The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1909-06-19

Bishops have sent them there to medi-
tate and learn humility, they have
shown themselves inclined to be strong
headed or over opionated. Other priests
also go there OF their own will, to rest.
During these retreats they are not per-
mitted to enjoy the liberty that is
granted to people from the world
The monastery is self-supporting, for
! its expenses are slight. A college for
boys is just outside the grounds, and
five of the monks teach there by spe-
cial permission. The school is hardly
a source of income, however. The
LOO acres of land owned by the monks
| yield somewhat more, for the hogs
| sheep, cattle and poultry raised here
are sold, and the ground Yields 1000
bushels of corn and 200 bushels of
wheat a year.
Fine fruits are grown here, and the
inmates are allowed to partake of them
in moderation. They may also drink
moderately of cider and wine, which
they make themselves. and they make
a good cheese, which they are also per-
mitted to eat OF bread each man has
enough. it being the duty of those who
serve at the tables to keep supplying
it until the monk ceases to eat. 1t is
q coarse, brownish bread of slightly
sourish taste. like that of pumpernic-
kle, but is evidently nutritious.
AS the monks enter the dining-room
they take places marked by their
names, each sitting on stool facing
toward the center of the room. and
each provided with a napkin, cup and
plate of tin, knife, and wooden fork
and spoon. Meat. fish and eggs are
forbidden. and govt is entirely un-
known. Where the average cost of
meal is three cents the subject need
never fear disorder
Entrance to the Trappist order is not
easy. It is right that such should be
the case. The life is one that calls for
peculiar traits of mind and a stout
physique. Moreover, it is not to be
lightly taken on, for aman who is once
a monk is monk for the rest of his
days, and he breathes his last in the
habit of his brethren, who will lay his
uncoffined form beneath the sod.
The postulant who has expressed
wish to join remains in his secular
dress during the Will of the Abbot
possibly for six months. He then dons
the white dress of the novice. After
nOvitate of two years a vote is TAX
en- as to his admission. If he lacks
one vote of the majority he is rejected
Three years will elapse before he takes
all the obligations, so that by the time
he has entered the choir his infirrlities
if he has them, of temper or worldli-
ness, are known to the others. and if
he is untitled for the monastic life he
is plainly told so and the doors open
outward for him, never to swing the
other way again.
1t is not always young men who en-
ter. One has just been admitted who
had waited for thirty years. He was
refused before on the ground that his !
mother, who has just died, was depend |
ent on him. One keeps his position ac-
cording to the time of his entrance, so |
that if a Cardinal were admitted at
noon and you had been chosen at II |
o'clock you would take priority over
the Cardinal for the rest of your days |
The affairs of the monastery are adj |
ministered by the Abbot and Prior |
with a council which is chosen by the |
Abbot. Speech is freely permitted at |
the meeting of the council, as it is to !
the two keepers of the gate, the pro-
curator, who buys and sells for the in
stitution. and the guest brother. Speech |
is not, however, a privilege that is val
ued, and nobody strives for office. The
monk would rather give his time en-
tirely to contemplation and prayer. He
aims to live a spiritual life This |
world" as he says, speaking in the per-
son of the Prior, lis probation. We
are preparing for another life and we
want to make this as perfect as pos
sible We gain perfection through |
from the strifes, tempta-
lions and anXieties of the world"
On entering the monastery one is con-
fronted by these legends on the wall; I
they contain the sum of the monks
philosophy: ooh, how great is the hap
piness of a religious who desires and
possesses nothing upon earth" IF you
desire to enter here. leave your body at
the door. Here is space only for your
soul"