The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-24
LITTLEBREVETM MONKS
OFANTHONY OF PADUA
A Hundred Make Their Vows
in the Franciscans'
Monastery.
GIRL "MONKS" AMONG THEM
Father ROCHE Tells Of the
Meaning Of the Chill
dren's Investure.
GIRL "MONKS, AMONG THEN

Franciscans in Thompson street threw
their alternating lights yesterday on many
earnest little faces as Father Anthony
eousa invested 100 boys and girls with
the brown habit. cowl and knotted waist
cord of the third order.
A stranger passing through the quarter
later would have been surprised to see
what appeared to be little monks Chamber
Ing gayly over the snow heaps In the
streets and would have been perhaps a
bit startled II his knowledge of ecciesia-
stical legend was slight to observe that
among them were little girl monks of a
prettiness to have disturbed Anthony the
Hermit II not him OF Padua.
But TO the few Irish who still cling
TO a part OF the town that was once their
own ana to the many Italians who have
replaced them the sight was familiar
They knew that once again grateful
mothers applications to the good
saint In Illness or other danger TO their
children had been answered and that the
mothers had consecrated their little ones
to the particular service OF ST. Anthony
for the Lenten season. The brown robes
were the sign OF those vows.
Some ENLISTED for Life.
Some few of the 100 or more children
who knelt before the shrine while Father
6ousa performed the ceremony OF invest
ment will wear part OF the garb OF the
order through life They are the ones
TO whom the saint lent succor In time
Of extreme peril But all OF the children
seemed equally impressed as they knelt
nd ft.t- A, II
spicuous among his Italian playmates.
who looked In truth like a cherub wan
dered from Paradise as the candle light
touched his upturned face.
Above the children a. they knelt was
the figure OF st. Anthony wofsh.pping the
Christ Child. and upon this figure all
eyes were liked Father Sousa placed
ever each head the habit and cowl and
prayed that the wearer might wear them
with fidelity. practising the virtues OF st
Anthony. Then he girded the cord with
the knots, which are for the subjugat ioo
of the flesh. about the waist and said
the prayer that asks for strength that the
wearer may restrain worldly passions.
And soon the children-happy. for there
had been much of gentle kindness behind
the austerity of the words they had
heard-were out In the free air Of the
street again, leaving Father Sousa To his
reveries OF the time when he took the
brown habit for graver and more endur
ing service. and leaving Father Rooche,
who In the long ago piled "A skilled PEN
ell IN newspaper offices from Boston u
Ban Francisco. to tell the story to the re-
porters. In the monastery they spell
II Rooche. but one has only TO listen for
q moment 10 know that by every right
Il should be Roach.
No one could blame the gray haired
father II his talk OF the saints was min.
gled with "reminiscences Of his worldly
life, as when he paused In showing hl5
relic OF ST. Anthony-not the one that
hundf eds kiss on Tu, sdays when the
blessing and veneration of the great
relic take place at the monastery, but the
one which reposes In the reliquary Of
which the father is so proud--when h
paused TO recall he time when he hela
down the late trick on a Boston paper
and did four mems work.
For Just as simply and directly as
he talked of long forgotten trials and
triumphs In the newspaper world. Father
Rooche told of the veneration OF ST.
Anthony and the meaning Of the investi-
ture OF the children.
I'VE do not call them miracles that IN
not quite the word for the wonderful
things that happen. he said But I
have known Of many wonderful happen
lngs. Once "A child fell from second
story window: the mother called out to
st. Anthony and the child landed light
a. q feather on its feet. That child has
ever since"
Then Father Rooche told OF boys
home which he founded in distant city
Ito name 1t and SO place his work would
have been to boast-and OF how when
notes given TO finance the home were due,
no money to be had and his creditors
pressing. he had asked his boys to pray.
and behold next day the notes were re-
newed without trouble
Perhaps" said Father Rooche. "it was
just the faith of my boys--my bid boys
some called them, though l never knew
q bad boy-that did that. ! started the
plan with 80 cents in my pocket and at
the end OF two years the old bills were
paid and there was $4,000 in the bank for
the home"
Garb Worn Next 10 body.
Those who assume the habit OF the
monks for life in fufilment Of their
mothers VOWS, az some did yesterday.
wear. Father Rooche explained. modi-
Ned form of the garb This they wear
under their clothes next to the skin SO
that the knots OF the cord AT every move
Snent will press against the flesh remind
Ing the wearer of his obligations
Father Rooche was eloquent In his de-
scriptions OF the devout throngs that
crowd the church OF the monastery on
Tuesdays when 0Ie relic of ST. Anthony il
brought out II was nothing unusual, he
said. to have from loo to l,400 present.
And don't make the mistake that so
many, even writers on ecclesiastical
topics, make" he cautioned, and speak
OF tho worship Of the relic. V.neration
" the proper term We venerate 81
Anthony for his good works. DO we not
venerate George Washington on this day
for his good works?
Path continued Father Rooche. plac.
Ing his hand on the curly head Of one o,
the little monks who had wandered in
faith II not on the delcine. | have read
the discussion in THE SUN by some Of the
Protestant clergy, but make no mistake
my son. there is no decline In faith WHY
some OF the best men | have known were
IN the Protestant pulpit. once heard one
OF the men ! have In mind preach a feel.
Ing and eloquent sermon to an uudienc.
OF two In his church. So long as such de.
Hoti3n exists there can be no decline IN
The votive candles before the altar were
going out and the place was deserted ex-
cept for an old woman who had witnessed
the investiture Of the hoy monks and nov
knelt telling her beads, The small monk
who had halted by Father Rooche's sid,
stole away 10 Join his companions. and hi
task done OF instructing the reporters III.
priest began 10 tell again OF the day,
when young blood ran high OF days an,