The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-25

as Gethsemane, and after a ride OF ten
minutes over a rough, hilly road and
through picturesque scenery arrives at the
monastery gates. The Trappsts are great
farmers, owning about 1S00 acres OF
ground, and they have a fine lot of cattle,
pigs, chickens and other livestock. Here
at certain hours OF the day one can see
white monks, liz their white habits and
large straw hats, with hoes or rakes in
hand, working. silently in the garden. 1t is
a strange sight to see the silent monks
start out to work, their habits pulled up
over their knees, showing their white leg
gins from beneath, and walking in single
file, just like prisoners going to work. and,
according to the seniority, the brown
brothers likewise march.
The Trappists is a penitential order, and
hence comes the severity of its life and
rule. There are two classes of religion in
every Trappist community, the choir re-
ligious (white monks) and the lay brothers
Drown monks) The former take their
name from the obligations they perform
and from their duties in the choir. They
consecrate themselves by five vows: pow
erty. charity, obedience, stability and re-
formation of manners. They wear a white
wooden habit and scapular (black scapular
when professed), white. long circular cloak.
cowl when professed, white cotton leggins
and black low shoes. The brothers dress
in brown. the colors being practically the
only difference in their dress.
SEVERE ACTS OF PENANCE.
The rules require all to sleep in their
warm and heavy it Is a severe penance in
itself to sleep in these clothes at night after
working in the hot fields during the day.
But this is the only one they feel it their
duty to do. The lay brothers, as members
of the community. bound by the same
vows Of obedience. The hour for rising Is
2 a m, and at that hour the bell in the
dormitory is rung. In a moment the whole
n fc iva s1nn hxr
these white and brown figures glide noise
leSsly down the staircase to the cloister,
keeping close to the wall, their hoods
drawn closely over their heads, which are
slightly bent down. eyes fixed the
ground, hands hanging down motionless by
their sides, wrapped in the sleeves of the
the choir and go to work at various duties
until a. m, when "mista'' breakfast is
served-eight ounces of bread. a little fruit
or cheese and pint OF coffee made of
roasted oats. The monks chant the Office
in the Gregorian style. After mathis the
monks do not return to sleep. but either
pray in church or remain in the chapter
room or cloistcr. Before SEQ a. m. no one
Is allowed to speak. unless for grave ne
cessity.
On certain days, and always on Fridays.
Chapter of Faults takes place. all at
tending but postulants. those who have not
received the habit. After the explanation
crossed it comes forward, and. kneeling-
down before the abbot. kisses the floor and
confesses his fault aloud, for which he is
fault t is Very aI grievous he must discipli he
himself before the community. Kneeling
down on the floor. he is surrounded by the
brothers If a brother. or the monks IL
monk and he disciplines himself until told
to cease by the abbot In some cases they
are forbidden To take any part in the COM
munity OF life. and are practically banished
and discarded until reinstated by the abbot
before the community.
Often one will see on Friday after the
chapter monk or brother lying full length
across the doorsill Of the refectory until the