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 THE LIFE 
 
 
 OF 
 
 « 
 
 f^^hW maS% ephraim, 
 
 / 
 
 A NOTICE OF HIS SISTEK3IARY EPMAIM, 
 
 A RELIGIOUS OF LA TRAPPE. 
 
 Fugit ipse et Soror ^us in montes, et reliquerunt quoecunque habebant in civi- 
 tate. — 1 5Uc. ii. 
 
 POBUSHED WITff THE APPROBATION OF 
 
 THE RIGHT REV. BISHOP OF PHILADELPHIA. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 PUBLISHED BY H. & C. McGRATH, 
 
 297 MARKET STREET. 
 
 1856.
 
 i* 
 
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1856, by 
 
 H. & C. McGRATH, 
 
 In the Clerk's Offieo of the District Court of the United States, in and 
 for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA : 
 
 STEREOTYPED BY GEOROE CDARLES. 
 
 I'RIMUD liY KINO & BAIHD. 

 
 3A' 
 
 LIFE OF 
 
 FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 S 
 
 00 
 
 K INTRODUCTION. 
 
 oq Chapter I^ 9 
 
 Zj 
 
 Chapter II, 32 
 
 W CHAPTER I. 
 
 z Birth — First Education, and Good Natural Disposition of Father 
 
 Maria Ephraim, 57 
 
 O CHAPTER II, 
 
 ^ Vincent is sent to the Jesuits' College at Aix. He experiences 
 
 3 there some Diflaculties. He makes his first Communion 63 
 
 O 
 
 m 
 
 ui CHAPTER III. 
 
 Z 
 
 2 Vincent's Progress in his Studies. He becomes firm in Piety. He 
 
 2 leaves the College of the R. R. Jesuits, 1Z 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Vincent returns to Perpignan. His sojourn in his Family. He 
 goes to Toulouse to continue his Studies, 82 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Vincent becomes Remiss in his Religious Duties, and, by degrees, 
 imbibes a taste for Worldly Pleasures. He goes back to Perpig- 
 nan.- Ho again Returns to Toulouse, in order to go through a 
 course of Legal Studies, 86 
 
 ^* 443332 '^^
 
 6 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Vincent leaves Toulouse and returns to hia Family. He makes the 
 acquaintance of a virtuous Priest, to wliom lie proposes some 
 DiflBculties on the subject of Confession. He becomes greatly 
 attached to the aforesaid Priest, and finally returns to his former 
 sentiments of Piety, 93 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Vincent takes the Resolution of quitting the World, and of devot- 
 ing himself to God in a Religious Life, 109 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Vincent acquaints his Parents with his design of quitting the 
 World. His Parents are violently opposed to it. Family misfor- 
 . tunes effectually detach his heart from the World, and strengthen 
 his vocation for a Religious Life, 114 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Vincent is obliged to suffer many Attacks on his Vocation. Divers 
 persons are expressly sent to Reason and Argue with him. His 
 Father forces him to take a Tour to Paris, 120 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Vincent quits Paris on his return to Perpignan. He passes through 
 Lyons. He is seized with a Desire of Visiting the Abbey of 
 Aiguebelle. God detains him there, 127 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 Certain circumstances induce Vincent to remain at Aiguebelle on 
 the Day of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin. How ho 
 passes that Day. The Singing of the Salve Regina. He Re- 
 nounces his intention of going to take Leave of his Family, 136 
 
 • CHAPTER XIL 
 
 Vincent Applies for immediate Admission into the Community. 
 The various Trials to which his Vocation is Submitted. The 
 Rev. Father Abbot lays before him some of the Austerities of the 
 Order, 145
 
 CONTENTS. 7 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Vincent commences his Novitiate; and takes the name of Maria 
 Ephraim. He writes to his Father and informs him of his pro- 
 ceedings; ICO 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Monsieur Ferrer, Senior, arrives at Aiguebelle; he obtains Permis- 
 sion to conduct his Son to Perpignan ; Promising to give his Con- 
 sent, in case he Persists in his Vocation, 173 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Brother Maria Ephraim arrives at Perpignan : his Sojourning with 
 his Family. He returns to Aiguebelle, 188 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 Answers to some Erroneous Notions entertained of, and to somo 
 False Accusations made against, the Communities and Brother- 
 hood of La Trappe, 193 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 Brother Maria Ephraim arrives at Aiguebelle : his Joy at finding 
 himself again in the Midst of his Brethren. Ceremonies at the 
 Benediction of the new Abbot of La Trappe, the Reverend Fa- 
 ther Orsisius, 226 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 Brother Ephraim applies himself with ardor to the Exercise of the 
 Novitiate. The Consolations he Experiences. Motives for in- 
 terior Consolation, how well-founded at La Trappe, 233 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 Brother Maria Ephraim is exposed to other Trials. His female 
 Cousin decides upon embracing a Religious Life. Some farther 
 Remarks upon La Trappe elicited by the new Difi5culties that are 
 thrown in the way of his Perseverance, 253 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 The female Cousin of Brother Ephraim enters the Convent of La 
 Trappe. A short Account of the Female Trappists of Lyons and 
 Maubec, 265
 
 8 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XXL 
 
 Brother Maria Ephraim makes his Vows. Religious Profession is a 
 second Baptism. The Vows of Trappists are solemn Vows, 274 
 
 CHAPTER XXIL 
 Concerning some Virtues of Brother Maria Ephraim, 282 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 Devotion of Father Maria Ephraim towards the Blessed Virgin,.... 298 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 Sickness of Father Maria Ephraim. His Death, 301 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 Reflections in Conclusion, 317 
 
 An Abridgment op the Life of Mother Mary Ephraim, 325
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 * m * • * 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 The monastic life dates from the first days 
 of Christianity, and the divine Legislator, in 
 laying the foundation of his Church, laid at 
 the same time the foundation of monachism. 
 " Vae mundo" was the cry of the Man-God ; 
 woe be to the world on account of its perverse 
 maxims, of its death-bringing prejudices, and 
 of its incessant opposition to the purity of His 
 Gospel ; and at the same time He proclaims 
 this severe sentence : Whoever wishes to come 
 to me, let him sell his goods, and distrihide the 
 'price of them to the poor ; let him renounce self, 
 take up his cross, and follow me. This appeal 
 was understood, and literally followed by the 
 true friends of the Saviour; we accordingly 
 see them strip themselves of their goods, dis- 
 tribute the price to the poor, or lay it at the 
 feet of the Apostles. We see them living af- 
 terwards in retirement, mutually edifying one 
 another in a life of community, and making 
 together but one heart and one soul. This 
 
 C9)
 
 10 INTRODUCTION. .: 
 
 appeal was also understood, even before it was 
 made, by St. John the Baptist : yet in his 
 youth, and conducted by the spirit of the Lord, 
 the holy Precursor isolated himself from men, 
 buried himself in the desert, and passed there 
 the greater part of his life in fasting and pray- 
 ing ; clothed in the same w^ay as the other soli- 
 taries, that, at a later period, were destined to 
 adorn the Church by the splendor of their vir- 
 tues. Accordingly, most of the Fathers, and 
 more particularly St. John Chrysostom, call 
 St. John-Baptist, the chief and model of ancho- 
 rets. Our Lord, adds St. Basil the Great, ordained 
 that his Precursor should be a solitary. This 
 appeal was above all understood by the august 
 mother of our Redeemer, whom all religious 
 orders should regard as their chief foundress, 
 and whom the Cistercian order in particular 
 feel honored in recognizing as its special Pro- 
 tectress, and tender Mother. This incompara- 
 ble Virgin was in fact the first that discovered 
 the secret of making to God the most agreea- 
 ble sacrifice that can be offered to Him. It 
 is well known, that before her no woman had 
 thought of consecrating her virginity to God, 
 by a vow of perpetual chastity, whereas under 
 the law of Moses, the only one in which the 
 true God was honored and adored, sterility was 
 looked upon as the greatest misfortune and
 
 INTRODUCTION. 11 
 
 opprobrium that could befall the daughters of 
 Israel. 
 
 In imitation of those examples, many ser- 
 vants of God, guided by the grace of the Holy 
 Spirit, stole away from the tumult of affairs, 
 abandoned the residences of cities, and buried 
 themselves among the clefts of the rocks, and 
 the caves of the desert, to meditate upon the 
 law of God, and to contemplate in silence and 
 mortification his infinite perfections, thus be- 
 coming true angels in this world, and using 
 their bodies only as instruments of the most 
 rude penance ; becoming true martyrs, though 
 the church was in peace, for the macerations 
 to which they subjected their bodies, held for 
 them the place of persecutors. Not long after 
 the birth of Christianity, there may be seen 
 swarms of such solitaries, who, by different 
 practices, with grace more or less abounding, 
 sanctified the deserts, and arrived at various 
 degrees of perfection. They were the admira- 
 tion and wonder of the Christian world. 
 Grandees, and other persons of high rank and 
 exalted dignity, felt honored whilst visiting 
 them, and deemed themselves fortunate in 
 gathering from their lips some few words of 
 edification. Their lives have been written, 
 and handed down to us by the most illustrious 
 saints, such as the Basils, the Grcgories, the
 
 12 ■ INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Chrysostoms, and other luminaries of the 
 Eastern church. 
 
 In the middle of the third century of the 
 Christian era, the deserts of Higher Egypt and 
 of Thebais were peopled by these pious an- 
 chorets, who fled from the world to be wholly 
 conversant with themselves, to meditate on 
 the eternal truths, and to labor for their own 
 perfection by silence, prayer, and the practice 
 of all sorts of austerity. The climate of these 
 countries and the fertility of their soils, were 
 eminently adapted to a life of solitude and ere- 
 mitical retirement. Fruits in abundance, and 
 vegetables of various qualities grew there as 
 if spontaneously ; and these aliments, frugal as 
 they were, sufficed for the support of men, de- 
 voted as they were to the most rigid absti- 
 nence. Thither St. Paul, the first hermit, 
 and St. Anthon}^, the father of Eastern mona- 
 chism, retired. These were soon followed by 
 crowds of the faithful, who feared the conta- 
 gion of the world and its seductions, still 
 more than they dreaded the fury and rage of 
 persecutors. The number insensibly increased, 
 and was very considerable ere the end of the 
 third century : it became immense in the 
 fourth, so that the deserts presented the ap- 
 pearance of cities inhabited by an assemblage 
 of holy solitaries. The whole hfe of these pre-
 
 INTIIODUCTION 13 
 
 destined may be summed up in a few words : 
 prayer, meditation, watching, fasting, labor in 
 silence, and retirement the most complete. A 
 natural grotto, or one artificially cut in the 
 rock, or a w^ooden hut, covered over with the 
 branches and leaves of trees, served them for 
 an asylum ; a few fruits, or a few roots, the 
 produce of the desert, sufficed to appease their 
 hunger in part, for they never appeased it en- 
 tirely, seeking less to prolong their days than 
 their acts of penance ; the water of a spring, 
 or of some neighboring torrent, quenched their 
 thirst. From the East, these solitaries ex- 
 tended themselves over the West ; they spread 
 themselves over different countries of Europe. 
 Many continued to live isolated and alone, and 
 bore the name of Solitaries or Eremites ; others 
 came together to live in a community under 
 the control of a Superior, and according to the 
 constitutions of a rule ; the latter were called 
 Cenobites, from two Greek words which sig- 
 nify " living in community." 
 
 About the end of the fifth century, the 
 eminent splendor of monastic perfection be- 
 gan to be tarnished : the natural inclination 
 of the human mind to the fleeting pleasures 
 of the world, persecutions of Various kinds, the 
 many disasters occasioned by the incursions 
 of the Huns and Vandals j all these causes 
 2
 
 14 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 united with many others, had weakened mo- 
 nastic discipline, and introduced little by little 
 relaxation in the cenobitical manner of living. 
 It was under these circumstances that God, 
 who never abandons his own, even though 
 they should be eager to separate themselves 
 from Him, raised ujd, in His mercy, a man ac- 
 cording to his own heart. The reader wdll 
 immediately guess whom we mean, for his 
 mind has already averted to St. Benedict, so 
 celebrated throughout the Christian world; St. 
 Benedict, who may justly be called the light 
 of the desert, the Apostle of Monte-Cassino, 
 the Restorer of monastic discipline in the West, 
 just as St. Anthony had been the Father of it 
 in the East. 
 
 This illustrious saint was born in the terri- 
 tory of Nursia, in the Dutchy of Spoleto, Italy, 
 in the year 480. His family was distinguished 
 for nobility and wealth, but the young Bene- 
 dict was still more distinguished for grace and 
 piety. St. Gregory, by whom his life w^as 
 written, tells us, that he was called Benedict, 
 because the Lord bestowed on him from his 
 infancy the most splendid henedictions ; and 
 that, being sent into the world at a most diffi- 
 cult and stormy period, and being destined for 
 great things, it pleased the Divine Goodness to 
 adorn his mind and heart with the most de-
 
 INTRODUCTION. 15 
 
 sirable qualities. At the age of seven years, 
 he was sent to Rome for his education : his 
 progress in knowledge made itself there not 
 less remarkable than the advances he made in 
 piety and virtue. But the more he advanced 
 in the ways of God, the more also he became 
 disgusted with the world, whose wiles he early 
 discovered. The licentiousness of the young 
 men of his own age and quality, whom he was 
 obliged to associate with, and the great dangers 
 he incurred of losing his innocence in their 
 society, inspired him with the idea of seeking 
 an asylum in solitude. Full of the Spirit of the 
 Lord, that guides him, he quits Rome at the age 
 of fifteen, and takes the road towards the wil- 
 derness. The Holy Spirit became from thence 
 forward the only teacher of this young scholar : 
 at such a school, the pupil must needs become 
 an adept. His austerities and virtues ren- 
 dered him soon celebrated ; his name was car- 
 ried through the whole of Europe. A crowd 
 of people, consisting of all ages and conditions, 
 flocked together to place themselves under his 
 guidance ; he founded many monasteries — so 
 many as twelve, — for their accommodation ; 
 made himself remarkable for the gift of pro- 
 phecy, and performed many miracles. On a 
 mountain called Cassino, there formerly ex- 
 isted a small town, whose inhabitants were all
 
 16 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 idolaters ; these lie converted to the ftxith of 
 Christ, destroyed the idol of Apollo, which 
 they paid divine worship to, and afterwards 
 built the celebrated monastery and church of 
 Monte-Cassino, which were destined to become 
 the cradle of the Benedictine order. But what 
 rendered the illustrious Benedict more remark- 
 able still, was the admirable rule which he 
 composed ; a rule, of which the perfection and 
 wisdom have been praised by the saints of all 
 ages, since it became known, and which, of 
 itself, has contributed to the formation of a 
 multitude of predestined souls, and has always 
 been looked upon by the Church, by which it 
 has been honored with renewed approbations, 
 as the most excellent code of monastic disci- 
 pline and of a Christian life, that ever issued 
 from the hands of man. Saint Benedict made 
 this rule be observed in all his monasteries ; he 
 also propagated it in foreign and far distant 
 regions by means of his disciples : thus, he sent 
 St. Placidus to establish it in Sicily, and at the 
 solicitation of a bishop of Mans, named Inno- 
 cent, he caused St. Maurus to proceed to 
 France, in order to propagate and make it 
 known in this country also. 
 
 St. Maurus arrived in France, accompanied 
 by some religious, in the year of Christ 545. 
 Notwithstanding many difficulties thrown in
 
 INTRODUCTION. 17 
 
 his way by the powers of darkness, over which 
 he triumphed through assistance from on High, 
 he founded the first abbey of his order at 
 GLandfeuil, in the diocese of Angers. This 
 abbey may be denominated the nursery, from 
 which issued soon after a great number of 
 others, and from which the rehgious were 
 transplanted successively into all the French 
 provinces. St. Maurus, before his death, 
 founded one hundred and twenty religious 
 houses ; some of them being priories, and con- 
 sequently depending upon the mother-house, 
 but the greater number being abbeys. 
 
 Behold then the order of St. Benedict, (or 
 the Benedictines,) acclimated and scattered 
 throuGi:h France. In the course of time, this 
 order underwent many reformations ; the 
 primitive rule being always kept in view, but 
 new and particular constitutions being added. 
 Hence are derived all those observances, which 
 have taken distinctive names ; such as the ob- 
 servance of Cluny, that of Saint Tustin ; the 
 observance of Savigny, of Burstield, of St. 
 Maurus, &c. All these are so many branches 
 of the parent-tree ; and all invariably recog- 
 nize the illustrious St. Benedict as their father. 
 
 The spirit of this glorious founder was com- 
 municated to his children, by whom it was 
 kept up during a long time in its native purity ; 
 
 9*
 
 18 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 but in the end, what happens to all institutions, 
 wherein men are the necessary actors, happened 
 also to these congregations. Little by little the 
 primitive fervor began to diminish; successive 
 relaxations insensibly introduced abuses op- 
 posed to religious austerity; custom in the 
 course of time took the place of the rule of St. 
 Benedict, until at last it would be difficult to 
 discover among many communities anything 
 approaching to the monastic discipline esta- 
 blished by their holy founder. They were 
 Benedictines in name, and not in fact. Hence 
 arose the necessity of new reforms to arrest the 
 fall of monastic discipline. It is not our in- 
 tention, nor is it the design of this introduction, 
 to follow the cenobitical profession through its 
 various reforms ; we shall merely point out one 
 of the most important, and that which must 
 always be most dear to the Cistercian order ; 
 we mean the reform that had been brought 
 about in the latter end of the seventeenth cen- 
 tury, through the agency of the Abbe Ranee, 
 at a monastery situated in the heart of a de- 
 sert, called La Trappe. We may also be per- 
 mitted to add, en passant, that from this name 
 of La Trappe is derived the patronymic de- 
 nomination that was afterwards given to all 
 the communities which embraced the reform 
 operated at first in the monastery of this name.
 
