The Irish standard., 1904-03-19
A BLIND s1srERHoop.
Said to be the Only One of it's Kind
in the World.

>>HASA .>A,ss
ed with it's religious orders, and We
not know the one which is the subjec
of this sketch. 1t is unique in the fac
that it is the only one of it's kind in thu
world, says Contributor" in Naza
reth Chimes.
Almost opposite the observatory i.
the long street, Rue Denfert-Roche
reau, so full of religious houses tha
i'll the olden days it was given the
name of the street of Charity or OF
Paradise. Most of these converts have
branch houses in many countries. One
there is that, while doing work MOI
so much as attempted by any Other
religious order in the world, is vet sc
unassuming in it's quiet usefulness
that it's existence is known to very
few.
At the far end of the Rue Denfert
Rochereau (No. SS) we arrive at the
long gray wall that incloses the con.
vent of the Blind Sisters of st. Paul
The object of this order is to Offer
to those who are blind, and who wish
to give themselves whol.y to God, the
happiness and help of the religious
life; for to those whose eyes are closed
to all the beauties of this life there is
o.ten given an especial love for the
Gcd to whom their intirmity renders
them the dearer, and for whom the
life of nun is more suited. Before
the siehtless eyes of the blind there
hangs veil that forms lifelong
cloister
AT st. Paul's there are about sixty.
six nuns, ha44 of whom are blind. All
these Sisters, Les Soeurss Voyantes
those who have their sight as we'll as
the blind, follow the same rule. On
those who Lave their sight devolves
lie greater part of the manual work
The work in the kitchen, the service
of the meals, the cleaning and care
of Tie house and the care of the blind
children. The blind devote them
selves more especially to prayer. an(
so bring down blessings on the con
vent
They have. however, plenty of use
full occupation. Some have classes OF
music, reading or even writing. They
take their turn in reading aloud in the
lefectory, at the time of the meals ~
so we'll have they mastered the art OF
reading with their fingers that the
most distinct of all the voices are
those of the blind Sisters. Many oc
cupy themselves in printing journals
and books for the use of the blind.
Very close is the union between
those Sisters who have their sight ant
those who have it not. 1t is a Seem
Noyant table. where. kneeling. they
together receive holy communion. Bu
it is often the blind Sister who lead.
the way to the tribunal of that lovet
nod to whose service they have boil
conspcrated themselves. for it has beel
remarked that when Il blind Sister ules
it is almost always Il Soeur Voyan
who is next to follow.
The little blind Chi rem learn from
the Sisters how to endure PATIENT,
ana with courage. for the sake OF
the good God, the trials and the neces
sary Affections of their lives. Thi.
courage sometimes manifests itself il
!: most unexpected manner. One littlt
child during Il terrible operation
which was performed upon her eye.
begged not to be chlOroformell, but in
stead that the Superioress would lei
her hold in her hand Il crucifiX Fol
Il long quarter of an hour the little
one suffered without so much as n cry.
and when the operation was COM
pleted the crucitiX was found bent
from the pressure of the little finger.
convulsed with pain.
There are little affairs of Our Lad,
in all the rooms. and in the wOrkroou
where blind women of all ages employ
themselves in making nets or brusle,
or in knitting. There is an especial,
beautiful altar in the novitiate, wher,
there are both Soeurs Voyantes ant
those who have lost their sight. 1t i.
difficult to explain to those who have
not witnessed 1t how sheltered anf
sweet are the lives of these blind re
ligious.
They, with the other nuns, begi,
the day with prayers in the chapel
meditation, office of the Blessed Vir
gin. followed by the Holy Mass. Thel
comes breakfast in the refectory Two
by two the nuns enter, Soeur voy
ante Leading Sister who is blind
After breakfast they dispense to thei
different occupations till midday whel
they have dinner. Afterward ther,
is recreation in the large garden. Thi
garden is very charming. In one por
ton Of 1t the nuns who are professe,
walk together, and in the other tn
novices. The paths are sheltered b,
large and beautiful trees. 1ihere i
also an extensive kitchen gardel
which yields splendid supply O
vegetables. And in addition there I:
the playground for the children.
At o'clock vespers are said, and a
the Rosary is recited. Later OH tler