Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-03

NNhaStoNy ~ tbo iuhSc 6nftCh uudoubt-
eddy started the story about which you
ask, that we dug our own graves, each
Sister throwing out a shovel full of
earth each night That is only done
by the Trappists, and not, / believe,
by any other order in this country. Are
we happy? The laugh that followed
this question was so merry that it was
| impossible to doubt the perfect con- !.
tent OF the lady who was talking.
Then she said AS an evidence of
the old age to which the Carmelites
lived, 1 must tell you this: Ia 1896,
when our community was sadly in need
of money, we asked the Paris house to
assist us, and among the Sisters, alive
| at that time, WIS Mother Raphael, who
was 81 years old, and who had been
novice with Nine. Louise de France
| Think of that! Think of lady who
lived before the French Revolution,
one who had made her life, from the
| physical standpoint, life Of continual
self-denial, and we read books and
listen 10 lectures on how to live SO that
we may have many years OF life, and
| we never once think of the certain
effect of good life, pure life and
life Of unselfshness. A few questions,
and l was told that, year in and year
out no flesh is eaten. On fast days
neither fish, eggs nor milk are INDUCED
in. The bed is OF straw. sheets of
serge, the habit is serge, the long black
veil is always worn over the face.
Speech is never INDUCED In, except
during the hours of recreation. After
a little more chat, during which Mother
Raphael highly commended the energy
OF the women Of to-day, l said; 'sAu
revoir" for few minutes and went
into the pretty little chapel. l stood
by the grating before the choir and, as
special favor, the serge curtain was
drawn up and l saw the stately figure
of Mother Raphael and the slender one
of the, younger sister who had been
talking to mo. tr.
think much of work, may ask:
''What do the Carmelite ladies' dot"
They pray and pray and pray without
ceasing. When you are at tho opera,
when you are at the gay supper. when
you are interested in the play, or when
you are whirling around in the dance
their voices ara going up to God ask
ing Him to keep you out of temptation.
They say to you when they talk to
you, that it is good for you to have a
pleasant time, that they are happy in
knowing of your pleasure, that your yo-
cation is to be in the world; and they
urge upon no one to come to them.
But, be you jew or GENTLE. Moham-
medan or Buddhist, whether you
have faith or whether you are an
unbelieyer, you need only ask for a
special prayer and it will be said for
you. The wife whose husband is out
in the stormy at sea, the mother whose
boy is profiigate, the young girl who
doubts the love Of her berrothed, each
one may go and ask that the gentle
Sisters say special prayer and it will
be said, said with joy, said With faith,
and said without asking for gold.
When the Sisters moved into the
house in which they now live, close
carriages were brought to convey them
from one convent to the other. but the
street. for blocks. was crowded with
people eager to $50 them step over the
threshold, across the pavement and
into the carriages. Mother Raphael
laughed heartily at the curiosity, but
she did not tell me what was said to
me by a man Of the world, that is,
that in this crowd, collected to
,, look upon the kindly nuns, Many
! fell upon their knees, called Gods
| eto'o'h6 uHob buCu anu luduhtu
3 them for having helped with prayer
t and good advice, when more than mere
Q material assistance was needed. II
seems strange that, although none OF
, these Sisters expect to leave the house
0 until the kiss of death has been pressed
upon their lips, and they are carried
Q away to that Gods acre. which has
been dedicated to them, they ARE all not
only happy of heart, and pleasant Of
I; speech but there seems to be about
o them special halo of womanliness
= that makes the bicycle riding, loud
D speaking, positive woman of to day ap
= pear vulgar and unfeminine. Neither
you nor | can explain this; only |, be
u leving that much good is gained By
q silent prayer and quiet meditation, an
;. convinced that by continual praye
a they are brought so close to God tina
Is they exhale sweetness and purity jus
n as an Annunciation lily sends -fortl
perfume Their faith may not b.
o yours, it is not mine. but no matte
what your faith may he you cannot pa,
y visit to the Carmelite Nunnery ii
y Baltimore, without feeling the bette
!, Of it. And when | said goodbye t.
u Mother Raphael 1 felt honured b.
If touching her hand, for knew that, a
J. surely as there are many roads leadin
l. to heaven, she certainly was upo
1t one that leads directly to the throne G
;. God.
10 y X u II n
IT Once more am out in the eunshine
n To-day is before me, and kindly con
" ductor helps me into the electric RAJ
u Where have l been? With ladies' I
IL whom the French revolution was bu
10 yesterday, with ladies' whose genoa
~ oey goes back to that first communit
TO upon Mount Carmel. How great
10 their aristocracy, and how poor an
Ve mean is the aristocracy of the dollar
I'd Incorrectly, ii is called "almighty,
1e and yet you and know that its great
OF moss is as nothing compared to the sir
g. cere prayers that are said by the Cal
90 melite nuns every day. The man wh
IL made his fortune yesterday has son,
TO student hunt him up few ancestors
re- and If he gave thought to the SisteI
at of the Order OF st. Teresa he woul
9? call them Poor nuns!' How Ett
I'M he knows They are rich nuns rich !
n, faith, rich in hupe, and rich in charit,
ny The conductor looks at me once
ne twice with a sympathetic air; it mu
ed be that he is used to seeing on his C,
I'm women who have gone to the Carmeli
I'M convent TO ask for prayers, and |
q. imagines that the tears coursing dow
~ my cheek are caused by grief. Ho
'r- mistaken he is! They are tears
a thankfulnpas They are INV thnplyeo,;