 INTRODUCTION. 19 
 
 Taking up, then, the thread of our remarks, wo 
 shall proceed to relate, in as few words as we 
 can, in what manner regular monastic ob- 
 servance was again resuscitated, as if from its 
 ashes, by Divine Providence. 
 
 God made use of, for this work, some reli- 
 gious belonging to a monastery, named Molesme, 
 in the diocese of Langres. These good religious, 
 animated by the spirit of their rule, were terri- 
 fied at the frightful degree of relaxation that 
 they daily witnessed. Despairing of staying 
 the torrent in which their abbey was engulphed, 
 they had recourse to an extraordinary means, 
 which, through the mercy of God, succeeded. 
 Seven among them having united, go together 
 to Hugues, Archbishop of Lyons, and Legate 
 from the Holy See in France ; they lay before 
 him the difficulties with which they were sur- 
 rounded, and complain that they were unable 
 to observe the rule, to which they had solemnly 
 sworn; asking at the same time to be autho- 
 rized to separate from their brothers, and to be 
 permitted to establish themselves in some other 
 place, where they might be able to practice 
 thoroughly the statutes, rules and observances 
 of their fathers. This pious prelate approved 
 of their zeal, and granted them, by his autho- 
 rity, the faculty necessary to put into execution 
 their pious designs. Satisfied with the success
 
 20 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 of their undertaking, they no longer made any 
 secret of their intentions, but associating as 
 many of the brothers as wished to follow their 
 example, they boldly departed from Molesme. 
 Saint Robert was constituted the conductor 
 and chief of the pious colony; he led them 
 into Burgundy, and established them in the 
 recesses of a dense forest, called Oiteaux, from 
 the number of springs of fresh and pure water 
 with which it was favored by nature. This 
 place was in the diocese of Chalons. Here 
 they built a monastery in the year 1098, to 
 which they gave the name of the forest, and 
 here was laid the foundation of that kind of 
 life having for its object the strict observance 
 of the rule of St. Benedict, which afterwards, 
 under the denomination of the Order of Cis- 
 tercians, {Ordo Cisterciensis,) became as if the 
 type of all the monasteries that in succeeding 
 ages were formed after this model. These noble 
 servants of God experienced numerous diffi- 
 culties, and very great obstacles, before their 
 final establishment; being obliged to build a 
 monastery in the midst of a thick forest, with- 
 out other assistance than their own zeal and 
 devotion, and being withal persecuted by the 
 evil ones of the world, and even by the relaxed 
 and scandalous brothers of Molesme, from whom 
 they had separated, and who considered this
 
 INTRODUCTION. 21 
 
 very separation an insult to themselves, and a 
 reproof of their relaxed and libertine manner 
 of living. But God, who had directed them in 
 their undertaking, gave them courage and 
 strength to overcome their enemies, and con- 
 stantly shed upon them abundant blessings. 
 The first three Cistercian abbots are canonized 
 saints, and are invoked under the names of 
 Saint Robert, Saint Alberick, and Saint Stephen ; 
 — the last of whom, by the way, was an English- 
 man, the friend and companion of St. Bernard, 
 and one of the most remarkable men, even in 
 a secular point of view, of his age. 
 
 Saint Alberick was distinguished for devotion 
 towards the ever-blessed Virgin, and received 
 from that powerful protectress of the order the 
 most touching marks of her benevolence. One 
 day she appeared to him, and presented for his 
 acceptance a white cowl; the same that is now 
 worn by the Trappists. After that miraculous 
 gift, the habits of the Cistercian religious were 
 ordered to be made of a white material, whereas 
 before, they were of black. This fact, reported 
 by grave authors, and which judicious critics 
 have not dared to call in question, has now-a- 
 days received historic sanction. 
 
 Saint Stephen was abbot of Citeaux, when 
 Saint Bernard, descended from a noble Bur- 
 gundian family, together with thirty of his
 
 22 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 noble companions, embraced the monastic state 
 in the year 1113. It is needless to mention 
 that we have reference to the great St. Bernard, 
 afterwards abbot of Clairvaux, and reckoned on 
 account of his genius and immortal works, 
 among the number of the Holy Fathers of the 
 Church. 
 
 It was also under the abbatial jurisdiction 
 of St. Stephen, that the monastery of Citeaux 
 obtained so great an increase of subjects, that 
 it was enabled to build and colonize divers 
 other abbeys in different parts of France. But 
 these abbeys were not bound, one to the other ; 
 they were independent, and even the abbey of 
 Citeaux, the mother of all, had no control over 
 her own daughters. It was then to be feared 
 that the regular observance of the rule of St. 
 Benedict might be endangered. To avoid any 
 such contingency, and to strengthen the new 
 reform by uniting all the monasteries under 
 one chief, St. Stephen called an assembly at 
 Citeaux of all the abbots and superiors of the 
 order. By this assembly a fundamental statute, 
 bearing for its title the " Charter of Charity,'''^' 
 
 * This Charter of (Jliarity is in the monastic world what a 
 constitutional charter would be in the political ; with this dif- 
 ference, however, that the latter has no force but during the 
 life of the prince by whom it was granted, whereas the former, 
 on the contrary, when duly approved of by the competent 
 authority, i. e., by the head of the Church, remains in force
 
 INTRODUCTION. 23 
 
 was unanimously agreed upon. The principal 
 articles of this statute established the hierarchy 
 of the order, uniformity in manners and cus- 
 toms, the visiting of the abbeys by the superior 
 in chief, the holding of general chapters, and 
 the formalities to be observed in the election 
 or deposition of abbots. This statute was 
 approved and confirmed in 1119, by Pope 
 Calixtus II., and in 1152, by Pope Eugenius 
 III. It is still observed in France in all the 
 monasteries of La Trappe, as having the force 
 of law upon all such points. 
 
 The fourth abbey founded by St. Stephen 
 was that of Morimond in the diocese of Langres, 
 in Champaigne. This abbey Avas founded in 
 the year 1115. It had for its third abbot, Otho, 
 the son of Leopold, Marquis of Austrasia 
 (filius Marchionis Austriaz) ; he would in 
 modern language be called Archduke of Austria. 
 This young prince, whilst returning from Paris, 
 whither he had been sent for education by his 
 father, stopped with fifteen of his college com- 
 panions to visit the abbey of Moribond, through 
 mere curiosity, but grace touched their hearts 
 so powerfully, that all assumed the holy habit ; 
 and what is still more remarkable, all perse- 
 forever, unless urgent motives demand its suppression ; — and 
 not even then, unless all the parties interested agree to its being 
 cancelled.
 
 24 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 vered, and after the customary noviciate, were 
 admitted to make a solemn profession. Otho 
 deserved very soon to be promoted to the 
 dignity of abbot, and afterwards, but at a later 
 period, was consecrated bishop of Frisingue. 
 
 At the time that Otho was abbot of Mori- 
 mond, " ilie nohle Gontard, on the 2Qt7i June of 
 the year 1137; — (we copy the inscription on 
 marble which is to be seen to this day in the 
 cloister of the monastery of Aiguebelle,) the 
 nohle Qontard, son of Loup, and Lord of Roche- 
 fort, granted a certam poiiion of land to him 
 belonging, for purpose of building an abbey in 
 honor of the Blessed Virgin." This land, at 
 first known by the name of Val-honnete (vallis 
 honesta) ; was after the building of the monas- 
 tery distinguished by the name of Aiguebelle 
 (aqua bella), which the monks gave it. As is 
 always practiced in the order, twelve religious 
 with a superior at their head, were despatched 
 from Morimond to take possession of this new 
 abbey : the superior of the present occasion 
 was the venerable William, first abbot of Aigue- 
 belle. This abbey subsisted, according to the 
 Annals of Aiguebelle, in a more or less pros- 
 perous condition, and with more or less religious 
 fervor, until the fjital epoch of the first French 
 revolution, which was the implacable destroyer 
 of every religious and virtuous institution.
 
 INTRODUCTION. 25 
 
 Aiguebelle was obliged to succumb before the 
 standard of destruction and blood that floated 
 over France, the religious were expelled, and 
 the monastery given up to plunder, and after- 
 wards sold as pubUc property. 
 
 When calmer days returned to unhappy 
 France, the religious then began to show them- 
 selves also. Dom. Augustin (known in the 
 world by the name of Louis Henry de Les- 
 trange), who in spite of exile and of all kinds 
 of tribulation, had been able to save some por- 
 tion of monastic regularity, now returned from 
 America. His first care, upon arriving in 
 France, was to restore to his beloved country, 
 the deposit he had taken so much pains to 
 preserve; he hastened to repurchase the primi- 
 tive La Trappe, the abbey of Mons. de Ranee, 
 and the cradle and chief place of the order, 
 from which he had been expelled at the com- 
 mencement of the revolution. He called thither 
 a part of the religious, the companions of his 
 exile ; others he established at Belle-Fontaine, 
 near Angers, and the remainder were sent to 
 Aiguebelle, which he found means of purchasing 
 also. Aiguebelle {Aqiia Bella) is situated in 
 the diocese of Valence, Dauphiny, at about 
 twenty French miles from Montelimart, and 
 half way between it and Grignan, the former 
 country-seat of the celebrated Madame de 
 3
 
 26 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Sevlgne. Dom. Augustin ordered that the re- 
 lidous whom he had sent there, should ac- 
 knowledge as their local superior the Reverend 
 Father Stephen, late prior of Val-Sainte, and 
 who had the principal hand in the restoration 
 of monastic discipline in the last-named monas- 
 tery. Scarcely were they established in their 
 new abode, than the zealous superior and his 
 community commenced the work of rebuilding 
 the monastery. God blessed their labors; little 
 by little, the buildings were renovated; the 
 lands well cultivated, recovered their former 
 fertility, and novices flocked from all directions 
 to participate in the merits and penances of the 
 holy brotherhood. Considerable purchases of 
 new farms were made, and Aiguebelle is now 
 become as flourishing as it ever had been in its 
 most palmy days. 
 
 Father Stephen had at first only the title of 
 prior; but Aiguebelle having been raised to 
 the dignity of an abbey, he was elected abbot 
 on the 13th of August, 1834, and died full of 
 years and virtues on the 12th of April, 1840. 
 The life of this eminent religious, who pursued 
 so pious a career to the advanced age of ninety- 
 six years, has been written, in 1841, by Mons. 
 Casimir Gaillardin, Professor of History in the 
 College Royal of Louis-le-Grand, Paris. The 
 tomb which his sorrowing children of Aigue-
 
 INTRODUCTION. 27 
 
 belle have placed over his mortal remains, bears 
 for inscription the words " Amator regulae et 
 fratrum" Lover of his rule and brethren ; a 
 particular affection towards his co-religious, 
 united to ardent zeal for the strict observance 
 of the holy rule, being his most remarkable 
 attributes. 
 
 Some years before his death, he pointed out 
 for the suffrages of the community Dom. Orsi- 
 sius, whom he had already appointed prior, 
 and whom he desired to see elected abbot 
 during his own life. He pleaded his own ex- 
 treme old age, and his many infirmities that 
 rendered him incapable of performing the ab- 
 batial duties, now become very onerous in con- 
 sequence of the great increase of the congrega- 
 tion. The religious at length acceded to his 
 wishes, and united their suffrages upon the per- 
 son whom he designated. But, independently 
 of the affection that Dom. Stephen bore to 
 Dom. Orsisius, the reunion of good qualities 
 and of virtues essentially monastic, recom- 
 mended the latter to the suffrages of his bre- 
 thren, notwithstanding his being yet young in 
 years and in religion. He was especially be- 
 loved for his goodness of heart, and for the 
 amiability of character, that the numerous 
 cares incident to his office had uo power to 
 change; and the art of uniting which with
 
 28 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 the exact observance of discipline he possessed 
 in an eminent degree. He was constantly 
 cherished by his subjects, and regarded in the 
 light of a beloved father, notwithstanding his 
 indefatigable ardor in maintaining the max- 
 ims of his predecessors, and in reviving the 
 usages and holy practices of the primitive 
 founders of the order. His administration, 
 tending daily more and more to increase the 
 prosperity of the monastery, has sufficiently 
 justified the choice in his election, which took 
 place on the 31st of October, 1837; the Lord 
 Bishop of Avignon, Mgr. Dupont, imparting 
 the abbatial benediction a short time after- 
 wards, as will be related by way of episode in 
 the life of Father Maria Ephraim. Before be- 
 coming a Cistercian monk, he was named John 
 Baptist Carayon, and held an exalted station 
 among the clergy of the diocese of Alb3\ 
 
 The Abbey of Aiguebelle is not the only 
 Cistercian monastery that exists at the pre- 
 sent day in France. There are many others 
 (eighteen in all ; eleven of men, and seven of 
 women) in that country, not to mention those 
 established in other parts of Europe, nor those 
 in America and Algeria. Before proceeding to 
 give an account of the establishment of the 
 Abbey of La Trappe of Gethsemani, Diocese 
 of Louisville, Kentucky, it may not be unin-
 
 INTRODUCTION. 29 
 
 terestiiig to the reader, if we give a short list 
 of the names and locations of the various Cis- 
 tercian monasteries in France. This we do 
 the more willingly, as it is to one of them — 
 that of Melleray — that the colony now esta- 
 blished at Gethsemani owes its origin, and the 
 making known of which to the faithful of 
 America, is the princijDal design of the follow- 
 ing publication. 
 
 MONASTERIES OF THE CISTERCIAN CONGREGATION IN 
 
 FRANCE. 
 
 Cardinal Protector of the order at Rome, S. E. LAMBRU- 
 SCHINI, S. R. E. C. 
 
 General Superintendent of the affairs of the order at Rome, 
 the Most Rev. Father D. GDERAKGER, O. B. S. 0. 
 
 A^car General of the order in France, the Very Rev. 
 Father JOSEPH MARIA, Abbot of the Grande Trappe. 
 
 Mother House, in the Diocese of Seez, Maison Dieu of Our 
 Lady of the Grande Trappe, near Mortagne, (Orne.) 
 
 Diocese of Kaniez. Our Lady of La Trappe of Melleray, 
 near Chateaubriant, (Loire Inferieure.) 
 
 Diocese of Mans. Our Lady of La Trappe of Port du Salut, 
 Laval, (Mayenne.) 
 
 Diocese of Angers. Our Lady of La Trappe of Bellefontaine, 
 Chollet, (Maine et Loire.) 
 
 Diocese of Amiens. Our Lady of La Trappe of Gard, Pe- 
 quigny, (Somme.) 
 
 Diocese of Valence. Our Lady of Aiguebelle, Montelimart, 
 (Drome.) 
 
 Diocese of Sirashoiirg. Our Lady of La Trappe of Mont des 
 Olives, Mulbausen, (Haut Rhin.) 
 
 Diocese of Coutances. Our Lady of La Trappe of Grace, Bric- 
 quebec, (Manche.) 
 3*
 
 30 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Diocese of Cambrai. Our Lady of La Trappe of Mont de 
 Cats, Bailleul, (Nord.) 
 
 Diocese of Besancon. Our Lady of La Trappe of Val Sainte 
 Marie, Ornans, (Doubs.) 
 
 Diocese of Vannes. Our Lady of La Trappe of Thymadeuc, 
 (Morbihan.) 
 
 MONASTERIES OF CISTERCIAN NUNS. 
 
 Diocese of Mans. Our Lady of La Trappe of St. Catharine, 
 Laval, (Mayenne.) 
 
 Diocese of Strasbourg. Our Lady of La Trappe of Mercy, 
 Oelemberg, near Mulhausen, (ILaut Rhin.) 
 
 Diocese of Angers. Our Lady of La Trappe of Les Gardes, 
 Chemill6, (Maine et Loire.) 
 
 Diocese of Lyons. Our Lady of La Trappe of Consolation, 
 De Vaise, Lyons, (Rhone.) 
 
 Diocese of Bayeux. Our Lady of La Trappe of Monday e, 
 Bayeux, (Calvados.) 
 
 Diocese of Valence. Our Lady of La Trappe of Maubec, 
 Montelimart, (Drome.) 
 
 Diocese of Saint Diez. Our Lady of La Trappe of Ubexy, 
 Charmes, (Vosges.) 
 
 These different monasteries were established 
 in France almost immediately after the first 
 French revolution; that is, as soon as the 
 reign of terror and confusion had come to an 
 end, and men began to awake from their dream 
 of anarchy and impiety. They at first formed 
 separate and distinct congregations, and were 
 bound to one another by no common bond of 
 union. At length, by the solicitation of the 
 local superiors of the principal houses, our Holy 
 Father, Pope Gregory XVI., issued a decree,
 
 INTRODUCTION. 31 
 
 bearing date the 3rd of October, 1834, by 
 which lie definitively sanctioned the congrega- 
 tion of Trappists in France, and confirmed all 
 the privileges of the order. In accordance with 
 the wishes of the primitive fonnders of the 
 Cistercians, and according to the spirit of the 
 " Charter of Charity" to which we have already 
 alluded, this decree established a superior Gene- 
 ral of the whole order, whose special duty it 
 was to examine into the elections of the abbots, 
 and to confirm or annul such elections, accord- 
 ing to circumstances. It also enacts the hold- 
 ing of general chapters, to which the abbots 
 and priors of the various monasteries are to 
 assemble ; it prescribes a yearly visitation of 
 the general superior to each individual mon- 
 astery, fixes the ritual to the decree of the 20th 
 of April, 1822, and limits to certain hours the 
 duration of manual labor. Finally, it enacts, 
 that " All the monasteries of Trappists in 
 France shall form but one congregation, under 
 the name and title of ' Congregation of Cister- 
 cian Religious of Our Lady of La Trapped " 
 
 We shall now, in a second introductory 
 chapter, proceed to relate the cause and man- 
 ner of the Trappists establishing themselves at 
 Gethsemani, Diocese of Louisville, Kentucky.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 CONTAINING A BRIEF NARRATION OP THE RISE AND 
 FOUNDATION OF OUR LADY OF LA TRAPPE OF GETHSE- 
 MANI, (KENTUCKY.) 
 
