St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1898-07-16
CATHOLIC RETREAT.

CATHOLIC KEIhEA1'
An Institution for Laymen near
Covington.
For nearly four centuries there
has existed the custom Of retreats
in the Catholic Church, that Is .
retirement to some secluded and
quiet place for the purpose OF medi-
talicn, prayer and religious lnstruc-
ton It's an established custom
with religious orders, the periods OF
retreat being observed either IN &C
cordance with custom, or for some
special occasion. A retreat for the
benefit of laymen is not 90 common,
though in densely populated Catho-
lie Districts they are sufficient in
number to be widely known. In
Canada and along the Hudson river,
for instance, there ale number OF
them, and in some instances there
can be found as many AZ 200 Catho-
lie men observing q retreat at one
time.
Although the Catholics are nu-
merous in the South, q retreat OF
this kind,if it exists at all, is con-
Quoted in a very limited way.
However, the jesuit Fathers OF this
city propose to establish one this
month, which must, from the very
circumstances surrounding it, soon
be known far and wide. They have
had for some time near Covington .
retreat for themselves, to which
they frequently took their boy stu
dents. THIS is known as Manresa
House, and was used by tl,eir nine
graduates as q retreat this past
month. Some time ago they pro-
posed to extend the privileges
of this place to Catholic laymen,
but the accommodations were very
limited and the undertaking would
necessarily have been carried on
III a very small way. Fortunate
for the Jesuit Fathers, and thanks
to the generosity Of a wealthy
Catholic lady, . place near Ccvihg.
ton. just opposite Manresa House,
was given to them for this purpose,
which in every respect is an ideal
one for q retreat.
The mansion and grounds which
comprise this gift were up to a shor'
time ago the property OF Mr.. At
wood Violet, and were known as
Olgalia. 1t comprises 14O acres
Of beautiful grounds, planted in
fruit tees vegetables and flowers,
handsome, roomy residence, fur
nished throughout with every con-
venience, and an artesian we'll.
This place is shaded by some Of
Lcuisiana's grandest oaks, and only
the twitter OF birds dlsturbs its SOL
emn silence.
Since this place has been in The
possession of the Jesuit Fathers, 9
great swimming tank, to be supplied
with artesian water, was addcd tt
its already numerous attractions
and a more beautiful spot FOL
spending a few days Of quiet and
| retirement could hardly be found
in the South.
The retreat Is to be called Mont
serrat House, named in honor Of the
birthplace Of society .Iesuits, for i
was there that st. Ignatius, the
founder OF tue order, laid down hi
armor as a soldier and began t
direct his attention to establishing
this society, now known throughout
the civilized world.
It would naturally be inferred
from the many attractions which
this place offers TO a catholic deslr'
| ing 20 spend q few days in retreat
that correspondingly large expense:
would be attached to it. On tht
contrary, there will be no specia
charge for board, though each visi
tor will be expected to give some
thing towards it for his food and thu
care of his room while lie is occu
plying 1t. The purpose OF this re-
treat is to give every Catholic, an op
portlnity to enjoy it's benefits, ant
not to confine them to the rich alone
The retreats will be conducted By
the Jesuit Fathers and will last from
three to six days, The best orators
in the order will preach the sermons
| in connection with them.
There was q flag-rais!ng over thu
retreat Monday, July 4, which wa
witnessed by large delegation o
New Orleans people Mr.. J. ]. Nc
Louxhlin was the orator of the day
1t is expected that the retreat vii
be cpsn by July 2O.-Times-Demo
crat.