The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-10-25

some time, while candle boxes served the purpose. Many obstacles had to be met with the overcome and 1t was only through years of persever. ing hard work and the continued generosity of friends of the Shrine that the present institution has been achieved and is maintained.
 1t was on March az. 1925, that ground was broken for regular monastery to take the place of the residential dwelling, which had be- come too small to house the increas- ing number of Sisters. Building be- gan shortly after, and on Nov, l. the cornerstone was laid by the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Thomas H. Mclaughlin, s. T. D., delegated by the Most Rev erend John J. O'Connor, D. D., late Bishop of Newark. After the base- ment was completed, work had to be discontinued. It wrs only after l2 years that the resumption of the building could be undertaken, In June 1889, the Sisters moved into theri new monastery which was formally dedicated the following September l5 by His Excellency the Most Reverend Thomas J. Walsh, Archbishop of Newark,
 The Monastery of Our Lady of the Rosary has now become well known as Rosary Shrine" through its great semi-annual Rosary Pilgrimages in honor of Our Lady. The community had been located in Summit but 0 short time when some kind bene. factors surprised the Sisters by bringing e little group of friends, nineteen in all, who came on pN- grimage from Q distant city, ane asked permission to make process sion on the exterior grounds. De- voutly tho little band of pilgrims proceeded reciting the Rosary and singing hymns to Our Lady, When leaving, they declared this was only the first of many such pilgrimages, This pilgrimage idea seemed an im- possibility and nothing further was thought of 1t. But 1t was evidently the will of God for insistent urgings to foster this work came from 0 number of different sources, and learning that the Monastery Of Prouille, the cradle of the Order, had been Q place of such pilgrimage for centuries, the Sisters, aided by the Dominican Fathers, consented to this form of devotion to Our Lady, A small chapel-like grotto was erected on the grounds and was ded- icated at the first public pilgrimage on May 9, 1921, for which the Dom- inican Tertiary Pope, Benedict XIV sent the Apostolic Blessing, grant, ing @ plenary indulgence ito all the faithful who would participate in the Pilgrimage to the Shrine Of our Lady of the Rosary, Summit, N Jr U, s. A." Two thousand was the es- timated attendance at this first pil- grimage which since has grown to many thousands,
 The life observed by the Summit community Is the same, with only minor differences, as that of the first Dominican cloister founded by st. Dominic, in 1906, ct Prouille, France, although more than 700 years have elapsed. The Divine Of- flee, which priests are bound to re. cite, is solemnly chanted ct the can onical hours in their choir in pres- ence of the Most Blessed Sacrament The Dominican Liturgy and rubrics are observed according to ancient usage. Alteration of the Most Bless ed Sacrament Is perpetual, as IS the Perpetual Rosary (also known as Marys Guard of Honor) to which many living In the world consider themselves privileged to unite.
 Since the cloistered Dominican Nuns are contemplatives, their hte is prominently one of prayer aifu penance for the santicihcation of their ow nsoulS and for the salva- ton of the world. The world knows little and often cares little about hidden lives in the cloister; how. ever, men living in the spirit or faith have no doubt but that their prayers and sacrifices bring many blessings on the world and often shorten days of just punishment from God. The works Of charity, such as teaching and nursing or those engaged in the active aposto- late, are more visible and therefore can be better appreciated. To these, however, the contemplative aposto- late is inseparably united for 1t IS on the prayers and penances Of the cloister that missionaries, teachers, prachers, etc., depend for the suc- cess of their work. That Is why the church ever regards her Contempla- tive Odders, be they Carthusians, BenedictineS, Trappists or Cloistered Dominicans as the spiritual arsenals wherein the Active Orders draw light and strength to continue their numberless works of charity.
 A public hour for peace has been kept at Rosary Shrine every Sun" day afternoon since the beginning of the war. This public hour unites the people with the Sisters, who day and night succeed one another in keeping unbroken Holy Hours in their Chapel. Realizing the need Of those in the Armed Forces and ap- preciating their heroic sacrifices for Our Country, the Sisters have pledged their rosaries day and night for our boys, Since December 8, l941 when "Our Lady'S Service Book" was started for the benefit of those in Military Service, over thirty-five thousand names nave been registered and medals have ben sent to every one enrolled. Thus 1t is that Rosary Shrine continues in our days the work begun in the 18th century in the first Dominican Monastery, an dever strives to be an armory of the supernatural where those whose hearts are heavy with the sorrows of life may find strength and comfort and where many souls may be helped te the fountains of