 The community of Getlisemani, Nelson 
 County, Kentucky, U. S., is a colony from the 
 Abbey of Mellera}^, Diocese of Nantez, of the 
 Department of Loire-Inferieure, France. The 
 abbot of the latter establishment had concluded 
 arrangements with the French government, to 
 found a house of the order in the island of Mar- 
 tinique, West Indies, on an estate granted upon 
 very favorable conditions by the then reign- 
 ing king, Louis Philippe, for that purpose ; but 
 that king's government having been annihilated 
 by the late French revolution, the design was 
 abandoned. He now turned his eyes towards 
 the United States of America, and finally re- 
 solved to found a house there ; the great num- 
 bers of subjects at Melleray, and the daily 
 arrival of new postulants for admission render- 
 ing the step almost necessary to the well-being 
 of the order. He sent in consequence two of 
 his most prudent fathers to explore and seek 
 (32)
 
 INTRODUCTION. 33 
 
 out an eligible site upon the eminently hospi- 
 table shores of America. Quitting their mon- 
 astery and their beloved solitude on the 25th 
 of May, 1848, these good religious, whom no- 
 thing short of obedience could induce to mingle 
 again with the great world, proceeded to Paris 
 to obtain the necessary information, and to con- 
 sult in relation to their mission, the repre- 
 sentative of His Holiness at the French metro- 
 polis. The Nuncio was delighted with their 
 project, and approved of it with his whole heart. 
 He moreover gave them letters of recommen- 
 dation to the venerable Mgr. Flaget, Bishop of 
 Louisville, whose zeal for the propagation of 
 everything appertaining to religion was well 
 known to him, and who "is already," said he, 
 "held as a saint in Rome." The two religious 
 having now obtained the apostolical benediction 
 for themselves and their contemplated opera- 
 tions, set out from Paris for Havre de Grace on 
 the 1st of June. Here they met another colony 
 of religious, whom the Abbe Moreau, Founder 
 and General-Superior of the Society of the Holy 
 Cross at Mans, (Department of La Sarthe, 
 France,) was dispatching in aid of the establish- 
 ment that he had not long before founded in 
 the State of Indiana, U. S. Uniting; with these 
 in purchasing provisions and other things 
 necessary for the voyage across the Atlantic,
 
 34 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 they took passage on board of the packet-ship, 
 the Roscoe, a regular trader between Havre 
 and New York. The captain very obhgingly 
 granted them a separate cabin, so that, undis- 
 turbed by the other passengers, that were to 
 the number of four hundred, they were enabled 
 to offer almost every day the Holy Sacrifice of 
 the Mass, during the passage, and to attend 
 without restraint to their religious duties. On 
 the feast of the Visitation, there were two 
 masses celebrated aboard ; one at 6 o'clock, and 
 the other, a solemn high mass, with deacon and 
 subdeacon, at 9 o'clock. At this mass, the 
 members of the Holy Cross, together with some 
 others of the pious passengers, received the 
 Holy Communion. At 2 o'clock on the same 
 day, vespers were sung, at wdiich all on board 
 assisted, and accompanied the religious in sing- 
 ing the praises of the Lord; but more espe- 
 cially eight professional musicians, who were 
 proceeding to America on professional engage- 
 ments, and who sang artistically, and accom- 
 panied on their instruments the singing of the 
 psalms. 
 
 " We arrived," writes one of the good Fa- 
 thers, " we arrived in sight of New York on the 
 13th of July, and landed the next morning, 
 after a prosperous voyage of thirty-eight days. 
 After reposing in that city a few days, w^e set
 
 INTRODUCTION. 35 
 
 out for Louisville, where we arrived on the 
 22nd. Mgr. Flaget, to whom w^e had letters 
 of introduction, received us with all the af- 
 fection of a father embracing after a long 
 absence his own children. As soon as we in- 
 formed him of the cause of our coming, he in- 
 stantly exclaimed that God had heard his 
 prayers, and that for many years he desired 
 nothing so ardently as to see a similar esta- 
 blishment in his diocese before he had finished 
 his earthly pilgrimage. He immediately offered 
 us as a location, a farm that had formerly be- 
 longed to the Trappists who had been obliged 
 to emigrate from France at the time of the 
 first French revolution; and who, after having 
 run through many kingdoms of Europe, had 
 at length settled down in America, where they 
 remained until recalled by their superiors to 
 recruit the houses that the French government 
 permitted to be re-opened. 
 
 " The location offered not possessing the at- 
 tributes required for our establishments, we 
 turned our attention towards Gethsemani, 
 w^iich, we were told, could be purchased from 
 its present owners. This latter place was more 
 suitable for many reasons; the principal of 
 which may be, its topographical situation, and 
 the buildnigs belonging to it, which may serve 
 as a temporary shelter for the new colonists,
 
 36 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 until time and means would permit tliem to 
 build a monastery. It did not, however, unite 
 all the conveniences that may be found in other 
 parts of the Union. The land was impoverished 
 by bad cultivation, and through the negligence 
 of the negroes who were employed upon it. It 
 belonged to the Sisters of Loretto, who had 
 established there a boarding-school for young 
 ladies. The price demanded for it appeared 
 also too great; the impoverished state of the 
 land being taken into consideration, and the 
 ruinous condition of most of the buildinsfs, 
 offices and out-houses. The generosity, how- 
 ever, of the mother-superior, who at that time 
 governed the community, did away with all 
 objection, for she granted us, by an act of pure 
 charity, all the furniture, the harvest then 
 ripening, all the instruments of agriculture, and 
 all the horses and cattle belonging to the esta- 
 blishment; a benefaction for which we shall 
 always entertain sentiments of the most lively 
 gratitude. The purchase was finally made, 
 and terms agreed upon, for the ratification of 
 which nothing was wanted but the consent of 
 our superiors in France. We accordingly wrote 
 to them, plainly laying open the whole trans- 
 action, and soliciting their approval of our pro- 
 ceedings. They immediately answered accord- 
 ing to our expectations, fully approving by their
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 37 
 
 authority all tlie engagements we had entered 
 into. One of us then returned to France, and 
 again entered his beloved solitude, whilst the 
 other was obliged to remain in America, to make 
 preparations for the reception of the forty-five 
 religious, whose speedy arrival was announced 
 by the letter of his superior." 
 
 The colony appointed to proceed to America, 
 and destined for the formation of the new con- 
 gregation, departed from Melleray on the 24th 
 of October, 1848, after having fulfilled the cere- 
 monial usual on such occasions. All the com- 
 munity assembled in the church of the mon- 
 astery to implore the blessing of heaven upon 
 the journey, and to obtain for the departing 
 religious a sufficient degree of divine grace to 
 be enabled to live and persevere in an union 
 with God. The latter prostrated themselves 
 on the earth, whilst their brethren were solemn- 
 ly chaunting the responses and psalms for the 
 occasion. All rose, when the prayers were 
 ended, and formed a procession, having at its 
 head two crosses. They issued from the church 
 in two ranks, Dom. Maximus, Abbot of Mel- 
 leray, and the Rev. Father Eutropius, the 
 chosen superior of the new foundation, bringing 
 up the rear. A numerous crowd, assembled from 
 the various neighboring localities to assist at 
 
 the moving ceremony, followed. Arrived at 
 
 ^ 443333
 
 38 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 the spot already marked for final separation, 
 the two ranlvs, each with a separate cross at its 
 head, took each a different direction. Then 
 began a scene, the remembrance of which shall 
 forever remain engraven in the memory of all 
 that witnessed it. The religious about quitting 
 their native country, and about to traverse at 
 immense peril immense seas, began to embrace 
 the brethren they were leaving behind. All 
 hearts were moved, for they were taking leave 
 of friends that they never expected to see again 
 at this side of the grave : tears burst forth from 
 many among Uiem, whilst groaning and sobs 
 marked the suppressed emotion of the greater 
 number. The colony for America took the 
 road to Ancenis, a small town upon the Loire, 
 at the distance of eighteen miles from Melleray ; 
 the others returned back to the penitential 
 abode of their monastery. This day was in all 
 respects a day of trouble and fatigue to the 
 poor exiles. They made the journey on foot, 
 and providence seemed desirous of proving their 
 courage and increasing their merits by sending 
 a drenching rain, which they suffered with all 
 the resignation to be expected from those who 
 had already given unequivocal proofs of sub- 
 mission to the will of God. They were hospi- 
 tably received and entertained by the owner 
 of a country-house, situated a few miles from
 
 INTRODUCTION. 39 
 
 Ancenis. After remaining at this hospitable 
 dwelling a few hours, they resumed their pain- 
 ful journey, and entered the town about G 
 O'clock, P. M. The parish priest and some of 
 the principal inhabitants begged the superior 
 to permit his religious to sing the "Cistercian 
 Salve Begina" in their church, to w^hich re- 
 quest he willingly acceded, as the steam-boat 
 was not expected to heave in sight before 8 
 O'clock. The inhabitants being informed of 
 what was about to take place, the crowd of 
 hearers became so compact, that it was not 
 without difficulty that the religious could open 
 a way for themselves to the church. After the 
 singing of that anthem consecrated to the 
 Bl-essed Virgin, and so much vaunted of by all 
 connoisseurs of Melody, the General Superior 
 of the order, who accidentally happened to be 
 present, gave a solemn benediction of the Most 
 Holy Sacrament, to which the crowd attended 
 with sentiments of the most sincere piety. 
 
 The steam-boat for Tours soon after made 
 her appearance, and the pious brothers pro- 
 ceeded from the town to the place of embarka- 
 tion, receiving the reiterated adieus of that 
 population, so greatly moved at the sight of 
 forty and more young persons leaving forever 
 their relations, friends, and country, through 
 zeal for the glory of God and the extension of
 
 40 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 His holy religion. Eight O'clock was striking 
 as they entered the boat, lighted by the flam- 
 beaus which the inhabitants of Ancenis had 
 the great goodness to procure, in order to faci- 
 litate the short passage from the town to tlie 
 place of embarkation. The captain of the 
 boat received them with every mark of respect, 
 accompanied by that politeness so character- 
 istic of the captains belonging to the internal 
 navigation of France. Arriving the next 
 morning without accident at the landing of 
 Tours, they immediately proceeded to the 
 station of the Paris rail-road ; keeping in ranks, 
 and having a cross at their head ; — the same 
 cross they had brought from Melleray, and 
 which they never relinquished until their ar- 
 rival at the place of destination; it is now ]3re- 
 served at Gethsemani, as an esteemed me- 
 morial of their peregrinations. They walked 
 with downcast eyes, and in strict silence, for 
 the Trappists are rigorously bound to silence 
 at all times and on all occasions, nothing dis- 
 pensing them from it, but the express per- 
 mission of their superior. The persons whom 
 they met on the way, asked one another in 
 astonishment "Who these people could be?" 
 Some imagined them to be members of a com- 
 munity who were returning from having paid 
 the last sad offices to a departed brother;
 
 INTRODUCTION. 41 
 
 others, that thej belonged to an asylum for 
 the deaf and dumb, and that they were in the 
 act of being removed to a new establishment. 
 At length, some guessed rightly, and pro- 
 claimed them Trappists. Having arrived at 
 the station, the rail-road officials treated them 
 with much distinction, and conferred upon 
 them some small favors, such as granting them 
 a separate wagon of the first class at the same 
 charge as one of the inferior wagons. They 
 also deducted something from the usual charge 
 for the baggage, "in order that," said they, 
 "we also may have some participation in the 
 merits of a work so eminently catholic." They 
 arrived in Paris at the dawn of the folio win 2; 
 morning, and just as workmen were betaking 
 themselves to their various work-shops, still 
 continuing the same order and manner of 
 marching, as at Tours, and inspiring with the 
 same admiration the numerous persons they 
 met with in the streets. Some uncovered their 
 heads, whilst they were passing, and all paid 
 reverence to the cross through a feeling of re- 
 ligious awe never wanting to true Catholics at 
 the sight of the symbol of salvation. Nothing, 
 in fine, but what was most agreeable, occurred 
 to them during their march from the rail-road 
 station to the Seminary of St. Esprit, where 
 
 lodgings had been prepared for them. They 
 4*
 
 42 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 then took the night train of cars for Havre de 
 Grace, and experienced the same ftxvors at the 
 hands of the officials of the Paris and Havre 
 vail-road, that they had ah^eady enjoyed from 
 their brethren at Tours. The cars arrived at 
 Havre at 8 o'clock in the morning, and the 
 religious brotherhood proceeded directly to the 
 hospitable roof of the civil and military hospi- 
 tal of that city, where everything was already 
 prepared for their reception. The good and 
 religious ladies, to whom is committed by 
 government the care of that establishment, 
 treated them with all the affection of mothers 
 for their own children, during the whole time 
 they were necessitated to remain, until the 
 American ship, Brunswick, in which they had 
 taken passage, should have completed her 
 cargo, and be ready for sea. The religious, 
 habituated to manual labor, sought for some 
 employment to occupy their time. It happened 
 to be the season of the vintage, or rather, of 
 cider-making in that part of France. Some of 
 the religious therefore busied themselves at the 
 cider-press, whilst others were employed in 
 gathering apples. Thus they passed their time 
 in labor and prayer, according to the consti- 
 tutions of their order, until the day of em- 
 barkation, which took place on the 2nd of 
 November.
 
 INTRODUCTION. 43 
 
 The number of passengers was immense, and 
 by an unusual disposition of Providence, there 
 were found in the same ship two distinct colo- 
 nies, as unhke in manners as in object: one, 
 that of the Socialists, who, under the name of 
 Icarians, were proceeding to Texas, in order to 
 lay the foundation, in that distant region, of a 
 society that, according to themselves, was destined 
 to bring back the whole human family to the 
 true principles of Fraternity, Liberty, and 
 Equality ; the other, that of the Trappists, sent 
 by Dom. Maximus, Abbot of Mellera}^, to plant 
 the germ of La Trappe in the New World, and 
 to desseminate the conservative principles of 
 order and morality by the practice of the 
 Christianity of the first ages of the church. The 
 passage was long and tedious. The Trappists 
 had the misfortune to lose by sickness one of 
 their number, when two weeks at sea. All 
 the temporal and spiritual consolation in their 
 power was bestowed upon him; he accepted 
 death with joy, and with the w^ell-founded hope, 
 that the sacrifice which he made of his person 
 for the glory of God, was graciously looked 
 upon b}^ his Divine Majesty, who does not wait 
 for the accomplishment of the work before 
 granting the recompense, but is satisfied with 
 the desire of accomplishing it. The greater 
 number suffered by sea-sickness, but there was.
 
 44 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 in other repects, no serious malady. The dif- 
 ference of opinion on religious and political 
 subjects, did not bring about, as might, perhaps, 
 be expected, anything disagreeable between 
 the numerous passengers. The religious busied 
 them in prayer and other exercises, as if they 
 were in their monastery; they had even the 
 happiness of offering a few times, during the 
 voyage, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and of 
 receiving the Heavenly Bread, that encourages 
 the timid, and strengthens the weak. Some 
 of the other passengers also took part in those 
 holy exercises. 
 
 After a stormy passage of thirty-two days, 
 the coast of the American continent at length 
 came in sight. New Orleans soon after came 
 in view, and the ship reached its port of desti- 
 nation, without any other occurrence worth 
 mentioning than the general joy that diffused 
 itself over both communities for the prosperous 
 issue of the voyage. The Trappists having 
 landed, immediately took passage on one of 
 the Mississippi steam-boats for Louisville, Ken- 
 tucky. After a run of ten days, they arrived 
 at Portland, where they were detained a whole 
 day, before reaching the city of Louisville, in 
 ^consequence of tlie canal being already taken 
 up with other boats, departing for their various 
 destinations on the Mississippi and its tributary
 
 INTRODUCTION. 45 
 
 branches. As soon as they had put their 
 baggage in a place of safety, that was kindly 
 afforded them by a French shop-keeper of the 
 city, they proceeded to the residence of the 
 bishop, and were introduced by the Abbe Lavi- 
 alle, a French priest, to the venerable apostle 
 of Kentucky, Mgr. Flaget, and to his worthy 
 coadjutor, Mgr. Spalding. Beds were prepared 
 for their accommodation in the large saloons 
 used as school-rooms by the Sisters of Charity, 
 who have a large establishment in the city. 
 After having assisted, next morning, at Mass, 
 offered up expressly to return thanks to the 
 Great Giver of all good for the gracious pro- 
 tection afforded, in bringing them safe from so 
 many dangers of land and sea, each brother 
 separately was presented to the venerable 
 Bishop Flaget, and received his fatherly bene- 
 diction. That venerable personage embraced 
 each one as he was presented to him, asking 
 at the same time his name and country ; and 
 had always some remark to make relative to 
 the various localities that were mentioned. 
 It created some surprise to all to hear him 
 address in his native language a Spanish re- 
 ligious that happened to be among the new 
 colonists, eulogizing the steadfast f^xith of his 
 country, that remained faithful to the holy 
 cliurch, the mother of all Christians, notwith-
 
 46 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 standing all the efforts of the partisans of 
 heresy. His coadjutor bishop, Mgr. Spalding, 
 was also remarkable for the generous attention 
 he paid to the comforts of the priests of the 
 new establishment ; giving them private cham- 
 bers, and admitting them to his own table. It 
 was the latter prelate, indeed, who did all the 
 honors of the house, Mgr. Flaget being habitu- 
 ally confined to his apartment by frequent 
 infirmities, chiefly caused by his advanced age. 
 After reposing one day at Louisville, our 
 wanderers took the route of Gethseoiani, distant 
 from the latter city fifty-six miles. The journey 
 was made on foot. At Bardstown, the original 
 Episcopal city of Kentucky, they were hos- 
 pitably received by the Jesuit Fathers, who 
 are the owners of the well-known college of 
 St. Joseph, the ornament of the town, and in 
 which many young men, not only of the sur- 
 rounding country, but also of the Southern 
 States, have received the blessings of a Chris- 
 tian education. Though it was far in the night, 
 when they presented themselves to those good 
 fathers, yet as soon as the name of Trappists 
 was announced to them, everything was put 
 in motion to procure the necessary accommo- 
 dation. The next day, after breakfiist, the 
 journey was resumed, interrupted only by a 
 short stay at the small village of New Haven.
 
