The Washington herald., 1909-02-03

One OF the most solemn and impressive
rites Of the Catholic Church. one seldom
witnessed in this city, took place IN St
Aloysius' Church yesterday. when Rev.
Father Joseph P. O'ReiIly, S. J, vice
president Of Gonzaga, and prefect Of
studies in that college, made solemn
profession Of his final vows as priest
OF the Society Of Jesus.
This impressive service, marked with
great simplicity Ike every important
ceremony connected with the order, sees
the priest meeling before the altar
clothed in the robes OF the society, OF
which he has been a member for eighteen
years. making his solemn vows Of pow
erty. chastity, and obedience. piedging
to the service OF God his mind. his body
and strength and renouncing his will. his
family. and all that men hold dear on
earth.
This vow cannot be taken until the
Jesuit has reached the age OF thiTty-three
years, nor until he has been eighteen
years in the society.
The ceremony took place az the Z
o'clock mass Rev. Father Charles "
Lyons. S J.. rector OF St AlOysius
Church. was the eelebrant A. the time
OF the communion Father O'ReIlly ap-
preached the altar, end there kneeling
while facing the officiating priest who
held the sacred host in his hands. he
publicly pronounced those last solemn
VOWS which made him q pTofessed father
Of the Society OF Jesus.
System of Training.
The system OF training FOR the Jesuit
priesthood IS said to exhibit the most
profound knowledge OF the human heart
and the most correct appreciation of the
religious instincts and impulses OF man
kind.
That which prescribes the training 70
which each member OF the order shall be
subject IS the most important part Of
what is known as the constitution Of the
Jesuit order. The formation. as It IS
called, OF the Jesults takes about eight
cen years. As a rule. before entrance into
the order he has already pursued studies
equivalent 10 those required fo- the col
legiate degree Of A 2.
The first two years of novitiste are
spent in spiritual exercises. prayers. med
itation. and ascetic reading. in practice OF
modification. and IN humble occupations
of various kinds
Father O'ReuIy. Ike ali novices OF the
order IN the Maryiand-New York prov
ince. made his novitiate at Frederick.
Nd That novltiate has since been trans
ferred 10 Poughkeepsie. y. Y
Took Simple Vows.
At the end OF the second year IN the
novitiate he took what are called simple
vows. by which the novice binds himself
to the society. but the society does not
then bind itself 20 him.
Then begins the scholastic coUrse-two
years OF study Of the humanities and
the modern languages. After this three
years are given 20 philosophic and scien-
tihc studies, during which. though a
definite course Is not marked out FOR
all. opportunities are provided for those
who wish to pursue special studies.
At the completion Of these seven years
Of study the young Jesuit. usually now
about twenty-five years OF age, Is sent 20
teach for i've years in a Jesuit college
II he has shown prediction and talent
for some special study, he VIII, as far as
circumstances permit, be assigned 70
teach this branch
After the period Of college work. the
Jesuit studies theology fer three years,
and IS then advanced TO holy orders
The magnum collegium OF this province
Is at Woodstock. and there the schOlss-
tics pursue their philosophy and theology,
and II is al that college that they are OF
dained 70 the priesthood
Father O'Reilly was ordained there by
Cardinal Gibbons August Il, 1S9l-
Enters ParoehiaI Work
For one year more theological studies
are continued. and then the young priest
devotes four or five years OF his life &c
parochiaI work OF college life. aftel
which he is sent back 70 the novitiate q
make his tertiansfip. During this year
the third OF his probation. the Jesuit de-
votes himself exclusively to the study o.
spiritual things. his own character, the
ways and means CT the institute Of the
/ society, its rules and constitution.
A thirty-day retreat Of silence and
praver. according TO the method q the
Spiritual exercises OF St. Ignatius, IS
made during this year. After this final
year Of probation the candidate is admit
ted to the last solemn vows as professed
by Father O'Reilly yesterday.
A Jesuit must canvass for no ONCE and
take no ecclesiastical dignity unless con
strained 10 do so by the Pope
Father O'ReiIIy was selected for the
rost of nrafect Of studies at GonzazC
College because Of his literary attain
ments. He was born in New York City
January 1S, 1874, and his earliest education
was received at ST. Francis Xavier Col
iege in that city His family resides II
New York His father is well known n
steamship circles and controls q large
interest in the Cuban steamship lines.
One sister IS q nun In the order Of
Mercy in New York, and his brother is q
prominent real estate man IN that city.
His mother was prevented, by the Sc
verify OF the weather, from witnessing
the impressive ceremony yesterday.