The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-06-07

simple rule that at least one watcher
must remain at the end OF the hour
until those of the succeeding hour
arrived At first there was so much
doubt as to whether the movement
would be lasting that no public
mention was made of the new practice.
The first night watch was kept in
January, 1909, and it was not until the
following spring that it was mentioned
in the public notices at the outset of
each month. The Cardinal-Archbish-
op, during a visitation in the early
summer, addressed a gathering of the
men belonging to the Nocturnal Adora-
ton and expressed his warm approx
al of the devotion and the hope that
it would be taken up by other church
es. 1t was about this time that one
of the members, reading the old rec
ords of the famous preReformation
Convent of Syon at Isleworth, found
that in these old Catholic days one
of the devotions of the Community
was the alteration of the Blessed Sac
i
year So the practice at Isleworth
is a revival from the days of Faith in
England.
None of those who have thus kept
the watches at Isleworth for fifty
nights belong to the leisured class.
Many are working men, who, after
thus breaking their nights rest, have
! r1xy
The experience of this suburban mis-
sion proves that what is done in so
many places in Catholic countries is
possible also in England. At the
Cologne Eucharistic Congress speak
err, advocating the establishment of
Confraternities of the Nocturnal Ado
ration, said that for beginning one
need only ask for "ten men of good
will" At Isleworth the numbers have
been, throughout between twenty and
thirty. The organization is the very
simplest 1t is worked as kind of
inner circle of the Mems Guild of the
Blessed Sacrament. At the beginning
of each year the list is revised, though
at any time in the year new names
can be added, or the hours altered to
suit the need of an individual member.
The list is printed on card, and each
member receives his card with his
name and hour underlined in red ink.
With the list is printed note Of the
dates of the nights of alteration, and
the following brief working rules
The alteration begins at 9 p m. on
the Thursday evening and continues
, till the first Mass on Friday morning.
At the end of the hour at least one
, watcher must remain until the watch
, ers of the next hour arrive. This is
to prevent any accidental interruption
of the watch through the night during
? which the members of the Nocturnal
Alteration have the high honour OF
: being the guards of the Blessed Sacra-
, ment.
If as the first Friday approaches any
member finds that he will no. be able
to be present at his appointed hour,
: he should inform as soon as possible
the secretaries, who will arrange for
4 a substitute for the hour. Men wish
: ing to join should give their names to
L the secretaries.
. The list and rules are also shown
@ on the notice board in the church
and on this list alterations and addi
tons of names are made when neces
sary. In case of watcher being unable
to attend a substitute is found from
those available from some other hour
or it is arranged that his predecessor
shall remain for an extra half-houl
and his successor on the list come hall
o an hour earlier. The system of work
+ ing is thus simplicity itself. On the
a eve of the watch post card reminders
4 are sent to at least one of the me1
J. of each hour, and an official of the
n Guild is present at 9 p. m. on the
o Thursday and sees that the two frs
q "adorers" are there. Once the watcl
r. is thus started the rule that the sentr!
II does not leave his post till the relic
Il replaces him ensures that the watcl
n will be unbroken.