 INTRODUCTION. 47 
 
 The reverend parish-priest of this locality, 
 upon whom they called to pay their respects, 
 expressed a desire of their singing the Cister- 
 cian " Scih'G Eegin-a" In compliance with his 
 wishes, the journey was delayed half-an-hour, 
 and all the religious proceeded to the church, 
 accordingly. After this interesting ceremony, 
 the journey was continued, and the sun had 
 just gone down, when it was announced in a 
 loud voice, by one of the guides, that Grethse- 
 mani was at length in sight. Immediately, all 
 with one accord threw themselves on their 
 knees upon the ground, and offered up to God 
 their souls, their hearts, their affections, their 
 lives and their ends. Six O'clock was just 
 striking, as they entered the house, to be thence- 
 forward their place of repose and final rest. 
 Some of the former owners still continued to 
 reside there, in consequence of the arrival of 
 the new colony ha\dng taken place more than 
 twenty days sooner than it was expected. The 
 houses fit for human habitation were few. 
 They were obliged to make use of the farm- 
 houses and grananes for dormitones, until the 
 good sisters would depart to their own homes. 
 Everything necessary to their support was 
 provided by these, and, in a few days, the 
 Trappists were left the solitary and peaceful 
 possessors of Gethsemaui.
 
 48 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Now that they had reached what they em- 
 phatically termed liome, their former austere 
 and laborious manner of living was resumed, 
 without scarcely any delay. The greater por- 
 tion of the last year's crop of Indian corn was 
 still standing in the fields; this was to be 
 gathered, and the granaries and other out- 
 houses were to be put in some kind of repair ; 
 for, as has been before said, the farm was in 
 the worst condition, owing to the careless 
 manner it had been cultivated by the negroes, 
 and the out-houses and appurtenances were 
 almost in a state of total dilapidation. The 
 remainder of the winter was passed in labors 
 of this kind, and in making preparations for 
 the next year's crop. A misfortune that was 
 near plunging them into the deepest distress, 
 was the first trial sent by the Lord to his 
 chosen children. The Rev. Father Eatropius, 
 already fatigued before leaving France, by the 
 excessive labors his new office of conducting 
 the colony had imposed upon him, and wholly 
 worn out by the fatigues of a long voyage 
 across the Atlantic, had scarcelv reached his 
 destined retreat than he fell dangerously sick. 
 The physicians that were summoned to his 
 assistance, all declared him to be in a most 
 critical state, and that, unless a change for the 
 better should take place within a limited period,
 
 INTllODL'CIION. 49 
 
 he would of necessity succumb to the disease. 
 At leugth, it was solemnly announced hy one 
 of the attending physicians, that he should 
 make up his mind for a speedy dissolution, for 
 that his disease had reached the crisis which 
 he had long since feared, and that no endeavors 
 of art could possibly prolong his life. His 
 confessor was charged with the mournful mis- 
 sion of announcing to the patient this intelli- 
 gence. The latter appeared by no means moved, 
 but simply answered: "May the Lord be 
 praised, and his will be done ! It was his will, 
 that I should conduct oiihj to America the new 
 colonists ; and He will find other servants more 
 worthy and more faithful than I, to continue 
 the work." Prayers were offered to the throne 
 of the Almighty for his recovery, and circulars 
 were sent to all the clergy of the diocese, beg- 
 ffino; their intercession on his behalf. The 
 venerable Mgr. Flaget made it known through 
 his secretary, that he had commenced in his 
 episcopal city of Louisville, a novena of Masses, 
 for the speedy recovery of him whom he cher- 
 ished with his whole heart, and exhorted all to 
 unite their prayers with his to obtain the grace 
 he implored. About the middle of the novena, 
 the physician Avho stood at the foot of the 
 patient's bed, turned to the sorrowing attend- 
 ants, and declared that he had not five minutes 
 5 
 
 /
 
 50 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 to live, retiring at the same time. Scarcely 
 had he passed the door of the chamber, 
 \vhen the patient, as if awaking from stupor, 
 lifted his eyes towards heaven, and asked for 
 a drink ; and a little after, something to eat. 
 From that moment he became visibly better, 
 and the next day was out of all danger. All 
 attributed this almost miraculous recovery to 
 the pious intercession of Bishop Flaget. The 
 physician, who, by the way, was not a Catholic, 
 being informed that his patient was still alive, 
 could scarcely believe the report. He returned 
 to see him, and to his great astonishment, found 
 that all the dangerous symptoms had disap- 
 peared. General joy now diffused itself through 
 the community^ and a solemn thanksgiving was 
 celebrated for so signal a mark of the divine 
 favor. Although he had, after this, two relapses, 
 occasioned by the unskilfulness of those that 
 waited upon him, and perhaps, also, by his own 
 imprudence, in reckoning too much on the 
 divine aid ; God, that watched over his days, 
 and destined him to complete the work he had 
 so well commenced, always drew him from the 
 danger. He was after a few months sufficiently 
 reinstated in health to undertake a voyage to 
 Europe, which the interests of the new founda- 
 tion rendered absolutely necessary. He left 
 Gethsemani on the 4th of July, and arrived
 
 INTRODUCTION. 51 
 
 again in France on the 20tli of August, after a 
 quick passage of thirty-five days. His stay in 
 Europe was, however, longer than he had cal- 
 culated upon, at setting out. 
 
 The general chapter, composed of the supe- 
 riors of all the houses of the order, was 
 delayed in consequence of unavoidable circum- 
 stances; and the political changes by which 
 the established governments were afflicted 
 about this time, rendered almost fruitless his 
 first attempts to obtain pecuniary assistance 
 from the many pious and charitable inhabi- 
 tants of France, to whom he had made appli- 
 cation. The community he had left at Getli- 
 semani was composed of too few persons, to be 
 able to profitably cultivate the large farm at- 
 tached to that place. He was consequently 
 under the necessity of increasing their number. 
 The Abbot of Melleray granted him thirteen 
 religious from his own abbey, the expense of 
 whose passage across the Atlantic he was 
 obliged to defray. Their voyage was long and 
 painful, not being able to reach their destina- 
 tion before the expiration of three months 
 from the time of departure. In the mean time, 
 the Eev. Father Eutropius was travelling 
 through many of the French provinces, with 
 the object of collecting means, for defraying the 
 expenses of his colonists, from the pious in-
 
 52 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 habitants. After having used all the exertions 
 in his power in their favor, he deemed that 
 the time had now arrived for his return to 
 America, and to the participation of the peni- 
 tential life he had embraced. Persons, how- 
 ever, of great influence, and whose opinion was 
 of great weight in his eyes, on account of the 
 interest they took in his community, advised 
 him to endeavor to complete on his present ex- 
 cursion what he would be obliged to do at a 
 later period, with the additional trouble of re- 
 crossing the Atlantic, were he to return im- 
 mediately to America, and leave it undone. 
 Gethsemani was up to this time only a priorj^, 
 or a house dependent upon the one to which it 
 owed its foundation. It had, however, the 
 right of being raised to the higher degree of 
 abbey, or independent liouse, in consequence 
 of its importance, and the number of its mem- 
 bers. This erection could be made only by 
 the court of Rome. Letters of recommendation 
 were accordingly given to him for that court, 
 in order to fjicilitate his undertaking. After 
 a prosperous voyage of a few days, on board a 
 French national ship, that he accidentally 
 found in the harbor of Toulon, and by the 
 officers of which he was treated with all due 
 respect, behold him at last in the Eternal 
 City, the Capital of the Christian world. Here
 
 INTRODUCTION. 53 
 
 he found every one to whom he applied, eager 
 and ready to aid him in procuring the favor 
 he sought. He obtained an audience of the 
 Holy Father, who was pleased to manifest 
 great interest in the foundation of a house of 
 La Trappe in America, and who did not fail 
 to express his satisfaction, that this foundation 
 had been made in the diocese of Mgr. Flaget, 
 whose zeal for all that concerns religion, and 
 whose personal virtues were well known to 
 him. His Holiness granted him all he required, 
 and promised to expedite a bull for raising 
 Gethsemani from the degree of priory to that 
 of abbey. In testimony of his approval of so 
 catholic a work, the Holy Father presented 
 him also with a medal representing his tri- 
 umphant entry into Rome, after his painful 
 exile at Gaseta, which medal shall be always 
 preserved in the archives of the abbey of Geth- 
 semani, as one of its most precious marks of 
 distinction. After an audience of nearly half- 
 an-hour, the Holy Father dismissed him, re- 
 commending himself and the universal church 
 to the prayers of his community, and granting 
 some special and peculiar privileges to Father 
 Eutropius personally. 
 
 Father Eutropius, after thus succeeding in 
 the principal object that led him to Rome, 
 wished also to reanimate his faith by visiting 
 5*
 
 54 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 the principal monuments" of ancient Chris- 
 tianity scattered through this city, so rich in 
 prodigies of painting and architecture. Having 
 satisfied the desires that his character of priest 
 and religious inspired him with ; and after 
 having, above all, been re-invigorated to the 
 love of God at the sight of the numerous bodies 
 of the holy martyrs contained in the catacombs, 
 he now prepared for his return. Quitting the 
 classic land of Italy, he again entered France, 
 after a few days' journey, and proceeded to the 
 mother-house of Melleray, where he was re- 
 ceived with all the former affection of the 
 kind and noble-hearted abbot, the Rev. Father 
 Maximus. His final departure for America 
 being now determined on, he solicited and ob- 
 tained from that pious and holy religious, six 
 others, in addition to the thirteen already sent, 
 as companions for the voyage. Attended by 
 this little supply to his new colony, he now 
 proceeded to Havre without delay, experiencing 
 the same kind attention and marks of respect 
 from the gentlemanly officials of the railroad 
 and steamboat companies, that he had received 
 on the occasion of his first passing over the 
 same route. 
 
 An unexpected delay, caused by the scarcity 
 of ships in the American trade at Havre, came 
 to alloy tlie joy witli which his heart was
 
 INTRODUCTION. 65 
 
 filled at the successful issue of his under- 
 takings. He was detained two long months, 
 waiting for a suitable vessel, in which to pro- 
 ceed on his destination. This forced delay 
 was not, however, unattended with some good ; 
 Providence made use of it to procure him fresh 
 succors for his establishment. He also, about 
 this time, took charge of two little children, 
 that were abandoned by their parents, and 
 were losing themselves through the streets of 
 Havre, and whom some persons of that city 
 warmly recommended to his protection. He 
 brought them with him to America, and they 
 are now at Gethsemani, receiving a pious and 
 Christian education, which will be continued 
 towards them until such time as they are of 
 age, to choose some profession, either ecclesias- 
 tical or civil.* 
 
 Our travellers departed from Havre under 
 unfavorable auspices, a storm having assailed 
 them at the entrance of the channel of La 
 Manclie, which became so violent, and lasted 
 so long, as to oblige them to take shelter in a 
 small harbor on the coast of England. After 
 waiting there a few days, the heavens began 
 
 * It is there that, whilst these children of St. Bernard faith- 
 fully discharge all their religious duties, they endeavor to 
 render themselves useful to all the people of their neighbor- 
 hood, as well in spiritual as in temporal affairs.
 
 66 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 to clear off, and a favorable wind began to 
 blow. They took advantage of it to again put 
 to sea ; but, alas ! it was only to be exposed 
 to still greater dangers. The seas rose moun- 
 tains high, opposing winds commenced blowing, 
 and the ship was in a short time at the mercy 
 of the waves. The sails were torn in pieces, 
 two of the masts were carried away, and two 
 unfortunate sailors, who happened to be in the 
 rigging at the time, were thrown into the sea. 
 At length, after many privations and fatigues, 
 the Rev. Father Eutropius arrived at Gethse- 
 mani, where he was anxiously expected by the 
 community from which he had been separated 
 nearly eighteen months.
 
 LIFE 
 
 OF 
 
 FATHEE MARIA EPIIRAIM. 
 
 « « ■ » > 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 BIRTQ — FIRST EDUCATION, AND GOOD NATURAL DISPOSITION OF FATHER 
 
 MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 Father Maria Ephraim, known in the "world by 
 the name of Vincent- Joseph-Matthew Ferrer, was 
 born at Perpignan, on the 13th March, 1814. His 
 father's name was Peter Ferrer Maurell; and his 
 mother's maiden-name, Elizabeth Delcros. His pa- 
 rents, both pious, did not confine themselves to a 
 barren esteem for religion ; thej scrupulously ob- 
 served all its practices. They blessed the Lord for 
 having granted them this, their first child, and they 
 hastened to dedicate it to Him by the administration 
 of holy baptism. The choosing of names for their 
 children ; and more especially for their first born, is 
 a matter of no little importance among the rich. 
 The question was soon decided by Mr. and Mrs. 
 Ferrer. Their religious principles inducing them to 
 give their son the name of one of the twelve Apostles, 
 the twelve names were written on as many different 
 slips of paper, and thrown into a suitable vessel. The 
 
 (57)
 
 58 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 vessel having been shaken, the first name that drop- 
 ped out was that of Matthew ; the child was there- 
 fore called Matthew, with the addition of two other 
 names, Vincent and Joseph. 
 
 This happy family, already rejoiced at having one 
 child, was raised to a still greater degree of happi- 
 ness, when, on the 9th of November, 1815, Madame 
 Ferrer became the mother of a young daughter, who 
 received at the baptismal font, the names of Jose- 
 phine-Maria-Elizabetli-Catharine. She was born at 
 a village named Espyra-Lagly, twelve miles from 
 Perpignan, where Mr. Ferrer possessed a country- 
 house. 
 
 The Lord reserved for these young plants a pre- 
 cious destiny, and wise and able hands, from their 
 very infancy, were ordained to give them a proper 
 direction. These hands were the very ones that 
 rocked their cradle. To sow in these young souls 
 the seeds of virtue, to cause them to imbibe, together 
 with the milk that nourished them, an affectionate 
 piety, was the most pleasing occupation of this truly 
 Christian mother. Some one has said long since, 
 that " the heart of a mother is a master-piece of 
 nature." This heart alone possesses all the ingeni- 
 ous resources, all the wonderful artifices of arresting 
 and fixing the restless and fickle imagination of in- 
 fancy. It is the mother's duty to teach her child the 
 first principles of religion. Her insinuating eloquence 
 will soon enable him to surmount the obstacles pre- 
 sented to him by inadvertency of youth. Madame 
 Ferrer was fully convinced of the importance of her 
 maternal duties, and knew how to perform them.
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 59 
 
 She had often, on her lips, the sacred names of 
 Jesus and Mary, in order to early accustom those 
 innocent creatures to love the Divine Son and Hia 
 divine Mother. 
 
 This vigilant instructress, being well aware that 
 children, although often incapable of profiting by the 
 lessons given them, are, however, often led on to evil 
 by the force of bad example, made it her constant 
 study, that nothing but what is virtuous and good, 
 should meet the eyes of her children. On this ac- 
 count, she diligently watched the conduct of her 
 domestics, and admitted none to her house, but such 
 as were capable of edifying by their regularity, and 
 by the constant practice of their religious duties. She 
 took special care, that they should not be remiss in 
 frequenting the Sacraments, in their prayers, and in 
 performing the duties imposed upon them by the 
 customs of their parish. Above all, she took care, 
 that they should be very reserved in their language : 
 on this subject she was accustomed to say, with much 
 reason, that " everything in a house should contri- 
 bute to form the character of the young intellectual 
 beings who inhabit it." Precautions so wise could 
 not fail to produce the most happy results ; conse- 
 quently, our Vincent and Catharine exhibited evident 
 marks of piety at an age in which reason is scarcely 
 developed in other children. 
 
 The Ferrer family passed the greater part of their 
 time in the country, and Madame Ferrer, being much 
 taken up with her domestic affairs, and consequently 
 unable to bestow upon her children those various 
 cares they demanded, according as they grew up,
 
 60 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 Vincent, on this account, at the age of three years, 
 was confided to the care of a venerable priest, whom 
 they were accustomed to call " the Canon,'" and 
 whose name was Joseph Andrew. The revolution 
 having forced him to emigrate, upon his return in 
 1802, he was received into the family of Mr. Ferrer, 
 whose education he had formerly directed. This 
 good priest, who knew how to imbue the father with 
 good principles, was, in every way, capable of in- 
 spiring his children with the like principles. He was, 
 above all other things, endowed with tender and 
 affectionate piety. He, therefore, like a wise guardian, 
 commenced by forming the hearts of his young 
 pupils — (for Catharine was also confided to his in- 
 structions) — to the love of whatever is good, and to 
 the practice of every virtue. 
 
 To the fortunate condition in which they were 
 placed by Providence, these two children added the 
 strength of fine natural talents. They profited by 
 all the lessons they received, and very soon became 
 the delight and admiration of all who approached 
 them. The Ferrer family was remarkable for works 
 of charity, and gave abundant alms to the poor of the 
 surrounding neighborhood. Charity then became as 
 if hereditary in this family. At an early age, the 
 brother and sister manifested a decided inclination to 
 assist the unfortunate ; it was always either Vincent, 
 or his little sister, that wished to have the office of 
 distributing alms to the indigent. Their doors were 
 continually beset by the poor, and they could not 
 bear that one should depart, without receiving some 
 assistance. If sometimes their mother — a thing of
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. (jl 
 
 rare occurrence — wislied to send any away, without 
 the customary ahns, the brother and sister pleaded 
 for them ; and always so effectually, as to obtain for 
 the young Vincent the title of ^^ Advocate of the 
 Poor." 
 
