The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-02-28
A Night in Mount Melleray. c

elllS 1feluuu WHITES interestingly VI I'LL
overnight visit at the famous Irish
home Of the Fathers La Trappe. After
describing his journey thither, down
the lovely Blackwater and across the
wooded hills of Cappoquin, he con-
tinues:
Il arrived at the monastery about
five D. H., just as the sun was dis
appearing over the summit of the
mountains, and was made welcome by
one of the Brothers.. In due course
l met the guest master, who is priest,
and lie made the necessary arrange
ments for my stay over night. There
is Il large visitors book in the hall of
the guest-house, a glance over which
in sufficient to show how numerous are
the claimants of the monks hospital
ity, and from what remote parts of
the world many of them have journey
ed. Both the guest-master and the
Brothers who assist him are dispensed
from the observance of silence, and
are quite ready to assist the visitors
and to give them all the information
they require.
'Te;l-which is the last meal of the
day-was served at 5:15. A loud ring
ing OF the guest-house bell brought
all guests together. l was interested
in studying the different classes of
which they We're made up. In addi'
ton to four or five priests. there were
a few professional men, some farmers,
not a few tourists. and Il dapper little
Frenclman who had come to the mon
astery with Il large assortment, as he
had told me, of silver, steel, bone, and
pearl beads, which are bought i'll large
quantities by the Fathers to be used
later on in the making of rosaries, i'll
which work many of the Fathers and
Brothers excel. Subsequently the ros-
aries are sold to such of the guests
as ask for them, but only at figure
which will cover the actual cost of the
materials.
arrived in the refectory, we took
our places ut the tables which sur
rounded the walls. The tables were
uncovered but scrupulously clean. We
had excellent tea and plentiful sup
ply of bread-white and brown-with
delicious butter. All the comestibles,
the tea and sugar excepted, are manu-
factured at the monastery. During
the meal one of the monks entered
noiselessly, and, seating himself in the
embrasure of the window, read to us
certain passages from devotional
work, which emphasized in Il manner
the most unmistakable the emptiness
of all our mundane joys, and the per-
After tea we were at liberty to walk
in the garden, which stretches i'll front
of the door of the guest-hOuse. and
which is we'll laid out and planted
with Il number of shrubs chosen evil
IDENTITY with Il view to the elevated
position of the monastery. At this
hour the visitors who are making only
IL short stay. and who wish to go to
confession. can arrange to have Il
priest sent to them for that purpose.
immediately beyond and adjonin.
! the monastery garden there is il large
field several acres in extent, which is
given over completely to the produc-
ton of vegetables. Considering that
the monks never touch meat. it will
be easily understood that the cultiva-
ton of vegetables of all sorts forms a
highly important feature in tile out-of-
door work at Mount Melleray.
lat 6 p. H.. the bell summoned us to
the church. and shortly after we had
entered and taken our places the
lnonks made their appearance, clad III
brown i'll the case of the lay brothers,
the priests wearing the white cowl,
which gave them Il singularly impress
sive appearance. Here in the rapidly
gathering twilight Compline was sung
to tones which. although not remark
able for their sweetness, vet struck
rather pleasantly on the ears of the
listeners. Later on the evening hymn
was sung. with organ accompaniment,
after which certain prayers were re.
cited in English. Immediately the
clock struck seven, the monks left the
church, and after them followed the
visitors. The abbot stood ut the door
with the asperges, and gave the holy
water to each guest as he passed
1T seemed strange to have to go to
ones room and get to bed at Z y. H.,
on lovely autumn evening. But this
is the rule of the monks of Melleray.
and willy nilly, we had to obey it,
At midnight the monastery bell rang
out for the Angclus, and again at 2
a. M, it called the monks to the sing
ing of Mathis. At $50 a. m., the guests
We're aroused, and at six we were
gathered in church for morning devo-
tions.
Before leaving the monastery was
permitted to inspect the dormitory of
the monks. 1t consists of IL number
of little cubicles running down each
side. each surrounded ny curtain.
The bed OH which the monk sleeps is
of about the width of a coffin. Ex-
IRENE simplicity and equal cleanliness