The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-04-06
A Hallowed Spot.

|
DR.. De Costa, the wcll-known con-
vert and lecturer. recently made a pill
grimage to the grave of his aunt, Nine.
st. Glare. who was so long known and
so devotedly loved in the community
of the Ursulnes in New Orleans.
Sister Mary Clare was known in the
world as Miss Teresa Rcbecca De
Costa and she was n professed men,
Der Of the Mount Benedict Ursuline
Convent, near Boston. This convent
was destroyed by ii mob, composed Of
the famous "Knownothing party" OH
Aug II. 1894. Sister Clare sought ref
ilgc, With others of her Sisters. among
the Trsulines of New Orleans. and
reached there Nov. ii. She became
one Of the most devoted and earnest
members of the community. was noted
for her beautiful simplicity Of heart,
joined to an unusual brillancy Of mind:
she was very pious. and WAS especially
devoted to "0ur Lady Of Prompt Sue
cor" She died, deeply regretted by the
entire community. Sept. p. 1874. and
was buried in the beautiful and pict1lr-
esque cemetery Of the Ursulines. with
in the great grove of pccans in the OK
pansn of land that stretches from the
ether side of tho Dauphine street line
to the lake. 1t was to visit this grave
that DR.. Dc Costa took the trip to the
famous old convent
And his pilgrimage was made tlr,
occasion of Il beautiful demonstration
by the pupils of tho convent. DR.. Dc
Costa was much impressed. and eX-
pressed appreciation and gratitude for
the reception rendered him.
Referring to his visit to tho convent.
lie recalled With vivid emotion his first
visit to his dear departed aunt, Sister
Mary Clare, who was his fathers sis
ter. He was much affected ut the tender
, veneraton in which she was held in
the convent, and among other remarks
he said that, though it took him only
nine days to reach New Orleans. yet
he had been forty years trying to get
| here. That he now stood in this an
cicnt convent in which the holy feet of
Sister Clare had trod. he attributed to
her prayers. to whom, he said, after
God he owed the grace Of his CONVEX
sion. All were profoundly impressed.
After the reception DR.. DE Costa
visited the convent building. and then
he was conducted to the quiet little
cemetery under the pecan trees where
the remains of this vcneratch aunt
have reposcd these twenty-scven years.
~ simple cross and white headboard
with the inscription. "Sister Mary
Clare" mark the spot. but all around
the viOlets and trees are blooming, the
scent of the sweet, fresh clover bloom
ing liz the meadows around fills tho
air. and overhead the birds warblr
their ccascless threnody. 1t was very
sweet and quiet i'll this spot where the
remains of the Ursulincs who have
worked i'll New Orleans from those
first days, in 1870, to the present lie
III their last deathless sleep. 1t was
six o'clock. and the bell in st. Ursula's
chapel tower chimed the "Angelus'
hour
AS DR.. De Costa. accompanied Ivy
Father Demoyel and the good super.
iorcss of the Ursulincs, reached the
grave, all knclt, and the sweet old
Catholic prayer, Which daily unites thu
world in one chain of praise and beHc
dicton at this hour, was recited: then
for long while the aged convert knelt
in holy communion with the dead
Then he rose and left the quiet Gene
terry. and was conducted, ut his re-
quest, to the beautiful chapel Of Our
Lady of Prompt Succor, where he
wished to return thanks before that
altar where Sister Clare had knelt
daily for forty years and prayed for
his conversion.