 His good heart and his friendly disposition caused 
 that his company was eagerly sought for by all the 
 children of the village. He showed himself their 
 friend, and was in turn beloved by them. As he was 
 not permitted to leave home, unattended by tis tutor; 
 in order to enjoy the society of his young friends, he 
 was allowed to introduce some of them into his own 
 apartment, once or twice a week. There he acted 
 with them the part of catechist and preacher. His 
 father, hearing of these innocent amusements, caused 
 a small altar to be erected in his chamber. At this 
 altar, Vincent was in the habit of reciting prayers 
 with his young visitors, and of preaching to them, as 
 well as he was able. The exercises finished, he pro- 
 cured them some refreshment, after which, taking 
 leave of them, he went with his sister to study his 
 lesson. 
 
 The virtuous priest charged with the education of 
 the two children, seeing them correspond so well to 
 his efforts, conceived a great attachment for them. 
 What at first was a duty on his part, became, in a 
 short time, a matter of zeal and heartfelt affection. 
 He was delighted to see them growing in age and 
 wisdom. Among the many good qualities, for which 
 they were distinguished by all who knew them, none 
 was more remarkable than the tender affection they 
 had for each other — an affection, which no accident 
 6
 
 62 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 
 
 could ever interrupt. It is a very common defect 
 of the young, to wish to excuse their faults, and even, 
 sometimes, to wish to have them imputed to their 
 companions. Of this defect, our virtuous children 
 were wholly exempt. One day, the Abbe Andrew, 
 finding his papers in disorder, and suspecting the 
 little Vincent as the cause, reproved him for it. His 
 sister, however, soon made her appearance, crying 
 out, " Pardon, Rev. Father ; do not accuse my bro- 
 ther; I am the guilty one." This anecdote, taken at 
 random hazard from a thousand others of a like 
 stamp, fully paints to us the condition of these young 
 souls ; never was there seen between them the least 
 spice of jealousy. 
 
 In this way the first foundation for the sanctifica- 
 tion of Vincent and Catharine was firmly laid. To 
 the virtuous inclinations which we have been remark- 
 ing, may be added the natural quickness of under- 
 standing, which enabled them to enrich their minds 
 with varied knowledge. They had a taste for study, 
 great facility of apprehension, and that keenness of 
 penetration, which enabled them to easily surmount 
 the numerous difficulties, which, at the commencement 
 of their education, so frequently obstruct the advance- 
 ment of young minds in the path of knowledge.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 VINCENT IS SENT TO THE JESUITS' COLLEGE AT AIX. HE EXPERIENCES 
 THERE SOME DIFFICULTIES. HE MAKES HIS FIRST COMMUNION. 
 
 We are now come to a critical moment in the life 
 of Father IMaria Ephraim, — a moment, at which many 
 families are disturbed for the first time, and in which 
 many parents experience the first shock given to their 
 affectionate love for their offspring. The Ferrer family 
 had experienced hitherto a domestic happiness, which 
 nothing that occurred, had the power of interrupting; 
 the younger portion of it gave nothing but comfort 
 and consolation, and held out hopes of still greater, 
 hereafter. The little Vincent was now ten years old, 
 and, although his education was not neglected under 
 the paternal roof, his mind, nevertheless, stood in need 
 of more substantial food. He was destined to the 
 enjoyment of an ample patrimony; he had a natural 
 aptitude for the acquisition of the sciences ; every cir- 
 cumstance, in fine, connected with him, loudly called 
 for an education which should enable him to make 
 good the expectations formed about him by his ac- 
 quaintances, and by society at large. 
 
 His parents, good and sensible as they were, saw 
 the necessity of a separation for the future good of 
 their child ; but then, how can they break ties so 
 pleasing ; how deprive themselves of a son, the delight 
 and comfort of their whole family ? Such difficulties 
 are often experienced by many fathers ; and more 
 
 (63)
 
 64 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 especially by many mothers ; and not unfrequently, 
 a badly-regulated love, a badly-understood affection 
 for their children, causes them to commit irreparable 
 errors. Mons. and Made. Ferrer had sufficient force 
 of character to avoid such errors : the interest of 
 their son demanded a sacrifice, and though their 
 hearts refused it, they yet had sufficient strength of 
 mind to give it, but with all due discernment. Above 
 all things, they wished to give their children a solid 
 education — an education based upon sound religious 
 principles ; consequently they had the good sense to 
 confide their son to the vigilant direction of the Rev. 
 Jesuit Fathers. These learned instructors of youth 
 were justly celebrated for their talent and method of 
 inculcating in the heart and mind of their pupils those 
 elements of virtue and knowledge, which gave them 
 distinction in every situation of life. It was therefore 
 resolved that the young Vincent should be placed at 
 the college, which those Fathers held at Aix in 
 Province. Mons. Ferrer himself conducted his son 
 thither ; it was in the month of November, 1825. 
 The separation was a sad one on both sides ; on the 
 part of his mother and sister, and on the part of 
 Vincent, himself. It caused an abundance of tears 
 to be shed, but the distractions of the journey soon 
 dried those of Vincent. It was his first absence from 
 the protecting arms of his mother, his first trial of 
 travel, and his father left no means untried, in order 
 to render it interesting to him. 
 
 His first care, after arriving at Aix, was to write to 
 his mother. We will cite the very words of this letter, 
 in order that the reader may more easily judge of the
 
 LIFE OP FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 05 
 
 qualifications of this extraordinary cliild : we will do 
 the same every time that his letters may be found 
 interesting. The progress already made by the young 
 student must be deemed truly remarkable, and it will 
 thereby be seen that we have not exaggerated, when 
 we spoke so favorably of his natural talents. 
 
 Aix, November 29th, 1825. 
 
 My very dear and beloved Mamma : 
 
 We have, very fortunately, and without the 
 slightest accident, finished our journey; the motion 
 of the carriage caused me some sickness at first, but 
 it soon passed away. I will now tell you of some of 
 the remarkable things we have seen. At Narbonne, 
 we saw the canal, on which were a great many boats ; 
 at Montpellier, we saw the Peyrou, (one of the curi- 
 osities of Montpellier,) together with a long alley, 
 having a fountain at its upper end. At Nismes, we 
 saw the Arenes (the place erected by the Romans for 
 games, fighting, and wrestling), and the Maison- 
 Carree (the square house), the temple of Diana, the 
 Great Tower, a very large fountain, some Mosaic 
 pavements, the statue of Apollo, the baths of Augus- 
 tus, the palace of the Princess Photina, the tomb of 
 Marcus Attius, &c., &c. At Aix, in the Place called 
 "Le Cours," there are two fountains, one of which 
 contains hot water, and the other, cold. In front of 
 the cathedral there is a huge pillar, supported by four 
 lions, and from which water issues. When entering 
 the college, these Fathers were so kind as to come to 
 embrace me, the moment they saw me. Do not 
 grieve for me, my dear mamma ; but remember to 
 
 6*
 
 Q6 LIFE OF FATUER MAEIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 come and see me, next year, accompanied by papa, 
 and my sister. I shall apply myself diligently to my 
 studies, because, by that means, I shall the sooner 
 complete them and return to you. I am not grieved 
 for remaining here — but to remain here one whole 
 year without seeing you ; that, my dear mamma, tears 
 my heart. Don't grieve for me, my dear mamma ; for 
 I am doing very well here. I will apply myself dili- 
 gently, in order to give you pleasure. . . My dearest 
 mamma, I pray you to give my compliments to all the 
 family ; not forgetting the Rev. Father, the Canon, 
 nor any of my acquaintances at Espyra. 
 
 Mens. Ferrer departed from Aix, taking with him 
 the foregoing letter to his wife, and with a heart sad 
 at parting from his son. Whilst in company with his 
 father, all went on well with Vincent ; but when he 
 found himself alone among strangers, then came his 
 trouble. His father, his dear mother, his beloved 
 Bister, his young friends at Espyra, all the amuse- 
 ments to which, in company with them, he was accus- 
 tomed to give himself up, even the little chapel in his 
 chamber at home ; all these objects came separately, 
 or altogether before his mind's eye, and almost rent in 
 twain his poor little heart. He could not restrain his 
 tears. His good teachers were by no means astonished 
 at his grief; they knew that it was a tribute which 
 new-comers seldom failed to pay upon their arrival ; 
 they did their best, however, to procure distractions, 
 and some friends for the young Ferrer ; thereby miti- 
 gating his gi-ief for the moment, but by no means 
 curing it. He suffered pangs of dreadful anguish 
 from this, his cruel enemy. One day, he could resist
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 67 
 
 its influence no longer ; he privately ran aAvay from 
 the college, with the design of returning to Perpignan. 
 Uut how was he to accomplish it ? Ilis purse was in 
 the hands of the college Economist, and he had but a 
 few cents in his pocket. In this embarrassment, he 
 
 took refuge with a certain Madame D , who was 
 
 then accidentally at Aix, imparted to her his troubles, 
 and the desire he had to return to his parents. No' 
 great resources could be offered to him ; he soon per- 
 ceived it, and consequently returned to his college. 
 
 His pining after home was not, however, assuaged ; 
 his grief returned in a short time. As some sort of 
 remedy, he addressed a long letter to his mother, 
 thinking that his lamentations would have a greater 
 ascendency over her heart, than over that of his 
 father ; and knowing by experience, that mothers, in 
 general, have more tenderness, or rather, more weak- 
 ness for the tears of their children, than fathers. We 
 will cite a few fragments of this letter ; and we do it 
 the more willingly, as it places in a clear point of 
 view the wdiole soul of the poor child : 
 
 " My very dear Mamma, 
 
 I hasten to write to you, in order to describe the 
 great pain and trouble I am suffering. I am weeping 
 every day, .... at study, in recreation, at class, 
 everywhere I am crying ; but at High Mass I weep 
 more than ever, for the singing is the same as at 
 Espyra. I am always thinking that my sister is 
 happy in being at your side ; I envy her, and do 
 nothing but weep, whilst reading the letter of papa, 
 for I have nothing to console me here. Come, then,
 
 6S LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 
 
 and take me home ; dearest Mamma, come ; until you 
 come, I will not cease weeping. Yesterday, in our 
 walk, I ascended alone a hill, which I happened to 
 come across ; thence I saw a mountain which I 
 imagined to be the Canigou.* I soon began to pray 
 to the good God, and to weep. I was on the point 
 of fleeing towards that mountain, but the fear of dis- 
 obeying my parents arrested my footsteps. I said 
 to myself, ' I am determined to obey my parents, 
 even until death.' Thus, dear mamma, you see in 
 what a state I am ; you must either come, yourself, 
 or send some one to take me home, for I can't remain 
 a year without seeing you." 
 
 Suddenly forgetting for a moment his chagrin, he 
 goes on to give a description of a little feast given to 
 the students. 
 
 " On Thursday, we celebrated the feast of the 
 Conception. An altar was erected in the middle of 
 the study-room ; a pedestal bearing the statue of the 
 Blessed Virgin was then placed upon it. All the 
 students, then, kneeling, kissed the Blessed Image. 
 Afterwards, we had breakfast and dinner, all in the 
 same hall, the number being more than six hundred. 
 We had chickens and other delicacies, and, as we 
 were permitted to speak, we made a frightful noise. 
 Wine was afterwards served around, and we drank 
 the health of the Blessed Virgin." 
 
 After this episode, he was not long in returning to 
 his former repinings. He thus continues his letter : 
 "My very dear mamma, if you knew in what a 
 
 * Tho Canigou is one of the highest peaks of the Pyrenees ; it is 
 seen from Pcrpiguan, as if it were at a very short distance.
 
 LIFE OF FATIlEll MARIA EPIIIIAIM. G9 
 
 deplorable condition I am, you would set out imme- 
 diately. Tell my sister, tliat it is a miserable thing 
 to be separated from those we love ; it is sufficient to 
 deprive one of life. Therefore, my dear mamma, 
 come and give me some consolation, for I stand in the 
 greatest need of it. If you don't come, I shall either 
 become a maniac or I shall die." 
 
 In this manner — (we have given his own words) — 
 Vincent expressed what he felt, on account of his 
 absence from his family. His affliction, so well ex- 
 pressed, was duly appreciated and vividly felt by his 
 mother and the rest of the family ; but, in the same 
 way that she showed her good sense in consenting to 
 the departure of this amiable child, when she saw the 
 absolute necessity of it, she now also restrained her 
 feelings, and did not become greatly alarmed at his 
 condition, however painful, well knowing it to be the 
 ordinary state of all affectionate and sensitive hearts 
 upon departing from those they love. Accordingly 
 no notice was taken of the letter; time, it was 
 believed, would remedy the evil complained of. 
 Our little friend, however, built strong hopes upon 
 this letter ; he depicted his troubles so eloquently, as 
 he thought. lie knew, besides, the goodness of his 
 parents ; and more especially, the tender com- 
 plaisance of his excellent mother. He counted the 
 number of days necessary for his letter to arrive at 
 its destination ; not to be deceived, he even allowed 
 more days than were necessary ; but, alas ! the days 
 passed and no answer came. All this time he lived 
 upon hope ; this calmed his mind, in some respects, 
 and gave him courage to tolerably perform his colic-
 
 70 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 giate duties. He even succeeded in his compositions; 
 his natural strength of mind by degrees and insensibly 
 gaining the ascendency. "Writing again to his parents, 
 after the customary preamble of wishing to see them, 
 and of his desire to go home, he informed them of 
 his literary success. He remarked to his father, 
 " that he had obtained the fourteenth, and afterwards, 
 the sixteenth place, in a class of eighty of his fellow- 
 students ; that, at a public disputation, he had gained 
 the victory over his opponent;" he informed him, 
 " that he was on the side of the Romans ; that they 
 had conquered the Greeks, their adversaries ; that 
 the flag of victory was permanently fixed in their 
 camp ; and finally, that his Professor gave it as his 
 opinion, that he would obtain the premium at the end 
 of the year." This letter gave great pleasure to the 
 Ferrer family ; they saw that their child would soon 
 take his proper place, that he would become habit- 
 uated to Aix, and, consequently, that he could not 
 fail in accomplishing the purpose, for which he had 
 been sent. In order to console and encourage him, 
 his father wrote, and his sister added some lines 
 from herself. This, however, did not satisfy our 
 young scholar ; he expected quite a different thing, 
 and could not restrain his tears. The language of his 
 father seemed to him, however, to import, that if he 
 applied himself well, and deserved good testimonials 
 from his teachers, his desires would be finally grati- 
 fied. This last consideration excited his emulation. 
 He was persuaded, that if he performed his duties 
 regularly and faithfully, and obtained good notes 
 from his teachers and other superiors, his parents
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 71 
 
 would be highly gratified, and accede to all his 
 "wishes. 
 
 He now took a resolution, and from that moment 
 remained constant to it. He began to labor in earn- 
 est, his conduct became regular, his application, in- 
 cessant. He shed no more tears ; he had not even 
 time to think of his former causes of unensiness, so 
 much was he occupied with his duties. His efforts 
 deserved success ; he was praised by his teachers ; 
 and a taste for study growing on him every day, he, 
 in the end, became an excellent student. The 
 Superiors of the college did not fail to write to Mens. 
 Ferrer, in order to acquaint him with this remark- 
 able change in his son. They remarked to him, that 
 the dear child could not be more diligent; that his 
 moral conduct was in unison with his application, 
 both with respect to regularity and docility, as well 
 as to piety; finally, that, his present manner of act- 
 ing had caused the first days of his college • life to be 
 entirely forgotten. They added also a piece of ad- 
 vice, which many fathers, and more especially, many 
 mothers would do well to profit by, namely: "that in 
 his correspondence with his son, Mons. Ferrer would do 
 well to avoid, as much as possible, speaking to the 
 heart ; that his letters were so afi'ectionate, as to 
 cause a renewal of all his son's chagrin," 
 
 Behold then our dear young student re-entered into 
 his natural sphere, from which the separation from 
 his relations, for whom he had so strong an aff'ection, 
 had for a time withdrawn him. Returned to his first 
 sentiments, he knew how to maintain his standing 
 among his fellow-scholars, and made farther progress
 
 72 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 every day. Having been well brought up at homo, 
 it cost him but little to continue his habits of obedi- 
 ence and docility, under the estimable masters to 
 Avhom he was confided. Although still very young, 
 he deserved to be chosen to make his first Communion : 
 this circumstance filled him with consolation, and he 
 redoubled his fervor. His heart, so ardent and so 
 tender, sighed to arrive at the day, the most import- 
 ant and most happy of a Christian's life. His reli- 
 gious knowledge, greater than may be expected from 
 one of his years, made him understand all the import- 
 ance of an action that has so much influence over 
 the future man, and he did all in his power to render 
 himself worthy of the visit of Him, who gives Him- 
 self without reserve to his creatures. It was the day 
 of Pentecost, that he was admitted to the sacred 
 Banquet, for the first time ; from that fortunate mo- 
 ment, divesting himself of everything appertaining 
 to childhood, he marched with gigantic strides on the 
 road to virtue. The sacrament of Confirmation, 
 which he received shortly after, raised him to the 
 acme of all his wishes, and added still more to 'his 
 -kappiacss and spiritual bliss.
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Vincent's peogress in his studies, he becomes firm in piety. 
 
 HE leaves the college OF THE R. R. JESUITS. 
 
