Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-11-19
PRAYER, WORK ANDPLAY
THE ARDUoUs DAILY ROUTINE IN
CATHOLIC COLLEGES.

A Course Of study and Training That
Weeds Out ffOm the Priesthood Many
Men who Are Not Possessed of an Un-
tagging Zeal-Plain Food and Prayers.
What kind of life is it in our col
leges2 Well, l suppose it is much the
same as the life in colleges which are
not ecclesiastical OF course, church
students have many more prayers to say,
and are expected to observe the rules
with more fidelity than other students.
They rise early-in foreign colleges at
8 in winter and in summer-in most
English colleges at all the year round.
Half an hour is allowed for dressing,
after which all go down in silence to the
church, where morning prayers are said,
and meditation is held for half an hour
on some spiritual subject. Meditation
Is followed immediately by the celebra-
ton of mass, and altogether about an
hour is spent every morning in spiritual
exercises. Then follows study till break
fast time, at 8.
Breakfast consists of a bowl of coffee
or tea, with bread and butter at discre-
ton in the home colleges, while abroad
one has choice between coffee. milk
and chocolate, but the bread must be
eaten dry. 1t is wonderful what sub
stantial meal can be made of coffee and
dry bread when there is nothing else to
be had. A few minutes for recreation
are allowed after breakfast, then work
goes on till dinner time, broken only by
half an hours recreation at II o'clock.
PLAIN FARE.
Dinner, which is eaten at /, is al
ways good, substantial meal, and
ample justice is done to it after the
rather thin breakfast. No study is al
lowed during the hour and half fol-
lowing dinner. All who are well enough
must join in the public games, which
for the most part are played with great
spirit and keenly enjoyed.
At 8 o'clock the studies commence
again, and class and lecture or prepara-
tion for them, with half an hours rest
at 5, go on until Z or half past, when
thirty minutes are given to prayer and
the reading of the life of some saint.
After the prayers all go to the refectory
for supper, which, like dinner, is eaten
in silence, broken only by the voice OF
the reader, who reads aloud some bio.
graphical or historical work
After supper there is recreation, and
at foreign colleges this is always the
favorite hour of the day. And very
pleasant it is to hear the fresh young
voices and merry hearted laughter echo
ing along the college cloisters.
At the big bell rings out again fol-
the last time that day, and at it's first
peal the talk and laugh are hushed, the
groups break up, all-professors ane
church students alike-make their way
to the church for night prayers. Prayers
over the points for the next morning,
meditations are read out, and after the
Fsinging of n hymn all retire to q wei
earned rest, which in most cases is only
too soon disturbed by the noisy changing
of the great bell in the early morning.
THE WORK IS HARD.
OF course, every day is not stud
day. Sunday is always, more or less,
day of rest, and at least one afternoo
every week is devoted to outdoor recre
alton.
Yet, in spite of occasional play day.
as they are called, and the holidays twlc
q year, the life is hard enough. 1t mus
necessarily go on for some dozen veal
before the student is called up for ord
nation. The life of a Catholic priest
indeed one to which many are calle'
but few are chosen. A great number
those who 60 to college, at the age
fourteen or fifteen, with the intention
becoming priests, do not reach the go
Of ordination.
In some cases health breaks dow
many grow weary of the routine al
strict discipline of the life, others d
cover that they have no calling for
ecclesiastical state, and go out into t
world to begin life afresh. So, fro
one cause or another, the student fin
that by the time he is ready for orr
nation he has lost the company of MAJ
who stood by his side when he enter
college.
OF six who went to college sol
seventeen years ago with the prese
writer, one is dead, one is practicing
a doctor in the United States, third
manager of bank in the north of Et
land, another is serving as mount
policeman in South Africa, and only t
are priests.--A Catholic Priest in IL
don Tit-Bits.