HOW NUNS ARE "PROFESSED."

Otago Witness, Issue 1945, 4 June 1891, Page 35

HOW NUNS ARE "PROFESSED."

It seems to be the custom nowadays to look upon a nun either as an unfortunate being of weak intellect, who is scarcely responsible for the step she has taken in " leaving rhe world," as it is termed, or as the still more unfortunate victim of some boirible conspiracy. A little consideration, however, will show us that it by no means follows that " leaving the world " is the , fir3t step towards a career of misery, but that even a nun may have some gleams of sunshine to brighten the sombre sameness of her most uneventful conventual life. Certainly, for the pleasures that help to make her life enjoyable to immure herself for the rest of her days in a convent, where she will be expected to vow voluntary poverty, perpetual chastity, and entire obedience, and to devot9 the rest of her life entirely to the service of heaven, is an act of heroism which is seldom surpassed. But on«fcbe other hand, it must be remembered that in . making this sacrifice she leaves behind her not only the pleasures, but the cares and troubles of the world, and enters upon a life of perfect calm and repose, which before now has called menarena from the/r thrones. With these few wordsj»f preface we propose to uhow the varionalteteps by which a young lady who hah resolved on taking this course ceases to exist as " Miss So-and-so " and becomes transofrmed into " Sister Mary " or " Sister Clare." A nun, by her " profession," is supposed to be wedded to heaven, and the Ceremony begins in many respects like a wedding. The young lady, if she is wealthy, gives a rich dowry to the order she is joining ; for' whei. once she becomes a nun she ceases to possess anything of her own. She appears dressed for the ceremony in her richest clothing, loaded with whatever jewellery she may have, and led by a friend also as beautifully dressed as any bridesmaid. Thus attired she proceeds slowly up the church (or perhaps the convene chapel), to a seat prepared for her before the altar. Here she listens attentively to a discourse from the priest on the duties of the state she is going to embrace, after which she auswerss his questions as to whether she is taking this step volun tjrily, is in a fit disposition to be a nun, and so on. This dune, the moment arrives when she is tc make her vows and to take her farewell of the vanities of /the world. She prays silently for a few moments, then stands er&t, and with a movement as noiseless as it is sudden, sinks extended before the altar.

As a sign that she is now dead to^he world the assistant thows over hei a black pall, and the solemn pause which ensues is only broken by the organ pealing forth the mournful strains of a hymn ,for ihe dead. After some minutes the music gradually' dies away, and the youne novice — for she has not yet become a nun— 3B raised to her feet. She advances with solemn steps to the priest, and bows her head while he clips one of her haugitg locks — the whole of her hair is j*f terwards cut off — to remind her that she must now renounce all vanities. Her " bridesmaid " then removes what jewellery or other ornaments she may have on, and lays them at her feet, while her splendid dress is thrown off and replaced by the long, plain, monastic robo. After the hair is removed her forehead is covered with spotless linen, her head and shoulders with a white veil, as a symbol of innocence, and a crucifix is placed ia her hand.

Kneeling once more before the altar she utters her last vow — that of obedience ; and at this moment the .organ and the ohoir

together join in a hymn of triumph. " Miss So-and-so " exists no longer, and the name of " Sister Clare " is added to the convent roll.

The ceremony finished, the newly professed sister must be received by the Lady Abbess and the rest of the little community. For this purpose, unless the ceremony takes place in the convent chapel, in which case all the nuns will be assembled there, a procession is formed, and the young " sister " is led from the church to the convent, where all the nuns will be found grouped around the altar, which is one blaze of light, and beautifully decorated. Each nun holds in her hand a .lighted taper, and they seem to be arranged in order of seniority — the Abbess, eurrounded by the oldest nuns, in the centre, and the latest novices on the outskirts of the group. The youngest member of the order is here received and embraced by the Lady Abbess, then by each of the nuns in tarn. She is now regularly installed.

Of coarse different "orders" may have slightly different ceremonials of their own, but that which we have described is the essence of ths " profession " service. These different orders have all different methods of employing the energies thus given to the service of heaven. One order devotes itself to " perpetual adoration," there are several teaching orders, several nursing orders, but probably the most noble of all are composed of those who, though ladies by education and by birth — many of them are even women of title or rank — are not ashamed to beg from door to door for the benefit of the poor and the infirm. These are rightly named the "Sisters of Charity," and we have them working here in London in our very midst. — English paper.