 In the admirable maxims, bj which Jeremiah 
 almost always terminates his doleful lamentations, 
 that Prophet assures us, that the youth follows, even 
 to the tomb, the route marked out, whilst appearing 
 at the banquet of life. This sentence of the Holy 
 Ghost, the truth of which is proved by experience 
 every day, received a new confirmation in the person 
 of Vincent. Behold him now freed from the weak- 
 ness of childhood, nourished from time to time with 
 the Bread of Life ! He soon became a model of piety, 
 and of every virtue. His fellow-students, as well as 
 his teachers, could not help remarking his progress in 
 holiness, becoming now more apparent every day. 
 
 The pious means employed by the Jesuit Fathers, 
 to inspire their pupils with a holy emulation, are well 
 known ; and more especially, the benefits accruing 
 from those congregations so happily established, and 
 so ably directed, cannot fail to be appreciated by all 
 who have the care of youth. Those alone, who render 
 themselves worthy by application and good conduct, 
 are enrolled in those pious legions. Vincent deserved 
 to be admitted, shortly after his first Communion, first 
 into the congregation of St. Louis Gonzaga; and a 
 little later, into that of the Blessed Virgin. 
 
 Having become a member of those pious associa- 
 • 7, (73)
 
 74 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 
 
 tions, he deemed himself obliged to a more exemplary 
 and more perfect life. He had before his eyes, in Mie 
 persons of many of his companions, some fine models 
 of piety ; a holy ardor took possession of his soul ; he 
 made constant efforts to surpass, or at least, to be on 
 a par with them, in all things tending to edification 
 and good conduct. He assisted at the exercises of 
 piety — at the holy sacrifice of the Mass, especially — 
 with seraphic devotion, and was always among the 
 first at the meetings of the congregation. In his in- 
 tercourse with his fellow-students, he manifested de- 
 ference towards those who were his elders, and an 
 amiable and easy cordiality towards his equals in age. 
 His affability, his modesty, his discretion ; in one 
 word, his whole manner of acting, rendered him the 
 delight and admiration of all the members of the con- 
 gregation, who could not help presenting him to their 
 imagination, as an angel, in the guise of a child. The 
 following fact may serve to depict the goodness of his 
 heart. Lively and active, he had a decided taste for 
 gymnastic exercises. One day that he was perform- 
 ing some feat of agility on an engine erected for that 
 purpose, he perceived the man, to whom was com- 
 mitted the task of pulling and drawing the ropes of 
 the machine, laboring with fatigue, and covered with 
 perspiration. He immediately discontinued his ex- 
 ercise, and throwing his arms around the neck of the 
 man, he wiped off the sweat with his handkerchief, 
 exclaiming, "My poor Aime" (that was his name) 
 — " I am very wicked to give you so much trouble, 
 and cause you so much fatigue, in order that I may
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 75 
 
 talce my pleasure," and from that moment, he re- 
 nounced this kind of amusement. 
 
 He had for his masters a respect mixed with tender- 
 ness ; they, on their part, loved him with an affection, 
 which his excellent qualities justified. Many dis- 
 tinctions, and honorable oflSces, which those prudent 
 instructors know how to distribute, in a suitable man- 
 ner, in order to reward merit, and encourage virtue, 
 were conferred upon him. At one time, he was chosen 
 questor of the congregation, and, in that capacity, had 
 the charge of distributing alms to the poor. At 
 another time, an English frigate, of which people 
 spoke a great deal, having come to anchor in the 
 harbor of Marseilles, the Jesuit Fathers sent the 
 elect of their community to see it. Our young Ferrer 
 was of the number; the party remained at Marseilles 
 two days. 
 
 Among the devotions of our pious young scholar, 
 there was one for which he had particular predi- 
 lection ; this was devotion to the Blessed Virgin. It 
 is true, that his fervent instructors did all in their 
 power to plant such devotion in the hearts of their 
 pupils; but Vincent needed not to be stimulated. It 
 was a custom at the college of Aix for every pupil, on 
 each Saturday of the year, to write a letter to this 
 glorious Queen of Angels and Protectress of youth. 
 Those letters were deposited upon an altar, dedicated 
 to the Holy Virgin, and suffered to remain there 
 during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The young 
 Vincent saw Saturday arrive, with joy ; he used to say, 
 that " he was going to write to his good Mamma ; to 
 recommend to her protection his mamma at Perpignan,
 
 76 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 and his other relations." His address was always the 
 outpourings of a burning, devout heart. 
 
 At one time, it was agreed upon, that a large heart of 
 silver, covered over with gold leaf, should be moulded, 
 in honor of the Blessed Virgin ; this heart to be 
 sufficiently large, so as to contain in the interior the 
 names of all the pupils that would contribute to pur- 
 chase it. The subscriber was permitted to take the 
 amount of his subscription from his pocket money, 
 only. Our Vincent was one of the most active in this 
 pious work. "When the heart was finished, each pupil 
 wrote his name upon a card ; the cards were then 
 enclosed in the heart, which was itself, afterwards, 
 together with the precious deposits it contained, 
 dedicated to Our Lady of a celebrated place shrine of 
 devotion in the neighborhood. A deputation of those 
 most fervently devoted to Mary was chosen to be the 
 bearers of this oifering ; the young Ferrer was among 
 the first nominated. He had also a fervent devotion 
 towards St. Vincent de Paul, whom he considered as 
 his patron-saint. On the day of his festival, he was 
 more urgent in his devotions to this saint than usual. 
 A few days afterwards, the first Greek conposition 
 was written by the class, to which he belonged. 
 Among many competitors, he obtained the honor of 
 being; deemed the best in his class. This success he 
 wholly attributed to the intercession of his holy Pro- 
 tector ; and in that very way accounted for it in a 
 letter to his father. 
 
 The young Vincent thus advanced rapidly in the 
 way of perfection. His conduct, it is true, was not 
 altogether blameless at the commencement, of his
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 77 
 
 college life, but his heart had remained always pure. 
 We have seen, how he effaced the memory of his 
 former faults ; his letters to his family were now also 
 quite in a different tone. No longer pressing soli- 
 citations for leave to withdraw from college ; no longer 
 prayers and entreaties to his mother, that she might 
 send some one to take him home ; far from that, he 
 now announced his desire of remaining at Aix during 
 the vacation, he begged his parents to pray for him, 
 and attributed to their pious intervention all his 
 success. Some of them were little treatises, as if de- 
 signed for the edification of his correspondents, — little 
 sermons, in fine. Let us take, as a sample, the letter 
 written to his sister, upon being informed, that she 
 had made her first Communion : " I cannot describe," 
 he writes, " with what joy I learn, that you have made 
 your first Communion on last Thursday. What a 
 happy day ! Yes, it may with justice be called the 
 happiest day of your life ! I have prayed for you, 
 .... Oh ! how I would wish to see you on that day, 
 in order to witness your holy joy ! What happiness 
 for our papa and mamma ! I also have had that 
 happiness ; and I assure you, that I now would wish 
 not to have made my first Communion, in order that 
 I might have such happiness still in store for me ; for 
 although, at other communions, we receive great conso- 
 lation, at the first, we experience rapturous delight." 
 " Now, my dear sister, that you have received a 
 favor, which angels cannot obtain, I beg you will re- 
 member, in your prayers, me, a miserable sinner, in 
 order that God may deign to bless my studies, and 
 make me a good Christian ; pray, above all, to the Holy 
 7*
 
 78 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPURAIM. 
 
 Virgin, who never abandons any of her servants. 
 For my own part, I promise to remember you; I long 
 to see you again, but since our father has deemed it 
 expedient to separate us, we must submit ourselves to 
 his will, for we ought to regard him as filling, with 
 respect to us, the place of God Himself." 
 
 Such were already the sentiments of tender piety, 
 and such was the maturity of thought, exhibited by 
 Vincent, almost still a child. He judged of things 
 like a man, who had, during many years, exercised 
 his reasoning powers. At another time, writing 
 again to his sister, he says, " There are some reports 
 in circulation, which, if founded on truth, would cause 
 me much affliction. It is said that the Jesuits are 
 about to be expelled from France. What will become 
 of us, if we be deprived of those good fathers, who do 
 us so much good ? Indeed, their house seems to be 
 directed, not so much by them, as by our Lord Jesus 
 Christ Himself, under whose immediate protection wo 
 live ! If we be obliged to enter the secular colleges, 
 how can we be preserved from the spirit and vices of 
 the world, which, in such colleges, are, alas ! but too 
 prevalent?" The good young man feared that he 
 would experience in his own person, (and he actually 
 did experience them, as will be seen hereafter,) the 
 sad forebodings, which he here paints with so much 
 ingenuousness. 
 
 The rumors which alarmed the young Ferrer, were 
 but too well founded. Soon appeared those famous 
 ordinances which deprived France of an institution at 
 once so venerable and so useful; and the youth 
 of France, of their beloved instructors. The Jesuits
 
 LIFE OP FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 79 
 
 were ordered to shut up their schools, and to find an 
 asylum in some strange country. All the students of 
 the college of Aix were thrown into the greatest con- 
 sternation, upon hearing this sad news ; they felt all 
 the consequences of it, and considered themselves as 
 the principal victims of the measure. No one, how- 
 ever, was more afflicted than Vincent Ferrer, who had 
 now learned to appreciate the merits of his masters, 
 and who had for them the most tender affection. 
 Little versed in politics, these young scholars knew 
 not what gave rise to the storm, which caused them 
 so much damage. They thought they could allay it 
 by sending an address to His Highness, the Duke of 
 Bordeaux ; Vincent was one of the signers of this 
 address. Wishing also to offer to their good superiors 
 a homage of their zeal and sincere attachment, they 
 opened a subscription, from the proceeds of which they 
 erected a monument, indicative of their affection and 
 gratitude, at a country house which belonged to the 
 Jesuits ; Vincent and his young friends deeming it an 
 honor to have their names engraved upon it. 
 
 At the approach of the vacation, the president of 
 the college notified all the scholars, that they might 
 write to their parents, and request them to come and 
 take them home, unless, indeed, they chose rather to 
 send their children to the frontiers of France, where 
 the fathers Avere about establishing another college, 
 and whither many of the pupils were resolved to go, 
 in order to continue their studies under the same 
 teachers. Our excellent youth wrote immediately to 
 his father, beginning his letter with lamentations for 
 the sad state of religion in France, and the unhappy
 
 80 LIFE OF FATHER xMARIA EPIIRAIM. 
 
 lot of the Christian youth, deprived of their best 
 instructors, and in danger of a perverse education. 
 " Nevertheless," he continued, " all is not yet lost ; 
 there is still a remedy. The Jesuits are going to 
 establish a college at the frontiers ; at Nice, which is 
 only thirty-five leagues from this place (Aix), and 
 many of their pupils intend to follow them. Although 
 removing still farther from you may cause me some 
 pain, yet I would wish also to accompany them to 
 their new college. You, my dear father, know 
 better than I, the advantages of a Christian educa- 
 tion ; for you have placed me here, in order that I 
 may obtain such. There is no cause for fear. Father 
 Delvaux will be our superior there, as he has been 
 here. If I had finished my studies, I would be glad 
 to return and remain under your fatherly guidance at 
 Perpignan, where I could have nothing to fear ; but 
 having advanced so little in them, and feeble in piety, 
 how can I preserve myself from the influence of bad 
 example, if I be sent to some godless college ? I con- 
 jure you, therefore, and beg of you, my dear father, 
 to permit me to follow my beloved teachers." 
 
 The Ferrer family were moved by the pure and 
 virtuous sentiments of their beloved child, they par- 
 ticipated in all his feelings, and acknowledged that 
 his wishes were perfectly just. They had not, how- 
 ever, sufficient command over themselves to grant him 
 his request ; they had only this one son ; they thought 
 him already at too great a distance, when at Aix ; 
 how then could they prevail upon themselves to send 
 him still farther, — to expatriate him ? It was, it 
 seemed to them, a matter of the greatest difficulty,
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EniRAIM. 81 
 
 and they had not the courage to attempt it. Conse- 
 quently, Vincent was obliged to 1 id adieu to his 
 numerous friends, and to his well-beloved teachers. 
 This separation rent his heart; he shed abundance of 
 tears, recommended himself to their prayers, and set 
 out for Perpignan.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 VINCENT RETURNS TO PERPIGNAN. HIS SOJOURN IN HIS FAMILY. HE 
 GOES TO TOULOUSE TO CONTINUE HIS STUDIES. 
 
 Vincent arrived at Perpignan about the beginning 
 of September, 1828 ; he was received by his parents, 
 from whom hs had been separated nearly three years, 
 with the greatest joy, — his return to the paternal roof 
 created an era in the family. Soon after, his sister 
 Catharine, also returned from her boarding-school. 
 Like her brother, she also had made great progress. 
 Piety, developed and perfected by education and grace, 
 manifested its influence over a heart so well formed by 
 nature. All the family were now once more re-united 
 at their dear country-house at Espyra I'Agly. 
 
 The brother and sister were greatly rejoiced at 
 finding themselves again in this delightful abode, which 
 had been the theatre of the innocent amusements of 
 their infancy. A thousand delicious recollections came 
 back to their minds ; a thousand little circumstances 
 recalled the memory of their former pleasures. They 
 loved to tell one another the impressions which their 
 hearts still retained of them. They had now reached 
 the age — the brother of fourteen, the sister of thirteen 
 years ; that is to say, they had now reached that 
 epoch of life, in which they ceased to be children, in 
 order to assume the sentiments and manners of a 
 more advanced age. Nevertheless, the good education 
 (82)
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MAllIA EPURAIM. 83 
 
 tliuy Lad received, enabled both to preserve the same 
 taste for virtue and pietj, for which their younger 
 years were distinguished. Neither of them put on any 
 of those airs, which youth so easily assume, when they 
 perceive themselves passing from childhood to man- 
 hood. Our brother and sister naturally resumed the 
 simple and pleasing pastimes, so suitable to innocence, 
 and which made the happiness of their younger days. 
 They wished to see again the former companions of 
 their infant sports — those children of the village ; 
 many of whom, like themselves, had now become 
 grown boys and girls. They brought them together 
 again in their little domestic chapel, which Mens. 
 Ferrer caused to be repaired for that purpose. 
 
 Become now more capable, because more instructed, 
 they gave to these reunions quite a new turn; they 
 now taught the catechism in earnest, and seasoned 
 their lessons with numerous interesting anecdotes, and 
 pleasing relations, which they themselves had heard 
 from their teachers. Vincent took upon himself the 
 direction of the boys, and his good sister charged 
 herself with that of the girls. Both showed them- 
 selves invariably affable and generous towards these 
 poor village children. The return of " the advocate 
 of the poor," as Vincent was called, was soon spread 
 among them ; they hurried from all parts, and Avere 
 anxious to put themselves again under his patronage. 
 In a very short time, Vincent had as many clients as 
 formerly. 
 
 These amusements did not, however, employ all 
 their leisure hours ; they took such amusements only 
 as recreation. Each had brought from school certain
 
 84 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 regulations for the vacation, which it was deemed a 
 matter of duty to observe with the greatest exactness. 
 The Rev. Canon, also, who had directed their primary 
 education, wished to have them still under his guidance. 
 This worthy priest knew well how to appreciate the 
 progress they had made. But it was not so much by 
 their literary acquirements that they rendered them- 
 selves recommendable, as by their tender piety. They 
 prayed like angels, every virtue was conspicuous in 
 them. Their modesty, obedience, and affectionate 
 tenderness for their parents rendered the family most 
 happy. All their neighbors could not help envying 
 such happiness, and appreciating the advantages de- 
 rived from a Christian education — advantages too 
 apparent in the persons of these children, to be passed 
 over, unnoticed. 
 
 This happy state of things could not, however, last. 
 The end of the vacation came, and Miss Catharine was 
 obliged to return to school. Vincent also must be 
 placed in some college, to continue his studies. Mens. 
 Ferrer hesitated a long time ; he knew not where to 
 place him. The judicious observations made by his 
 son, when writing for leave to follow his well-beloved 
 Jesuits, have a greater influence than ever upon his 
 mind. The few months now passed in company with 
 this dear child, so fully accomplished in every way, 
 make him thoroughly appreciate the sort of education 
 those Fathers were accustomed to engraft in the 
 minds of their pupils. He looked around on every 
 side, without being able to discover some hands 
 capable of continuing, what others had so well com- 
 menced. His numerous friends and neighbors con-
 
 LIFE OF FATUER MARIA EPHRAIM. 85 
 
 gratulated him upon the modesty, the amiable candor, 
 the charming manners, and gentlemanly airs of his 
 son ; but yet he was conscious that this beloved child 
 was now entering into that time of life, at which the 
 passions develope themselves by degrees, in the heart, 
 and produce different affections from those it was 
 heretofore accustomed to. More than ever, it was now 
 necessary to watch over this young heart, to observe 
 all its motions, and to adroitly direct it to virtue. 
 All this, the Jesuit Fathers had the talent to do ; his 
 solicitude for his son's welfare made him conscious 
 that they were fully competent, and he feared that he 
 would have cause to repent, if he did not confide him 
 again to their care ; but other considerations, added to 
 the advice of many friends, determined him to prefer 
 the Royal College of Toulouse. Vincent was admitted 
 to that college in the month of January, 1829. 
 
 8
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 VINCENT BECOMES REMISS IN HIS RELIGIOUS DUTIES, AND, BY DEGREES, 
 IMBIBES A TASTE FOB WORLDLY PLEASURES. HE GOES BACK TO 
 PERPIGNAN. HE AGAIN RETURNS TO TOULOUSE, IN ORDER TO GO 
 THROUGH A COURSE OF LEGAL STUDIES. 
 
 We have now some sad pages to write. This ten- 
 der tree, growing with such vigor, whilst in a fertile 
 soil, covering itself with blossoms, and already bearing 
 such fine fruit, will now be seen sensibly declining, 
 almost dried up, and scarcely retaining sufficient sap, 
 to preserve it from dying outright, when suddenly 
 transplanted into a less genial soil. 
 
