THE EXPELLED DOMINICANS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 39, 22 January 1886, Page 21

THE EXPELLED DOMINICANS.

Thb Dominicans expelled by the French Government from Lyons who took refuge in Holland, reoeived not long ago a visit in their monastery at Rijokholt from Mgr. Van den Branden de Keeth, Titular Bishop of Erythia formerly Auxiliary to Cardinal Deschamps, Archbishop of Mechlin. Mgr. Van den Branden de Keeth had come to confer Holy Orders on a certain number of novioes. It was the first time within the memory of man that tbe people of the little village had ever seen a bishop in Bijckholt. It was a great event in the calender of tbe place. On the evening of the coming of the Prelate the young men of the village built arches of triumph, in spite of the pouring rain. The community of tbe monastery prepared themselves to receive him. After the ceremony of the reception of the Prelate had taken place, the Prior made an appropriate address. Among other things the Prior said that this house, which had become the asylum of two novitiates, was, in spite of all trials, a guarantee of the future, and. more than ever, since the bishop was about to confer Holy Orders, a convent of hope. This thought seemed to strike tbe Bishop, and later, after bis solemn entry into the church, and while conversing familiarly with tbe friars he cried out : "Behold me in the house of hope I" Tbe ceremony of tbe ordination was most impressive and touching. It was a pathetic reunion of the sons of France, exiled for Christ's sake. The number of those ordained was not large— three receiving the order of priesthood— but the unction of the Prelate and the fervour of all present gave a solemnity to tbe occasion to which throngs of aspirants and a grand cathedral could not have added. The people of tbe village crowded into the little chapel, built to hold about fifty, and it was thronged by devout worshippers, happy in the honour which this little company of pious exiles had brought them. In order to prevent suffocation, and perhaps an accident, the Prior was obliged to let the men into the choir and the space immedietely in front of tbe small altars. The women did the best they could by standing, during the ceremony, on the back benches, while those in front remained seated. Their eagerness and fervour were remarkable. When this time of joyful edification was over, and tbe Bishop was about to depart, be paused to read, on the facade of the convent : " Ad te clamatnns, exules filii Gallise !" «• Yes," he cried, •• these cries will produce their effect."