Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-03-31
eAPuCH|N LIFE
IN DETROIT, MICH.
lGoNHS DO: EXCELLENT WORK
AMONG PEOPLE TO RE-
LIEVE DISTRESS.

AMONG PEOPLE TO RE-
LIEVE DISTRESS.
S
LEAD SIMPLE LIFE
Monastery In Vicinity Of Mt. Elliott
Cemetery One Of Good
Works.
Detroit. Michigan. - The cas-
val stroller In the vicinity OF Mt. FL
liott cemetery often meets bearded
man. barefooted save for rude san
dals, and clad in coarse robe OF
brown material girdlsd with a rope
and hooded with long, peaked coWl.
It is q Capuchin monk, from the
monastery OF st. Bonaventure, abroad
on some errand of mercy, or perhaps
10 perform the Offices of some priest
who IL forced to be absent from his
parish. The dress of the man is Pc
ouliar and attracts the attention OF
she curious, but should you engage
the monk in conversation, you would
hnA in him q man of rather unusual
scholarly ettainments, Of kindly man
ner and simple, earnest attitude to-
ward life.
Whatever may be ones opinion OF
the value of the monastic institution,
there is something in the self-renun-
citation Of these men that challenges
the admiration of the most frivolous.
There u q fascination in the contrast
between tho hubbub OF the outer
world and the restful quiet of the
monastery that deeply impresses
even the worldly man who is permit.
ted q peep within, and leads him to
ask II, after all. these men in somber
garments have not discovered the
best way out of the perplexities Of
existence and the best solution of the
world problem.
Push the button at the door be-
meath the arched entrance; a loud
gong In the inner hall will announce
your coming, and soon brown-robed
brother will open to you and give you
! courteous greeting. Your first i'm
preston of the interior as you are
led into the reception room is of Sc
vsre simplicity with perfect cleanli-
mes. The monks are good housekeep-
srs. setting an excellent example for
I'll keepers of bachelor apartments.
The rooms are bare except for the
most necessary furniture. There are
no carpets, and the chairs are of the
t~h lkn L. 81 ;1hf hoo infu
9n the walls are few religious pic
lures Of the kind familiar in Catholic
Institutions.
The building surrounds a pretty
inner court, after the manner of Eu-
ropean monasteries Here at recre-
alton time you may find one or more
sf the fathers strolling among the
lowers and palms which border the
walks and are sprayed by the waters
Of . tiny fountain. An ancient tree
Or two affords shade, and the ivy
creeping over the gray walls gives
one the impression Of venerableness
which one associates with monastic
architecture.
If It happens to be at the hour of
The vespers you may see the monks in
procession coming from their dining
hall and chanting as they pass: The
tight is most interesting and impress
Bive. This life in which religion u
continually given first place, go that
n his downsitting and his uprising,
It his meals and at his work, in fact,
h every waking moment of his life,
The monk seems to be engaged in
prayer or praise, sets the worldly
nan thinking.
The routine Of life in a monastery
b most exacting. At 1880 the monks
are awakened by gong and prompt
y arise. Fifteen minutes are dsvot-
ID to the toilet; then the day is be-
gun with private prayer and medita-
lion. At $3.50 mass IL celebrated in
The chapel. and at O'Clock the
monks repair to the dining room for.
breakfast. The meal consists of bread
and coffee and il taken in absolute
dlsace, according to the vows of the
order.
After the breakfast the fathers re-
lire 70 study and the brothers begin
their daily tasks; some go to the gar
don, others wash the dishes, mean.
while reciting the rosary. Still 9TH
srs do the chamberwork, while 9TH
ers are busy in bakery, laundry and
all the departments of large house.
hold.
At 1880 dinner is ready and again
In silence the monks take their places
1t the long dining tables. AZ tho
simple meal proceeds, one brother af-
ter another reads aloud for the edit
cation Of all. There is no converse
ton. For an hour after the midday
meal, the fathers have recreation.
during which they are at liberty to
converse for the first time of the
day. At this time they stroll about
the lawns and even engage in game
Of croquet in the sha6e of the big
eress in the rear of the monastery.
During this hour the brothers are
again washing the dishes, drowning
the clatter with the reciting of their
prayers in unison. At 1880 all retire
to their rooms for meditation. At
. e'cleck they assemble for vespers,
after which the fathers again study
While the brothers hetake themselves
to the garden. A s O'Clock they re-
assemble for maths, anticipated
oslee. Supper II taken with the usu.
Il reading and O'Clock finds all in
tAsir rosms for study. At 8 o'clc ok
last prayers Of the day are offeE>d
aAd by O'Clock, al lights mist n
sst: the monks ieaR u fAGfH fella
s 81
A SaH3