Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-01-10
A BEAUTIFUL CEREMONY.
Seven Young Ladies Take Vows of
Poverty, Chastity and Obedience,
At st. Joseph's Cathedral-The Elk
ercises Very Impressive -The
Church Crowded-The Sermon
Preached by Archbishop Kahn OF
st. Louis-Nanes of the Religious.

Three young ladies received the habit
of the Order OF st. Joseph and four
nOyices made their professions. The
young ladies who took their first vows
OF poverty, chastity and obedience were
attired in white silk, with bridal wells
and wreaths. The novices were Miss
Mary w. Swint, of Weston, Sister Mary
Christine: Miss Catharine r. Ebenwal-
ter, of Wheeling, Sister Mary Francis;
Miss Anna Grimes, of New Castle, Pa,
Sister Mary Alexis; Miss Mary Regina
Wingerter, OF Wheeling, Sister Mary
Aimee The pOstulants, who received
the habit, were Miss Winifred Kenny,
of Grafton, Sister Mary Madeline; Miss
Frances Fisher. Of Wheeling, Sister
Mary Thecla; Miss Annie Sturm, of Lit
Teton, Sister Mary Patricia.
Archbishop J. j. Kahn, of st. Louis,
was a guest at the Episcopal residence
and was invite(s to deliver the sermon.
Abp. Kahn officiated at similar cere-
monies two years ago, when the young
ladies' who took their final vows yes
terday received the habit. The Rt. Rev.
Bishop DOnahue occupied the throne,
and the following named members Of
the clegy were on the altar: Rev.
Father McCabe, Of st. Louis, secretary
TO Abp. Kahn; the Rev 4. BoutlOu, rec
tor of the Cathedral; the Rev John Nc
E.lgoJJ, OF Grafton; the Rev. Robert
O'Kaue, Of MOundsyille; and Rev.
- 10 i- IN
p II. McDermOt. OF the Cathedral.
The music was beautiful and appro-
pirate The ceremony closed with
BenedictiOn of the Blessed Sacrament.
Ile Archbishop took or h.S tex, me
verse e. scripture, And entering into
Jae house they found the Ch.ld with
Mary, the mother, and falling down
they aicrei Him, and opening their
treasures, they offered HIM gifts, gold,
fraDkiacense and myrrh. (Mat,hew,
H. V. ID
So j, was with the wise men from the
E3s. ed by The St2r-Jla first of the
gclrlss to adore The Inc9,nate God;
and i, has bsen s.nce with all enter
ing The house CT God 10 lay down before
H.s Divine Majesty the gifts of their
minds and hearts. Commentators upOn
this verse, from Gregory the Great on
wards, have ascr.5ed d.fferen. mystic
s. publications 20 the g,f.s which the
wise men offered to the Infant Jesus.
Thus the gold syn5olizss the royal v.r-
the Of charity 10 God and 10 men.
Frankinc5nsa, sweet of Odor and fleet
ing heavenward, means prayer: the
psalm'sl says, "le, my prayer. 0 Lord.
ascend IS incense n Thy s.ght." while
my'rh denotes The spirit Of mort.fca-
ten and se.f-del:aL These are virtues
which all mus, practice, but you. my
children, are called upon 10 cultivate
them pre-em.nently.
The young man Of the gospel rich and
Of high dagree ayerred, and, doubtless.
truly, that he KEEP, The commandments
He had followed closely the preceDts.
but there was more yet. Of thou
w0uldst he perfect" says Eternal VS.
dom, go sell al thou hast and give TO
the poor" So with you. From your
innocent childhood onward You have
KEEP lhe Commandments of God but to-
day He asks you to step beyond The
limits CT the pre- pts into the interior
domains Of the counse,s. "I5 YOU would
be perfect" He saws to you. 'y0u-mus.
follow Ne more closely" and gu. Nd by
that star, nay by that Sun CT Eternal
Light, the uncre9ted splendor Of the
Father. YOU come here by solemn VOWS
20 p' dge yourselves to c.oser allegiance
to HIN.
And how shall this be done? BY
following HIM ard initiating HIS d.
vine example IN The vows Of poverty.
ch7s'.+~ and obedience. Your divine
eXempllr had not wherein to lay HIS
had You know HIS life Of des.itut.ou
from the cradle even 10 the borrowed
grave, and Cor love Of HIM you choose
forever voluntary poverty as your p0r-
ton. He never knew what mere carnal
love was-the unut-ergblv pure and IN
suited. chose for HIS mother a sDotless
N.rg-1. and over and over aga.n COM
meuded tbs virtue which however, 5
net for al in the same degree. And
You fer love Of Him are to be HIS own
ch9ste spouses, bidding ad.eu for ever
10 all the a,luremen-S o. earthly love.
And why is he now, even in HIS sacred
Humanity. sitting glorious at the right
bends before Him in Heaven and on
ear-h. f not for this because He, the
Almighty God was obed.ent 20 his moth
or. yea C5ed!ent even to the death on the
Cross And you for love Of, and in i'm
:tat.on of Him. surrender your own wills
10 your lawful Superior always, how
ever. excepting what may be contrary to
the law Of God.
The world, he poor foolish world cray
ing riches. pursuing sensual delights,
and especially insisting on independence
and. having its own way" without IN
terftrence or dictatiOn, or control from
any one. thinks these, vows Of yours are
impossible Now over and above this
feet that they are expressly commended
by the Son of CO1 himself and the in
ep,-ed witness. the world knows little
and cares less for the strength that comes
from prayer and the spirit Of sacrifice
and especially from that Divine nOur-
:shment which you thrice a week, or
Oftener. receive at this Holy Table n
the sacred mystery Of the Holy Euchar-
;st. II knows little CO the delight Of IN
ion VIII God and a deep and abiding
personal love Of Him and close imitation
thence accru.ng. Your calling IS not
che of sudden impulse. You have long
mad.tated this step, and for Two years
after receiving this holy habit. you will,
BY meditation and prayer. and self
knowledge. and compa-ant direction,
strive to ascertain whether God, N His
infinite condesceHsion, calls You 10 this
higher tfe. or whether t is your vOca-
ton to fall back into the ordinary ranks