 The classes were in full operation, when Vincent 
 arrived at the college of Toulouse ; and it cost him 
 some trouble to become acquainted with the state of 
 things, and manner of acting. He was not, however, 
 long in the college, before he sensibly felt that he 
 was no longer under the direction of the Jesuit Fa- 
 thers. He remarked, above all, a great difference 
 between his former companions at Aix, and his new 
 fellow-students at Toulouse. As much as the former 
 were regular in their habits, docile, pious, and edify- 
 ing, so much were the latter dissipated, indocile, 
 irreligious, and scandalous. He felt all the fears he 
 had before manifested to his father, re-awakened, as 
 well as the importance of the last instructions given 
 him by his former teachers, at the moment of separa- 
 tion. Justly alarmed at his danger, he wrote to his 
 father, earnestly requesting permission to withdraw 
 (86)
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 87 
 
 from college ; giving in excuse, that his hands ^were 
 covered over with blisters, caused by the frost, and 
 that they were in so sad a condition, as to render the 
 use of them very painful, and sometimes impossible. 
 Mons. Ferrer did not find his excuse sufficiently 
 strong, to justify the desired permission. He thought 
 that his son was tired of Toulouse, as he had been 
 before, of Aix, and that the end would be, his habitu- 
 ating himself to Toulouse, as he had done before, 
 among the Jesuits. 
 
 Vincent, seeing no hope of succeeding in his request 
 to his father, armed himself with courage, in order to 
 preserve his religious feelings. His habitual piety 
 was, for some time, a resource for preserving him 
 from the contagion he so much feared ; but those 
 pious practices, of which he could not rid himself, 
 were precisely the first cause of the assaults his virtue 
 had to sustain. His thoughtless companions made a 
 mockery of it ; they turned him into ridicule, calling 
 him Jesuit, and other such names. He held out for 
 some time ; but, alas ! how terribly seductive is bad 
 example ! Almost alone of a religious turn among so 
 many quite the opposite, the poor young man was too 
 weak to hold out always. Little by little, he became 
 accustomed to the acts of his comrade^; their conduct 
 no longer displeased him so much as at first, and, in 
 the end, he began to look upon it with the utmost in- 
 difference. In the mean time, he made some friends, 
 whom an uniformity of taste and character rendered 
 his inseparable companions ; these communicated to 
 him their sentiments and affections, and in a little 
 time he became as one of them. He forgot all his
 
 88 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 former fervor, that angelic piety, which, as he him- 
 self expressed it, in his letters, had filled his heart 
 with consolation and delight. Nothing now indicated 
 his ever having had such sentiments. He retained, 
 however, his taste for study. He had always been 
 among the best scholars of his class; he was de- 
 sirous of maintaining himself in the same position at 
 Toulouse ; he redoubled his application, and conse- 
 quently succeeded. 
 
 In the mean time, the events of 1830 took place. 
 At no other time were the youth of the schools so 
 taken up with political affairs, as at this epoch. De- 
 signedly, perhaps, measures had been taken to instill 
 into their young minds this poison of politics, so well 
 adapted to disturb and turn topsy-turvy their inex- 
 perienced heads. In fact, there could not be found 
 at that time in any of the public establishments an 
 assemblage, made up of children ever so young, that 
 did not discuss political matters. Even young ladies, 
 and little girls, whose only care hitherto was their 
 dolls, or the adorning of their persons, now preci- 
 pitated themselves into the whirlpool of politics, and 
 were anxious to become acquainted with passing events. 
 
 The Royal College of Toulouse was one of those in 
 which the greatest political excitement was manifested. 
 Vincent, passionate and ardent by nature, soon made 
 known his opinion: it was not that of the majority, 
 on which account he had numerous opponents. He, 
 nevertheless, neglected no opportunity to discuss the 
 matter at issue. His vivacity, or rather, his foolish 
 obstinacy caused him a great many embarrassments. 
 At last, having had an obstinate and angry discussion
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 89 
 
 with bis Professor, the consequences of which were 
 getting to be serious, he was obliged to quit college. 
 This happened at the end of the year 1831. 
 
 He now returned to his home at Perpignan, where 
 he continued to reside until the month of October of 
 the following year, 1832. But, alas ! how different 
 did he appear to every one who had known him be- 
 fore ! Quaiitum mutatus ah illo ! No longer could 
 they recognize in him that young man so accomplished, 
 when just returned from the school of the Jesuits ; 
 edifying wherever he went, and meriting the just 
 esteem of all. He no longer felt any interest in his 
 good friends of Espyra, who had heretofore been so 
 dear to him and aflforded him so much pleasure. He 
 now entirely gave himself up to selfish pursuits, and 
 was wholly indifferent to the good or bad opinion of 
 others ; his only care was to pass time as agreeably 
 as possible. His parents were in secret, perhaps, 
 grieved at so remarkable a change, but whether from 
 weakness of character, or from excess of affection 
 entertained for a son, always respectful towards them, 
 and manifesting all filial love towards their persons, 
 they put no restraint upon his actions ; they were, on 
 the contrary, sometimes amused by his frivolities. At 
 the re-commencement of the collegiate year. Mens. 
 Ferrer was anxious that his son should begin his 
 course of law studies; he therefore sent him back to 
 Toulouse. Upon his arrival, his studies took up the 
 least part of his time and employed the least of his 
 thoughts. He was now eighteen years old; of a 
 naturally gay character, endowed with easy and agree- 
 able manners, and heir to a splendid fortune ; every- 
 8*
 
 90 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 thing, in short, conspired to render him acceptable to 
 the world ; he himself being now enamored with its 
 trifles and follies. Master of himself, nothing gave 
 him any trouble ; everything, on the contrary, smiled 
 upon him, and as his tastes and inclinations carried 
 him towards amusement and pleasures, he gave him- 
 self up to them without restraint. Such is the un- 
 fortunate lot of nearly all our young people, who, 
 under pretext of qualifying themselves for their dif- 
 ferent professions, obtain the fatal privilege of living 
 in idleness in some of our large cities, and of spend- 
 ing in them the years of their lives that stand most in 
 need of diligent guardianship. Some, it is true, do 
 not abuse those privileges, and some honorable ex- 
 amples may be cited; the more honorable, because 
 rare. 
 
 Ecclesiastical history has preserved for us the af- 
 fecting example of two holy and illustrious friends. In 
 the midst of brilliant and frivolous Athens, Gregory 
 Nazianzenus, and Basil, both, at that time, very 
 young, found out the admirable secret of distinguish- 
 ing themselves by their literary success and by their 
 exalted piety. They knew but two streets of tha^ 
 celebrated city ; the one that led to the house of 
 God, and the one that led to the public schools. 
 Prayer and study occupied their whole time. In our 
 days, perhaps, there may be found some imitators of 
 those admirable models, but, alas ! how few ! The 
 greater number of our students, considering these 
 precious years as the finest time of their lives, spend 
 them in the patlis of dissipation and folly, thereby 
 destroying the seeds of virtue, which, perhaps, a pious
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 91 
 
 mother had taken great pains to sow in their young 
 hearts ; and scattering the first elements of an edu- 
 cation, -which, at the commencement, promised to lead 
 to Christian perfection. On this account, we see so 
 many who are supposed to have passed through such 
 and such a course of study, chiefly because their 
 names were written in the catalogue of their pro- 
 fessors, re-entering into the bosom of society, that 
 depended upon them for replacing the veterans of the 
 sciences and of the magistracy, and teaching, with 
 diploma in hand, that which they never had learned, 
 and exercising employments for which they are, by no 
 means, adapted. 
 
 Vincent, however, did not wholly neglect his 
 studies ; although dissipated, he did not cease to be 
 reasonable. His father had sent him to go through 
 with a course of law studies ; he considered himself 
 bound to fulfil his father's desires. He was, besides, 
 eager to become acquainted with the intricacies and 
 conduct of business ; both in order to direct his own 
 aflFaii'S, and to render himself useful to his fellow- 
 citizens ; but he thought that study and pleasure were 
 not incompatible ; and that the one did not necessarily 
 exclude the other. He endeavored, consequently, to 
 reconcile in his own person, the most grave and the 
 most trivial occupations. 
 
 He continued to interest himself warmly in politics ; 
 even in his letters to his sister, he spoke to her con- 
 cerning the political affairs of that period with all the 
 seriousness and gravity that a diplomatist would make 
 use of, when addressing one of his own order. This 
 passion drew him into various discussions, and was
 
 92 LIFE OF FATHEK MAKIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 frequently the cause of no little trouble. About this 
 period, there was circulated through France an ad- 
 dress in favor of the Dutchess of Berry. He, as 
 well as many others of the students, signed it, losing 
 thereby some college honors, to which he was entitled. 
 Sometime after, being at his window, whilst an agent 
 of the government was making a proclamation in the 
 college square, he began to cry out with all his might, 
 " Long live Henry V.," " Vive Henri V." This cry, 
 so opposed to the proclamation making at that in- 
 stant of time, caused him to be suspected by the 
 police. He was soon after arrested and led to prison. 
 He did not, however, remain in confinement a long 
 time ; one of his friends went bail for him, and he 
 was set at liberty.
 
 CHAPTER YL 
 
 TINCEXT LEAVES TOULOUSE AND RETURNS TO HIS FAMILY. HE MAKES 
 THE ACQUAINTANCE OF A VIRTUOUS PRIEST, TO WHOM HE PROPOSES 
 SOME DIFFICULTIES ON THE SUBJECT OP CONFESSION. HE BECOMES 
 GREATLY ATTACHED TO THE AFORESAID PRIEST, AND FINALLY RETURNS 
 TO HIS FORMER SENTIMENTS OF PIETY. 
 
 Vincent prolonged his stay at Toulouse till 1837, 
 in which year he completed his course of law studies. 
 He passed the vacations, each year, at Perpignan, 
 where he continued with very few variations the same 
 routine of life he was accustomed to follow at Toulouse. 
 He made the acquaintance of many young gentlemen 
 of his own peculiar tastes and character, and with 
 these he passed his time as agreeably as possible. All 
 his letters to his absent friends, and all his conversa- 
 tion with those present, were entirely taken up with 
 descriptions of parties of pleasure, of evening enter- 
 tainments, of balls either in contemplation, or that 
 had already been gone through with. Sometimes, 
 those young gentlemen, when come together, would 
 discuss the subject of dress, sometimes that of music, 
 for Vincent loved music ; sometimes, also, their con- 
 versation would be found more frivolous and less suit- 
 able to chaste ears. Vincent, in fine, became what 
 is called a fashionable young man ; or, if the term 
 be more expressive, an honest worldling, preserving 
 no more of his former religion, than that vague 
 esteem for religion in general professed by some 
 
 (93)
 
 94 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 honorable families, who consider it a thing good in 
 itself, but almost entirely forget all its practices. In 
 this manner, passed those years, which, a little later, 
 made him shed so many tears. Having received all 
 his certificates, and sustained his thesis, he received 
 his license to practice at the Bar. He then quitted 
 Toulouse for the last time. 
 
 Arrived at Perpignan, his future permanent resi- 
 dence, he there found his sister, for whom he always 
 entertained the greatest affection. Miss Catharine 
 had only then come out from the Convent of the 
 Ladies of the Sacred Heart, where she had just 
 finished her education. Rejoiced at finding them- 
 selves together at last, after many years of separation, 
 during which they saw each other only during the 
 vacations, and that short pleasure attended by the 
 pangs of parting, the brother and sister drew closer 
 the bonds of affection, which was the great cause 
 of their happiness now, as well as in their younger 
 days. 
 
 Behold them now arrived at a critical epoch ; the 
 brother was twenty-two years old, the sister, twenty- 
 one : at this age, young people generally forget the 
 ideas and manners of infancy, and assume, in their 
 place, more grave sentiments. Their education is 
 now finished, their mind is more or less developed, 
 their heart formed either to virtue or the contrary ; 
 it is at this age, that they begin to think of the future, 
 to open for themselves a career, through which they 
 must run, in order to fix themselves in some social 
 position. All this introduces them to a manner of 
 life, wholly different from that of their infancy ; they
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 95 
 
 find themselves in quite a different order of things. 
 Nevertheless, the young Ferrers, both brother and 
 sister, were in no great haste to trouble them- 
 selves with such preoccupations ; they loved their 
 parents as dearly as themselves, and their chief 
 thoughts were to enjoy the happiness of re-union, and 
 to taste all the delights of a family life. Next to 
 their parents, whom they made their principal and 
 most intimate companions, they chose some familiar 
 friends of their own age, chiefly the companions with 
 whom they had lived at college, or at the nunnery, 
 according to the sex of the parties. Exempt from 
 care and anxiety, they visited among themselves re- 
 gularly, assembled at one place frequently ; each one 
 bringing his or her quota of entertainment and good 
 nature. We have before observed, that gloom or 
 melancholy was not the characteristic of either Vin- 
 cent or his sister, it may then be imagined that such 
 ao-reeable ways of passing their time were by no means 
 unacceptable to them. This manner of living tended 
 in no guise to holiness of life. The good education 
 received by Miss Catharine among the excellent 
 Ladies of the Sacred Heart, the principles of virtue 
 with which her soul had been so lately adorned, were 
 far from finding proper nourishment in such worldly 
 pursuits. A tendency to dissipation was the necessary 
 consequence of the neglect of religious duties ; the 
 father and mother were convinced that such was evi- 
 dently the case, and this thought frequently excited 
 their solicitude. More than once, whilst speaking 
 of the future prospects of theii' children, they were 
 led to compare their more juvenile years Avith these
 
 96 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 now passing; their former tendency to virtue and 
 piety with their actual dissipation, and neglect of 
 the practice of religion. This comparison cost them 
 more than one sigh, but Mons. and Made. Ferrer 
 partook too much of the prejudices of the world, in 
 this respect. Overstrained affection, very natural in 
 itself, hinders many parents from going in opposition 
 to the wishes of their children, who, in other respects, 
 by their amiability and good dispositions, give them 
 so many motives for consolation, and so many hours 
 of parental enjoyment. "It is their character," 
 they commonly say, " it is their youth, and not any 
 perverse inclinations. It is absolutely necessary that 
 they see something of the world, and that the woidd 
 see something of them, that they may be rightly 
 esteemed and duly appreciated ; for, in what other 
 way can they establish themselves in society?" En- 
 trenched thus behind considerations so little Christian- 
 like, the parental authority becomes relaxed, and even 
 authorizes many weaknesses and frailties reproved by 
 sound morality, condemned by religion, and causing 
 to the children themselves many griefs hereafter, and 
 to the parents, regrets and sorrows. 
 
 Things were in this state in the Ferrer family, 
 when they received a visit from one of their connec- 
 tions, and a relation by blood, Miss Eliza Alday de 
 Ceret. Miss Eliza had also finished her education. 
 She very much loved her cousin Catharine and her 
 aunt, who was her mother's sister, and came to pass 
 some months with them. Endowed by nature with 
 a happy and agreeable disposition, as was well known 
 to all, she met with a hearty welcome, and their
 
 LIFE OF FATEER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 97 
 
 gaycty was consequently redoubled. Miss Alday 
 was fond of amusements, but she never wished to 
 enjoy them at the expense of virtue. Good sense 
 accompanied all her actions ; and, whenever she saw 
 her innocence likely to be endangered, she was con- 
 scientiously careful to avoid the threatening occasion. 
 Faithful to a practice she had always observed, since 
 her departure from the convent in which she was 
 educated, she one morning, at an early hour, stole 
 secretly from the house, in order to communicate to 
 a minister of the Lord the difficulties of her present 
 position at her aunt's. She providentially finds in 
 her director a priest according to God's own heart, 
 and animated by His Spirit, who speaks to her like 
 a man well versed in the science of holiness. She 
 receives from him words of peace and advice relative 
 to her present position. This is not sufficient for 
 her. She returns next day to find her Ananias, ac- 
 companied by her cousin, who stood in need of reli- 
 gious consolation and pious advice. Both returned 
 comforted, consoled, and with renewed hearts. 
 
 Vincent noticed their absence; he was struck by 
 the air of reserve and reflection, that both, contrary 
 to their usual custom, had assumed. He suspected 
 some mystery, and soon ascertains the truth, after 
 some few inquiries. This was for him a happy dis- 
 covery, from which he promised himself much amuse- 
 ment, at the expense of these poor young ladies. 
 Soon he approaches them, and in a tone of raillery, 
 exclaims: "Well done, my ladies; you are on the 
 high road to Heaven ! Devotees in the twinkling of 
 an eye ; ye cannot fail to arrive soon at the happy 
 9
 
 08 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 state of bigotism ! Do not be afraid, be courageous . 
 Ye will make rapid strides towards perfection, and, 
 provided ye be assiduous in attending to the mystical 
 lessons of your pious inventor (their confessor) of 
 miraculous interpositions, I despair not, to see you 
 after a little elevate your eyes, and twist your neck, 
 with all the grace of one of our rustic saints." He 
 continued for some time, to address them in this tone 
 of raillery, mingling sometimes expressions in bad 
 taste, and unbecoming in one of his rank. These 
 attacks, however, by no means disconcerted our new 
 converts; they had chosen their ground and stood 
 firm upon it. They received his railleries without 
 emotion, and being unwilling to pay them back, they 
 only laughed. 
 
