The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1905-01-07

The first order of religious women
founded in the United States was one
of Carmelite nuns, ut Mount Carmel,
Md. '"rhe Monastery" as it is still
called, was established in 1900. 1t is
more than fourteen years since 1t
celebrated it's centenary. The original
community moved in 1885 from Port
Tobacco. us the site was then geograph-
ically known, to Baltimore, where the
mother house tlourishes. The first
Carmelitc novice in the United States
was Elizabeth Carberry. She is said
to have always yearned for the life,
but there being 10 community for
women in America until the advent of
the Carmelitcs, her desire was unful-
filled until she reached the age of
forty-eiglt years. There are at pres
ent scarcely one hundred Carmelitc
nuns in the United States. Each mon
lStcry is limited to twcnty-One nuns.
II was not until 1868 that Il second
monastery was founded, ut st. Louis.
There are cloistercd now sixteen nuns.
and three out sisters. The latter at
tend To the outdoor affairs of the COM
lnlty. One of the nuns at the Car
mrlitr monastery which was cstab
liSllrd in 1877 at New Orleans, ana
where there are now nineteen pro-
fcSsrd and four out sisters is Il niece
of Il governor of Louisiana.
Cnrmrlitc nuns, as indeed are many
members of NEST of the orders, in
America as in Europe, are what the
world calls Il superior type of women.
One of tllc Baltimore progresses was a
near relative of Francis Scott Keys,
author of the Star Spnnycd Banner"
Aside from brilliant repartcc, she was
notable for always imprcssing upon
the young religious the Importance of
praying for the political, social and
religious welfare Of the country.
| Not until 1890 did the Carmcitcs
penetrate to Massachusetts. At ROX-
bury at present there are twelve nuns.
'l'hr latest monastery was opened at
Philadelphia in 1901. Two daughters
of the late james A. MacMastcr of the
E'rrrman's .Jurunnl, are there as pro-
frsSrd nuns. Archbishop Ryan de-
clnrrs the Philadelphia Carmclitcs the
hcaIllicst. most joyous community in
his diocese.
| All Carmelitc convents approved by
the Holy See. with the exception of Il
few in France and England, observe at
present the rules and constitution of
the Congregation of Italy. Even the
Congregation of Spain has no longer
IL separate existence, but has been
united to the Italian Congregation
and is under the jurisdiction of the
PrOpitiO General at Rome. There are
siXty-fOur Carmclitc monastcries in
France vet unaffected by the law ex-
pclling the rcligicuscs.
In q romance by the Countess of
Nmillcs a young Carmelte religieusc
ayZeS herself Not fantasy, but
fact, is the daily life of Carmelite
nun. as recountcd by this young re-
ligicusc. In her aspirations and yearn-
ing for the higher life she reflects the
soul of all Carmclites.
"Many causes determine the voca-
ton Of n Carmelite num-" says the
Countess heroine. ''Three types of
women are among the postulants
One. hot-housc flower, unconsciously
follows in the springtimc of life the
divine call. She responds without
struggle. Loving solitude, prayer and
the things of God, she goes where one
prays and lives in solitude. A second
type knows the world. has weighed II
and found it wanting Their logical
faith saves them in the austerity of
the clOister.
"a third enters because of the zeal
burning in her heart Since they can.
not be priests or missionaries, preach
Or carry the gospel to all men, they
will be hosts victims. llolocausts
apostles in the eminent apostolic order
Their prayers, sufferings, mortifica.
tions will obtain for objectionable sin.