PROFESSION AT ST. MARY'S, HOKITIKA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 8, 18 June 1886, Page 21

PROFESSION AT ST. MARY'S, HOKITIKA.

| _ (West Coast Times, May 19.) At eight o'clock yesterday morning a numerous congregation assembled at St. Mary's chapel to witness a most solemn ceremony in the ritual of the Roman Catholic Church, at which four of the sisters of the convent— Sisters Mary Ignatius, Mary Xavier, Mary Gertrude, and Mary Ita, who had already been received, exchanged the white veil for the black, in token that they had renounced the vanities of the world and given up the remainder of their lives to perfect self-sacrifice and never-ending charity. On entering the church it was impossible to avoid becoming impressed with the air of solemnity which seemed to permeite the very atmosphere The I flowers _on the ghtteri ig altars, the burning candles, the four sugo-es- | tive prw-diev* ranged in front of the altar, the black veils visible in ! a basket on a side table. *nd a hundred and one preparations for a I great event-all thes? objects up in which tbe eye, turn what way it would, was continually falling only serrei to increase and intensify this feeling. Up to the strike of c gat this feeing was permitted to hold tall sway, as beyond thi subdued noisi occasioned by the entrance of som-> of the membe s of t ie congregation tbe silence was unbroken. But when the hour struck the doors of the church were flung open, the organ peiled out the Yeni Creator, and a procession ot little girls in blue and white, tbe colours of the Virgin, headed by the Rev. Mother, and followed by the cross-bearer of the Sisterhooa, the novices in white veils and the sisters attendant upon them bearing lighted candles, filed slowly up the nave of the church until arrived at the altar rails, it divided into two, one part gome |to the right and the other to the left,— che four immediately I concerned in the c-remony, kneeling reverently in their places before I tne nign altar. Simultaneous witb this movement, a side door opened aad his Lordship, Bishop Bed wood, in cope and mitre pr-ceded by fi n acolyte bearing the crozier and followed by five of his clergy, amongst whom were Revs. Father Martin, Walshe, and Abeam, came forward and took his stand in front of the altar, the clergy grouping themselves round about him. At this moment the sun, whico had been struggling with the morning mists, shone out and added a wonderful charm to the scene. Right over the altar tne stained glass representation of the crucifixion assumed a reality which was absolutely startling and in wonderful harmony with the time, the place, and the occasion. After some time spent in prayer, his Lordship taking up his stand on the s-ep of the altar addressed a special Bermon to the Sisters about to take the vow —He took for his text the 19th chapter of the Gospel of St. Matthew beginning at the 27th verse In glowing language he depicted the special advantages held out to those who were prepared, in the words of the text, to forsake '♦houses or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands," for the sake of Christ He leminded the congregation that those who were now about to yield themselves wholly up to God were sacrea to God henceforth, and for any one to harm them or for themselves to commit any grave acts contrary to the rules of their Order, would be an act of sacrilege He showed how fitting it was that the reward should be in proportion to tbe completeness of the sacrifice. Henceforth it would be their duty to weld complete obedience to the will of God —visit the sick, the destitute and abandoned ; go forth into places and commune wrh and even love, people most abhorrent to their natures •* lhe sacrifice," conclude! tbe Bishop, " must be complete," and he brought an eloquent and powerful address to a clo c by congratulating the novices upon having, after a long and severe trial of themselves, elected to become the sp.nnes of Christ. After the sermon Holy Communion was rece'ved by the four mvi «,, each of whom was escorted to and from her place by two bisters who walked one on either side of her.

Then came the eventful moment of the morning (at least to four ft morning which will never present itself again,) The Bishop now sat on a chair in front of the altar ready to perform the last act. Rising from the prie-dieus, each novice, again supported on either side by her Sisters, moved slowly up the altar steps and knelt before the Bishop to declare her vow in a tone of voice which sounded resolute and clear. The act of changing the veils was done very simply and quietly ; the black veil was thrown over the white, and the fastenings of the latter having been undone it was withdrawn under cover of the former. It seemed singularly appropriate that upon the completion of the vow, the organ and choir should burst out into a passionate chorus of triumph, being intended to graphically represent the heralding by the angels of a life won to heaven. This waa the turning point in the ceremony, the music from this moment assumed a jubilant triumphant tone, and amongst the congregation a feeling of relief, if not of exultation, seemed to follow the hush and awe of a quarter of an hour before. Then came the Benediction, after which the procession filed out in the same order in which it had entered, with this difference only, that there were no longer four white veils. Thus ended a ceremony which will be long remembered by those who have witnessed it for the first time. In conclusion, we feel bound to say that the solos, the choruses and the organ playing by the Sisters were beyoni praise, and when this excellence was united to the music of the most eminent composers, the effect was that realised by Milton when he wrote, " Lap me in soft Lydian airs, Wedded to immortal verse — "