The herald., 1896-03-08

means. Some of these are public and
given ut certain intervals to all classes
Of persons, ne, for instance, school
children, first commandments, girls en-
ployed in factories, teachers, young
ladies and Christian mothers. Others
are private retreats, and last from
three to eight days.
"Those who attend either kind Of re-
treat may reside in the convent or
spend a portion of the day within its
walls. In addition to these longer re-
treats every month retreat of single
day, lasting from mass in the morning
until benediction in the evening, is
given"
Referring to the non-sectarian feat
ures of the retreat, she said:
''This retreat is not only for the faith
full of our own religion, but for all
women who care to come. To hold q
retreat of this character it was neces-
sary to first obtain special permission
from the archbishop OF the diocese.
Archbishop Corrigan granted the re-
quest, an as a result we have with us
now from fifteen to twenty Protestants
who have availed themselves of this
opportunity to live in an atmosphere
that will give them greater facility for
self-examination, for prayer and T. the
consideration of spiritual affairs than
can be found while harassed by the
everyday tolls and Worries
The daily life of each woman in the
house is the same, be she poor or rich,
and while there is no coercion, each
guest is expected to comply with the
regulations. The rising bell rings at 6
q. m. and at o'clock meditation is en-
tered upon, which lasts forty minutes
Breakfast is served at TAO o'clock, but
no one is supposed to linger over the
delights Of the table, for there is a
mass at o'clock. After this service
the guests do as they please until $3.50
o'clock, when general religious instruc-
tion of purely non-sectarian kind is
given by priest from some neighbor-
ing parish. Great care is taken in the
selection of this priest to secure a man
of broad religious knowledge, 80 that
nothing might transpire which would
be offensive to those of opposite faiths.
This instruction is also given at 2:30 p.
m. and 4:3O pm., each discourse lasting
about half an hour. Luncheon Is
served at p. m. and benediction SER
vices are held at 5p. m. Dinner il
served at $50 o'clock, at s o'clock there
ia evening prayer and the retiring bell
rings at 8 o'clock.
1t ia peaceful, regular life and the
jaded nerves of the society woman
soon find repose. There are twelve
huns in the retreat besides the mother
superior, and most of them are French
women.
The Order of st. Regis is French
community, and is one of the most
aristocratic orders of the Roman
church. It is named after st. John
Francis Regis, who was born in Lam
guedoc in 1897. At the age of 18 he
entered the Society of Jesus, and as
soon as his studies were completed he
began his missionary work. The win
ter he spent in the country and in
mountainous districts, and in the sum-
mer months he worked in the towns.
For modesty, love of prayer and inno-
cence of life he has ever been upheld
as model.
In Novemb Der, 1857, he started out on
a mission to Morthes. His way lay
along valleys filled with snow and over
mountains frozen and precipitous. He
slipped and fell, and in falling broke
his leg.
With the help of his companion he
accomplished the six miles to the near
est hamlet, and then refused to see
physician, but insisted on being taken
to the confessional. After some hours
he was found still seated there, but his
fractured leg was completely healed.
At the age of A, after years of unceas-
ing labor, he died and was canorized.
This is the patron saint of the sister,
hood, and it Ia on lines established by