one
above the other. connected by an up
right wooden rod, and holding great
nun ber OF bowls and small dishes. The
monks were served first Before them
were set bowls of a dismal looking veg
ctable soup, along with dishes of dried
pease boiled whole, and swcllcd to q
wonderful size by the process. Each
then drew a cup, fork and wooden
spoon from a drawer in the table, and
with a rucful countenanCe proceeded TO
eat. first iilIing the cup from an carthen
bottle OF cheap WINE which stood on the
board before him.
We of the Iaity Jared better, being
served with rice, eggs, fish and dried
fruit. The Italians seemed little odi-
fled by the Latin sermon. which few OF
them could have understood Tho meal
was followed 10y a prayer, with low re-
sponScs from the monks. after which
they all filed of through the dim gal
lerIcs TO their dens. looking like living
originals of the drcaTy portraits ranged
along the walls
When ] had got to my chamber and
was refreshing myself with the Pho
neers. one of them came in To convert
me My father" said !. II am afraid
your Kindness will be thrown away"
Bot he clapped me on the knee, and
exclaimed chcCrfully: All, figlio. you
will be a good Catholic soon. No doubt
Of it"
There was an amusing vivacity In
him. quite dIiIcICnt from his extreme
soIemnity when at dinner. In the
course of his talk, which was rambling,
though pious, he kept Offering me his
snuii box, freely using II himself mean
while; and when he thought he had
made good hit in his argument, he
would wink At me with 4 comical look
of triumph. on which we both fell to
laughing. At length tho bell rang for
moro prayers and sermons in the chapel,
and this spIIghtly old apostle went back
10 his cell.
After Lhe sermon tho laymen were
turned out To walk for while in the
convent garden, attended by Padre
Luca lie was not, / think, one of the
PassiOnist brotherhood, but a secular
priest. and his pleasant, plump,
good humoIcd cOuntcnaucc contrasted
strangely with tho dry, leathcry visagcs
of the monks. AS we walked up and
down the paths, shaded with olives and
Olcanders. be took me by the arm and
talked of matters of faith, stopping from
time TO time at tho little groups of Ital-
ians, who, alter reverently kissing his
hand, began to chat and laugh with him
in an easy familiarity, gracefully tenn
peTed with respect. lie seemed 10 have
their full affection and confidence, at