Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-05-05
BRO. JOHN, TRAPPlST, AGED 9.
The Life of Child Monk of the Strict
est Sect In Canada Monastery.
(Catholic Transcript

Let me introduce to you Brother John,
monk; residence, Trappist monastery,
Okla; age. nine years. Nine years old,
monk and happy as the day is long.
Nine years old, with more grit, earnest
ness and strenuousness i'm his boy make
up than are usually found in lives of
full grown people. Nine years old and
possessed of sufficient knowledge of the
world to detest IL and of sufficient love for
God to give up all in order to serve Him!
Nine years old. at Okla, in the brown
habit and cowl serious, silent, meditat-
ing doing penance and chopping wood;
this IL Brother John.
But where is Okla? 1t is a little Cana
dian settlement founded by the Indians
long years ago and renowned as trad
ing place, situated on the Ottawa river,
near its confluence with the St Law
renee. short distance of to the east,
on the mountain side. is the Trappist
monastery-a large stone main building
OF severe aspect. with its numerous out
houses. shops, diaries, etc. nesting in a
depression of the slope. Away from II
on all sides stretch acres OF finely Guilt
waited land, orchards and vineyards. The
monastery shelters some sixty monks of
the strictest order in the church. all OF
whom are intensely interesting to the aV-
erage outsider, and one IS sure to mon
opolize the attention of the visitor from
the start and give him food for refec-
tion for many a long day after his de-
parturc from Okla.
Let us remember he Is 9. His usual COM
panlon. IN whose company l found him, is
Brother Celestin. a giddy young thing Of
IS or Whereabouts. and behind him Brother
John Walks with downcast eyes, solemn
tread. and serious mien. He never talks,
he fasts and keeps vigil he prays and
chants and works-leads the life of gen.
ulne monk. this marvellous youngster or
another and better age. II he breaks the
rule which happens sometimes, he con-
fesses his fault I'm the community hall be-
fore the father abbot amt brothers assem-
bled. and accepts MS penance with the
philosophic humility of the most hardened
weather-beaten anchored.
When you meet him he will not look up;
II he surmises you are staring at him. he
will try to direct your vision to the patch
es on the back OF his faded habit; II forced
TO face you. he will blush from ear to ear
ike young culprit caught with his finger
In the jam. He viii answer your question
with a Yes and No II the abbot or
iers him to speak. but he will give unmis-
taxable signs of anxiety to be OF and en-
gagged in some more profitable occupation
than posing for the curiosity of visitors.
Is he happy? Well. with due considera-
ton for the value of words. that is put
ting it very likely. The fact is he simply
revels in being a monk. This is his own
element; he was made for 1t and II for
him, and he lives this life to his little
hear s content.
HIS father brought him over here a year
ago because the lad, having heard of the
place, by dint Of torrnentng had exacted
a promise, and the promise had to be kept.
Once there, he hazarded the remark that
IL would be a good place to stay. He was
diplomatic in his advances: first asked,
then begged, pleaded, besought and finally
insisted on staying. What would mamma
say? Plenty of others at home, twelve or
fourteen, to take up mammals time, and
what else does she want than to know her
boy Is happy? What would the abbot say?
That could be ascertained by consulting
him. And the abbot examined this novel
postulant. He acquainted himself with
the particulars OF the case and as much
to humor this extraordinary fancy that
had taken possession of the boy as to give
the case test, consented to allow him to
remain for a two weeks trial. Those two
weeks were as good as a lifetime. That
was enough, and more than enough. Like
the hero Of Malakoff, he whispered in his
own ear that night while going to bed:
Here / am, here stay" and he did. A
week, a month passed with no sign of re-
pentance sn his part. Suggestions were
evaded, proposals to return home were
rejected. Then his attitude assumed a
ccaxing character not to be turned away.
re would try and deserve the honor of
remaining. And there he is yet, without
a doubt 20 remain as long as Brother Ce-
lestin has been there. and that is a long
time.
His father visits him from time to time.
Brother John Is glad 10 see him. asks for