The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-19
sEvEREsT OF RELIGIOUS ORDERS.
The Carmelite Nun Pictured in Fer
Cell By q Former Carmelite.
E,ro,, the Paris Firuro

From the Paris Figure
Il is ) O'Clock; the morning bell rings
Alone in her little cell. whose whitewashed
walls have a big crucifix and holy water
font for their sole ornaments, tho Carmelite
Sister awakes. She rises from her little
couch, folding bed with a hair mattress
aud no sheet or pillow. and, after having in
a brief invocation given her heart 20 God.
she commences her toilet In few mo-
ments she finishes her additions 10 a little
earthen basiu the Carmelites never take
BATH puts on her Serretete. tie sack Of
canton flannel which takes the place Of
chemise, and the brown Jupon OF the same
stuff, which compose all her linen, which
she changes every six monthsl The serge
dress, the long scapulRr, and the veil COM
plete the adjustment. She ties her waist
with a leather girdle that holds her rosary,
and then puts on her rude sandals.
Fifteen minutes after the morning call
the Angelus rings, ana the Carmelite begins
her orison. St. Theresa, the founder of
Inc order wrote for the instruction Of the
novices in this exercise. which holds such a
oonspicous place in the rules of the order.
Tue Road to Perfection, a work Of mystic
theology and morHl instructions The
morning orison is intended to give the plan
of the days labor, to perform ones duties
to God to mediate upon the mystery or the
life OF the saint whose feast is celebrated,
and to take resolutions TO serve the Lord.
After the orison the "hours' are rung.
The nuns Quit their cells TO go to the chapel.
Along the somber corridors they pass with
little lamps in their hands, compile ely lost
in their great wells. while they drag their
sandals along the cold flags. In this way
they appear like ghosts gliding through the
clolster in dead silence. The nuns do not
speak to each other. Eaco one takes her
place in the chapel and the recitation Of the
offices begins, chanted in three notes, always
the same.
At the close Of the "hours" the sisters go
to their occupations, which include duties IN
the convene or manual labor. Work Is
suspended to attend mass, which is cele-
Grated every day. Thea it is resumed.
The Carmelites work at embroidery, make
church linen, sacerdotal ornaments, arti.
fetal flowers, beads and holy images which
are exposed for sale in their parlors, and
form the principal revenue in the cons
munity. The text of the constitution of st.
Theresa prohtolts all curious works aud all
working in gold and silver. But times have
changed, and those who expound the texts
say now that the prohibition does not ex-
tend TO tue ornaments OF the church.
One Of the most curious branches Of Carr
mslite industry is the manufacture of the
Instruments Of penance, which are the OBJ
and belts and bracelets, abundantly supplied
with steel points. etc, are sold at from to
10 francs; but the applicant must be supplied
with special recommendation before be
can pro ure any one of those Injuries
Saint Theresa was in favor aof the use of
instruments Of penltence. Her daughters
make frequent use of them. They are
called the 'Jewels OF Saint Theresa" The
nuns carry in their pockets nutshells brist-
ling With nails fastened in cement, the
points, of course. turned outward. II Satan
torments them with worldly visions, the
Carmelites have the remedy in their
'jewels."
When noon is announced by the bell the
Carmelite, no matter what part Of the con-
vent she may be in throws herself upon her
knees, offers her soul to God, makes a short
examination of her conscience, and then
arises to proceed silently to her refectory
No feast awaits her there and many poor
people who complain OF hunger might well
frown at the dishes that are offered to her
The Carmelites abstain from meat through
out the entire year except when they are
sick, and in their conv eats there is only one
meal q day, with a collation.. The meal
consists Of one plate Of thin soup and dish
of beans or vegetables. according 10 the
season. The collations on regular fast days
of the church are two ounces OF bread and
one or two apples. The collations of the
order are four ounces of bread and GUAM
tity of fruit, raw or cooked, which the
superioress sometimes replaces with vege-
tables cooked in water or oil. This kind Of
nourishment has the effect Of making nearly
all the nuns dropsical.
After the midday repast and the graces
said in chorus, the superioress gives an hour
for recreation, and suspends tie rule re-
curing silence during that brief time But
games are forbidden and conversation must
be general. The Carmelite has no par
ticllar friend or favorite. She must love
her sisters in general, and II an affection
arises in the heart for one of them she
blames herself for it, and is bound to guard
against it.
When for any purpose whatsoever a
stranger visits the cloister, two "Lterces"
are Immediately warned of his approach.
They put on their great wells before the
door is opened. The younger one rings
bell before the visitor comes In, so that the
sisters who may be in the yard or near the
windows can at once retire. Still ringing
her bell the ''iierce" precedes the visitor,
closing all the doors Of the apartments that
must not be seen, while the nuns fly in ali
directions.
The last Office, the longest one, is at IL
o'clock at night. The Carlnelites recite it
kneelinR upon the cold flags. and holding
heavy breviaries. This is extremely pain
full during tie winter months. Tho heavy
missals often drop from their half-frozen
fingers, and the fatigue brings on frequent
fainting fits. At midnight the CArnelite
has finished her day Of labor, Of peuitence,
prayer and modification. The same ordeal
Is recommended on the morrow and so on
during her entire life.
No religious order is so severe as that OF
the Cermelites, and it requires q special
grace TO be able TO bring ones mind and
body to bear such austerities. During the
novitiate family sacrifices are softened by
maternal kindness and attention which are
deceptive as regards the future; but, after
the profession, encouragement is repl aced
by the dry susterity of the rules Ia all
their cold and laconic rigor. She
who in the world has been accustomed
TO the most delicate and tender
care, is often obliged to assist in the work
OF the garden or IN washing the dishes. Add
to all this, corporal punish ments. the dark
cell and the whip. The punishment for the
slightest infringement Of the rules Is often
Belf-ipdicted by the offender, in the spirit of
modification, but more frequently by the
superioress, who, elected every three years.
is the sovereign mistress Of punishments.
and infiicts them according 20 her fancy
Many stories are told Of those convent
gates that are ever open for those who wish
to get In, aud ever closed to those who de-
sire to get out. Whatever truth there may
be in them. it is certain at all events that,
the express intentions
OF the founder Of the order, it is
almost impossible for Carmelite