The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-08-18

rison, of St. Joseph's church, celebrat-
ing Mass. He was assisted by Father
Thomas Gibbons, of St. Mary's church,
and Very Rev. Father Robert, C. P, OF
st. Louis. The latter conducted the
ceremonies of the reception. A choir
OF nuns sang at intervals throughout
the service; for offertory, soprano
solo, "Abidc with Me-" was beautifully
rendered by one of the nuns; the "As,
sumption Hymns" "Laudati Pcuri,"
and "In Exitu Israel" were given i'm
pressive rendition. Kotszchmar's "Tc
Deum' closed the service.
AS the eleven postulants, richly at
tired in bridal gowns, entered the cha
pei, the choir sang cxultantly From
the World My Heart l Sever" Dur
ing the celebration Of Mass they occu-
pied pews close to the altar. In adioin-
ing seats were the blackrobed nuns and
novlces who, with the postulants, were
to cast aside forever pleasures of the
world for the holy and self-sacrifcing
life of the convent.
At the close of Mass the eleven DOS
tulants formed group before the chan
eel rail, and clearly and in unison an
swered the questions put by the of1iciat-
ing priest. They would renouncc the
world, forget their names, their worldly
hopes, ambitions, everything that sa-
vored Of the material; they would con-
secrate themselves to the religious life
and wear forever the humble garb OF
the sisterhood. Their wishes declared,
the postulants withdrew from the chapel
with the mother OF postulants and three
tiny flower girls preceding them. AS
the postulants moved from the altar
their places were taken by the four
nuns making their annual vows. After
wards the seventeen nuns, bearing light
ed tapers, stood before the altar and re-
peated the VOWS which closed forever
their connection with the world. The
tapers, symbolizing the faith, which had
burned unialtering1y during the long
probation, were extinguished as each
spoke the final pledge Of allegiance to
the church. The altar rail was again
surrounded by blackrobcd figures; the
postuants, clad now in the habit OF the
sisterhood, spoke fervently but softly
the first VOWS and announced their in
tention to live in obedience, chastity
and poverty. 1mprcssivcly the priest
spoke the words, Behold, now you are
dead to the world; are you satisfcd?'
All answering satisfactorily, the cross
of profession was hung about the neck
OF each, and a solemn blessing was Civ
en- to ALL
Addressing the assembled nuns. Fa-
Their Robert spoke of the deep signifi-
canoe Of the day, the feast OF the AS
sumption of the Blessed Virgin into
heaven. In a manner the day marked
the assumption Of the ncwly-reccivcd
nuns, not into heaven but into that par
adise akin to heaven. The noviccs were
admonished to spend the term OF their
probation in devotion and prayer that
they may be worthy to fulfill the mis-
sion to which they aspired. Speaking
particularly to those making the per-
petual VOWS he declared that no higher
dignity could be conferred than to be
made brides OF the heart OF Jesus.
In the absence OF Archbishop Ireland
the ceremonies were necessarily simple,
but they were none the less impressive
and solemn There was an unusually
large attendance OF nuns, two hundred
at least being present. Many OF these
had closed that morning weeks re-
treat and they remained at the academy
for the reception. The postulants max
ing their first VOWS were: Miss Susan
ma Bcnncr Sister Mary Norbcrtinc;
Miss Florence Mcdonald, Sister Mary
Carmel; Miss Flora Shaw, Sister Mary
Fabian; Miss Sarah Dcvinc, Sister
Mary dc Chantal; Miss Agnes Hogan,
Sister Anne Olivia; Miss Teresa Wal
lace, Sister Mary Agnctta; Miss Mary
Poiricr, Sister Mary Amadeus; Miss Al
bina Arsenault, Sister Mary Hortcnsia :;
Miss Jane Mcdonald, Sister Mary
Borga; Miss Gertrude Hcgarty, Sister
Mary Maura; Miss Mary Doucct, Sister
Mary Dcvota.
The four nuns who made annual VOWS
were: Sister Mary Alfred Drobinska,
Sister Mary Sy1vania Lcifcld, Sister
Mary Bertha Gondck, Sister Mary Vir-
ginia Piarr.
| --x--