The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-05-17


discipline be maintained, but no harsh
treatment is melted out to those who
persist in their disobedience. The
Sisters strive by kindness and gentle
ness to awaken in the hearts of their
charges a sentiment of respect for law
and order and to arouse within them
that love for the higher things which
: seems to have departed.
The Daily Routine.
1t is true that the Penitents are not
allowed to lead life of idleness. 1t
would be worse than folly to expect
that any reformation of character
could be effected in the absence of
definite training and healthful occupa-
ton. The younger members of the
class attend school at certain hours
every day where instruction is given
in the ordinary branches, as well as
in Christian Doctrine. In addition to
that they are given an opportunity to
study music, to learn housekeeping, to
do all kinds of sewing and fancy work.
+, The older and stronger ones assist in
the laundry and help in other kinds
of work which they are able to do.
The work in the laundry is exacting,
but not very heavy, owing to the fact
that the greater part of it is done by
the aid of modern machinery which
has been installed at cost of over
twelve thousand dollars. The work
of the girls in the laundry is confined
almost exclusively to folding the diff
ferent pieces such as napkins, table
cloths, bed linens, ETC., used by the
railroads. No family work is taken.
Hence, it is difficult to see how the
girls in the laundry can be over
worked. At times the hours are long
and somewhat irregular owing to de-
lays in train service, but apart from
that there is no hardship imposed up
on them. ~
Nor is it unreasonable to ask that
the inmates help to maintain the in
stitution. The Sisters receive no pay
for caring for the Penitents, any more
than they do for those who belong to
the Preservation Glass; and yet it
necessary that some source of revenue
be provided for the support and up
keep of the institution. The laundry
is the principal source of revenue. 1t
, it were not for that and for the other
work which is done by the Sisters
and inmates it would be impossible
, for the institution to care for those
, who seek it's shelter. At present there
are seventy-five girls in the Penitent
! Glass and of these only one pays any
:, thing toward her support. Everything
!. is done for them without compensa
: ton and purely through love of God
: and charity for His helpless children
n The Consolation of the Good Shepherd
1t is in ministering to these unfort
: innate women that the Sisters of the
Good Shepherd find their chief con
ISOLATION. To reclaim them is the sole
= prove what is now generally admitted
: by all successful social workers, name
] ly, that no genuine and permanent ref
!, ormation of character and conduct i:
: possible in the absence of religious in
: struction and training. The girl whC
: enters the House of the Good Shep
herd, no matter how low she ma!
eral rule. experiences a change o
), heart. She learns to view life from {;
:, different angle. She is brought bacl
: as far as possible to the days of he,
youthful innocence by coming int
2 contact with these noble women il
. . whom charity and gentleness are per
= sonified, whose very presence is ;
!" stimulus to virtuous living and an in
" spiration which allures the sin-dyet
: soul to heroic efforts to conquer it
: weakness and once more regain tn
? path of righteousness. Under tn
: gentle sway of the Sisters tears o
repentance melt the hardened hear
as the hayward girl is shown the sir
= fulness of her life by one who's
: gentle accents do not chide the sinner
= whose words of encouragement an
!. hope are freighted with a messag
!. of divine forgiveness such as religion
!, alone can promise to the fallen. Dc
= PRAYED, indeed, must be the mind an
: heart which fail to respond to the sa
= utary influence exerted upon them b
: the Sisters of the Good ShepherG
whose years of experience in dealin
= with fallen women have given ther
almost an intuition of the best mean
= to be employed in particular case
e The MagdaIens.
e The success which has rewarde
~ their efforts needs no more convincin
" demonstration than that afforded b
e the Magdalens This name is ofte
u given by outsiders to all the penitents
10 but, in reality, it applies only to thos
le who resolve to remain for life in tn
y institution. Among the penitent
II there is a surprisingly large humble
q who respond so generously to the re
le ligious environment that they resolv
Is thenceforth to devote themselves t
s. prayer and modification as unre
"a servedly as they formerly yielded t
II the qualification of their evil inclins
s lions. They resolve to consecrate tn
remainder of their days to God in tn
seclusion of the religious life; and a
soon as they furnish convincing proc
Ie of true reformation they are ad
1t mitted into the Magdalen House a
70 candidates, provided their health vii
'e permit them to observe the strict rule
n laid down for their guidance. It i