 IIow lovely, and, at the same time, how incompre- 
 hensible are the ways in which the Lord exercises his 
 designs of mercy over his elect! No, Christian 
 mother ; all the trouble you have taken to inculcate 
 good lessons and the principles of virtue in the hearts 
 of your children, shall not be thrown away ! No, 
 virtuous father; the money expended, when you made 
 the sacrifice of conducting your beloved son far from 
 your family hearth, in order to place him at a pious 
 institution conducted by God-fearing men, shall not 
 be laid out in vain ! The pious seeds you caused to 
 be sown in the good soil of the heart of your son, 
 will germinate at their proper season ; and that season, 
 already marked out by Providence, is precisely the 
 one apparently the most distant. At the moment 
 that Vincent was living in the most culpable, and 
 almost total forgctfulness of religion ; at the moment
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 99 
 
 in which he was giving himself up to all the impetu- 
 osity of youth ; at the same moment that he was 
 acting so wicked a part towards his sister and cousin, 
 Divine Goodness, God Himself, was preparing for 
 him divine and admirable favors. 
 
 He continued his system of raillery, seizing upon 
 every opportunity of turning into ridicule their acts 
 of piety, notwithstanding that he felt an involuntary 
 trouble taking possession of his own soul. He speaks, 
 but his spirit, and still less his heart, no longer dic- 
 tates the words he makes use of ; there is no harmony 
 between his words and his thoughts, and he feels 
 internally a formal disavowal of all the invectives 
 uttered against the piety of these young ladies. 
 Whence cometh this disagreement, this agitation so 
 extraordinary? He cannot account for it. At in- 
 tervals, he falls into a fit of abstraction ; old recollec- 
 tions, recollections of bygone days, the recollections 
 of infancy are being retraced in his soul, and, far from 
 troubling it, they produce, on the contrary, the most 
 delightful emotions. In spite of himself, he compares 
 the past with the present ; his former sentiments with 
 these lately adopted. Everything tends to throw his 
 ideas into confusion. He was in this state one day, when 
 he saw his sister and cousin just leaving the house on 
 some business ; suddenly he felt himself as if dragged 
 on to follow them ; he knows not the reason why, but 
 a sort of instinct strongly forces him to become a spy 
 upon their actions. He yields to the unknown incen- 
 tive, sets out after them, and soon gets in sight. 
 Taking care not to be seen himself, and keeping at 
 a certain distance, he thus follows them ; whilst they.
 
 100 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIIIAIM. 
 
 on their part, unconsciously serve as guides to thei» 
 indefatigable persecutor, and conduct him to the 
 church of St. James. Entering the church, they go 
 towards one of the confessionals, whilst Vincent goes 
 to hide himself in one of the corners, from which he 
 could see all that was passing. For the first time in 
 many years, he now re-enters into himself, and gives 
 himself up to serious reflections. The past, the 
 present, the very acts of his cousin and sister, of 
 which he is now a witness, without well knowing the 
 reason ; everything, in fine, speaks to his heart. IIo 
 remains a considerable length of time buried in such 
 thoughts, without feeling the least fatigue ; but he is 
 far from yielding to the different impressions, which, 
 one after another, take hold oi. his mind. 
 
 After some time, he perceives that the young ladies, 
 having now accomplished tjieir purpose at the con- 
 fessional, were retiring. He also, having now no 
 stated or precise object in remaining, should do the 
 same ; but he could not. The same hidden, involun- 
 tary agency that had, as if in spite of himself, con- 
 ducted him to the church, seemed now to demand 
 something more, to insist upon his remaining. He 
 feels an ardent desire spring up in his mind to have 
 a conversation, were it only of a few words, with that 
 very confessor, who had become the spiritual father 
 of his sister and cousin. But what had he to say to 
 him? He was not acquainted with him. With what 
 pretext then was he to cover over the introducing of 
 himself so abruptly into his presence? His ingenuity 
 soon fixes upon one. He goes into the sacristy, and 
 requests one of the children, who assist in the choir —
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EriIRAIM. 1^1 
 
 called in France " Enfants de Cliocur" — to go to such 
 a confessional, and tell tlie priest, that a person was 
 desirous to speak with him for a few moments. The 
 good priest was at that instant hearing the confession 
 of his last penitent ; he wished to finish, ere he left 
 the holy tribunal, consequently he did not immediately 
 follow the messenger. The impatient young man 
 
 sends a second, and then the Abbe G , vicar of 
 
 the parish of St. James, Perpignan, hastens to the 
 sacristy. Vincent, with an air somewhat embarrassed, 
 excuses himself for the liberty he had taken in dis- 
 turbing him, whilst in discharge of his duties. " It 
 is nothing, sir," replied the obliging priest; "we are 
 frequently obliged to interrupt our occupations ; I did 
 not suppose, that I was called for anything of great 
 emergency, and had I known with whom I was about 
 to have the honor of speaking, I would have come 
 immediately; — but in what can I have the pleasure 
 of serving you ?' " Nothing ^of great importance," 
 replied Vincent, " occasions my troubling you ; simply, 
 I hear a great deal about a new saint, whom you call 
 St. Philomena, and am curious to know the particulars 
 of her history. It is said that you have in your pos- 
 session a book that mentions it ; may I beg the favor 
 of the loan of that book?" "With the greatest 
 pleasure, sir." "But," continued the young lawyer, 
 " you will permit me to observe, that I like good 
 proofs, and that, therefore, I will read the life of your 
 saint attentively and subject it to a sort of critical 
 examination : for, unfortunately, many maxims that 
 need proof, are frequently assumed as established 
 truths in our church, and many things are given as 
 9*
 
 102 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 facts, which are, to say the least of it, doubtful. 
 Every one, however, is endowed with natural logic, if 
 I may so express it ; every one has the light of reason, 
 and wishes to exercise it ; finding his reason and the 
 things gratuitously asserted as facts, to disagree, he 
 becomes skeptical, and religion is made light of, and 
 suffers accordingly." — "But take care, sir," answered 
 the Abbe, interrupting our disputant, " take care, sir, 
 that you don't, yourself, fall into the very fault you 
 are censuring, and with which you so very gratuitously 
 accuse Catholic writers. Do not be so hasty to accuse 
 them of bringing forward vain assertions for facts, 
 until you, yourself, have taken the precaution of 
 establishing such a paradox by solid proofs. No, sir ; 
 undeceive yourself, if indeed you seriously entertain 
 such an opinion ; everything is positive and most 
 exactly proved in our holy religion. In the sciences, 
 even in those styled 'the exact,' principles are fre- 
 quently founded upon results obtained through the 
 medium of certain experiments, theorems are some- 
 times supported by the mere concurrence of coinci- 
 dences, or of pure probabilities ; but in religion, the 
 thing is quite different; it is not probabilities that 
 can satisfy our faith ; we must have solid proofs — proofs 
 that result from certainty ; and not only from moral 
 certainty, but almost always from metaphysical cer- 
 tainty." "But then," insisted Vincent, now launched 
 in the ocean of controversy, "it would be very diffi- 
 cult for you to demonstrate the necessity of confes- 
 sion." " It would be very easy for me to establish 
 the necessity of confession, and to maintain it by 
 proofs as incontestible as those that establish the
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 103 
 
 other truths and practices of religion. I am not 
 sorry, that you have selected this subject of confession 
 for discussion, because it has, now a-days, become the 
 mark at which all the sarcasms of impiety are aimed ; 
 but, whereas you love logic, sir, let us proceed in 
 order, and conduct our discussion with as much clear- 
 ness and exactness as possible. 
 
 "You have, sir, previously exhibited a little ran- 
 cor against St. Philomena : you have, perhaps, some 
 doubts as to the existence, or the sanctity of that 
 happy virgin. Do you wish, without going farther, 
 to found your objections upon either of these points ? 
 But you expressed a desire to read her life : well, take 
 this little work, examine it at your leisure, weigh well 
 all the propositions ; I pledge myself to take note of 
 everything that shall appear to you, either assumed, 
 or inexact, and when you have a better knowledge of 
 the subject, we can then reason upon it with more 
 profit, and with a more intimate acquaintance with 
 the matter in dispute. 
 
 " Let us, for the present, turn our conversation 
 upon the necessity of confession ; but as this necessity 
 is supported by a multitude of proofs, all equally solid, 
 the enumeration and exposition of which would detain 
 us too long, and would be, besides, perhaps, of no ad- 
 vantage to you, because different proofs are required 
 for different classes of unbelievers, I beg, that you 
 will have the goodness to make known to me as briefly 
 as possible, your profession of faith ; in order that I 
 may be able to adapt my arguments to your objections, 
 and also, that I may know whom I have the honor 
 of addressing.'!
 
 104 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 " It vrlll be no inconvenience to me," replied Vin- 
 cent quickly, " to make known to you, Rev. Sir, both 
 my name and my condition in life. I have had the 
 happiness to be born in the Catholic religion ; in that 
 religion I have been educated, and in the same, I hope, 
 with the grace of God, to die. I am the son of Mons. 
 Ferrer, of this city ; perhaps you know my father, 
 Mons. Ferrer Maurell?" 
 
 '• Oh ! yes, sir, I have the honor of knowing Mons. 
 Ferrer Maurell, and I know him to be a gentleman 
 of whose acquaintance any one may be proud. I am 
 glad to render homage to all the honorable sentiments 
 for which that family is remarkable. I will even add, 
 that although I have never before had the pleasure of 
 seeing you, and of conversing with you, I have fre- 
 quently heard you well spoken of. You have received 
 your education at the Jesuits', have you not, sir?" 
 
 " Yes, sir," answered Vincent, now really moved 
 by the honesty and politeness of the worthy priest. 
 
 " I thank you for that acknoweldgment," continued 
 the minister of the Lord ; " it will tend to shorten our 
 discussion, because it will dispense me from the 
 necessity of bringing forward arguments, which I now 
 consider out of season, as far as you are concerned. 
 In the college of the Jesuits, you have imbibed good 
 principles, to which you were fortunate enough to 
 correspond. I know this to be the fact, as well as 
 that you have been every way exemplary during the 
 whole time you spent under those excellent masters. 
 This happy disposition you carried back with you into 
 the bosom of your family, where you preserved it for 
 a long time; you preserved it, I say, until circum-
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 105 
 
 Stances obliged jou to breathe a less pure air. There, 
 under a less strict surveillance, and surrounded by 
 dangerous friends — dangerous, because of perverse 
 inclinations, and of corrupt hearts — you were not able 
 to resist the allurements of bad example, and, after 
 having struggled a short time, you yielded to the tor- 
 rent that dragged you on." 
 
 Language like this, coming from the mouth of so 
 dignified a person, without the least taint of asperity, 
 and containing a faithful history of his past life, dis- 
 concerted for the moment our young philosopher. 
 His forehead began to grow red; the good priest per- 
 ceived it, but pretended to take no notice. Taking 
 advantage of this emotion, he continued : " now, my 
 dear young friend, permit me to ask you a few 
 questions, and answer me, I pray you, with frankness. 
 During the years that you led a virtuous and regular 
 life, were you not happy?" — "Yes, sir." — "And 
 since you have permitted yourself to fall into irregu- 
 larities, and to neglect a little too much the practices 
 of religion; have you experienced real happiness? 
 Answer me sincerely, for I am speaking to your 
 heart." — Vincent sighed ; this sigh was a sufficient 
 answer, and the good priest waited for no other. — 
 " But this true happiness you enjoyed, when you were 
 sincerely virtuous, and which you have lost, since you 
 ceased to be so ; did it not proceed from your heart's 
 being in tranquillity, content from your soul's being 
 at peace ? Now this contentment of the heart, this 
 peace of mind, have they not their source in the testi- 
 mony of a pure conscience ? And what other means 
 than confession can there be found to purify the con-
 
 106 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 science, when it is sullied, and to keep it in innocence, 
 when it has recovered ?" Such reasoning was forcible 
 and convincing ; Vincent's good sense could not resist 
 it ; he did not like, however, to yield, and made one 
 more struggle, which was rather a mark of defeat, 
 than an objection. " But," said he, " confessing one's 
 self is really very painful, and opposed to the natural 
 feelings of the human breast." — " Confessing one's 
 self," replied the priest, "is most consoling; the 
 practice is painful only to those who never make use 
 of it, or to those who use it only as an acquittance, 
 regardless of bringing to the holy act all the dispo- 
 sitions it requires : good souls, generous souls, holy 
 souls, find in confession a source of precious conso- 
 lations. It is always found to be most true, that the 
 more a Christian increases in piety, the more assidu- 
 ous is his attendance at the holy tribunal. Whilst 
 his conduct is regular, whilst he is seriously occupied 
 in working out his salvation by cultivating the means 
 pointed out by religion, he experiences no difficulty 
 with regard to the truths of the faith; he adheres 
 fully with heart and soul to all its dogmas and prac- 
 tices, and his mind only commences to be enveloped 
 in darkness and tormented with doubts, when his con- 
 science ceases to be pure. Doubts in matters of faith, 
 are the necessary consequence of irregular and un- 
 restrained passions. The recollection of the eternal 
 truths of religion is a cruel — the most cruel — torment 
 to such passions, and they can find no other remedy 
 against the gnawing worm of remorse, than the falla- 
 cious one of affected incredulity." 
 
 This last reflection struck the last blow at Vin-
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 107 
 
 cent's Irresolution; grace was operating upon tliir 
 sensible soul, formed from the first for virtue, and 
 •which unfortunate circumstances alone had led astray 
 from its first path. The example of his cousin and 
 sister, and the conversation of this worthy minister 
 of the Lord, Avere the means employed by the God 
 of mercy, to bring back this stray sheep to the fold. 
 All the words he had just heard, opened for them- 
 selves a passage to his heart ; all obstacles, by little 
 and little, were levelled ; darkness vanished, and gave 
 place to the light of truth. Vincent knew well in 
 his own heart, that he had not ceased to believe in 
 the necessity of confession, but when he had ceased 
 to be virtuous : he saw clearly, that it was his life 
 of dissipation, which made that practice, formerly the 
 source of heartfelt delight, appear impracticable, 
 painful and disgusting. lie now resisted no longer ; 
 grace continuing its wonderful and always pleasing 
 operations, he gave free access to the emotions that 
 were insinuating themselves into his heart. His eyes 
 filled with tears, and impulsively he threw himself at 
 the feet of the priest, who had thus performed, with 
 respect to him, the ofiice of an apostle. The good 
 Father hastened to raise him up, their hands met, and 
 were firmly clasped. " Be my friend. Reverend 
 Father," cried Vincent, embracing him; "hencefor- 
 ward I will be yours ; grant me the permission of 
 sometimes visiting you." — "I am flattered," replied 
 the good Abbe, in his own humble and affectionate 
 manner, " I am flattered by the friendship with 
 which you wish to honor me ; I will make it a duty 
 to be at your service as often as may be agreeable to
 
 108 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 
 
 you, and shall deem myself tappy, if I can, in any 
 way, be of any advantage to you." 
 
 He promised, and he kept his word. From that 
 moment, Vincent felt towards the zealous curate of 
 St. James' an affection, confidence and esteem, that 
 were never lessened, and which produced in himself 
 precious results. Mons. G * '^ *, on his part, had 
 for his young neophyte all the devotedness of the 
 most attentive, and most intelligent zeal : he knew 
 that he required diligent care at his hands, and he 
 left nothing undone, tending to strengthen and in- 
 vigorate those favors and heavenly blessings, that 
 grace, from the very commencement of his conver- 
 sion, seemed preparing for him.
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 TTKCENT TAKES THE RESOLrTION OF QTTITTING THE "n'OHLC, AND OF 
 DEVOTING HIMSELF TO GOD IN A RELIGIOUS LIFE. 
 
 Upon his return home, he felt himself quite a dif- 
 ferent person, both in deportment and sentiment, from 
 what he was, prior to his interview with the good 
 Abbe G * '^ *. No longer the mocking censor of 
 the devout practices of his sister and cousin, he be- 
 came for them, on the contrary, a model, which they 
 could with difficulty imitate. Pie also would now 
 frequently steal away, in order to confer with the 
 director of his choice, and obtain from him that light 
 and consolation, of which his soul and heart were so 
 desirous. He felt no longer any of that repugnance 
 or opposition to confession, which he was formerly 
 accustomed to display with so much bitterness ; he 
 felt, on the contrary, the absolute need of being 
 strengthened by its salutary effects. It was not after 
 one or more communications with his confessor that 
 peace returned to his soul ; he endeavored to see 
 every day him who had the key of his heart, and 
 when he could not have a personal interview, he 
 always found some opportunity of conversing with 
 him by letters. This mutual exchange of sweet and 
 edifying friendship had a most happy effect upon his 
 soul, now extricating itself from the bonds of error ; 
 a holy calm returned by degrees, and he began to 
 follow, with a joyous serenity, all the suggestions of 
 10 (109)
 
 110 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EniRAIM. 
 
 divine grace. The Abbe G * * "*, well versed in 
 the direction of souls, was not long in discovering 
 that God had particular designs upon his young 
 penitent. He redoubled his zeal ; he prayed for 
 him, and recommended him to the prayers of others. 
 He was most earnest in his exhortations, suggesting to 
 him many devout practices, and more especially, de- 
 votion to Mary, the Mother of God, to whom, when 
 he was a mere child, he had given up his heart. 
 Vincent, on his part, experienced little difficulty in 
 resuming those ineffable sentiments towards his holy 
 Patroness, which had formerly been the source of so 
 much happiness. He felt himself dragged on by some 
 powerful unseen agency to make some noble sacrifice 
 for the love of God. After having tasted, in his boy- 
 hood, of the sweets flowing from the service of Jesus 
 Christ, he had been induced, at a more advanced 
 period, to drink from the cup of worldly pleasures. 
 This experience enabled him to judge and feel the 
 difference between the two rival pursuits ; and he 
 found it immense. The former produced a holy calm, 
 peace and happiness ; whilst the latter was always 
 accompanied by disgust, trouble, desolation, anguish 
 and despair. Irresistibly dragged on by the workings 
 of his own heart to make a choice, he did not long 
 hesitate ; his choice was soon made, which, in one of 
 the interviews with his spiritual director, he thu3 
 announced : 
 
 " It is to my contact with the world, to my intercourse 
 with those who are subject to its deceitful laws, that 
 I, dear and Reverend Father, must attribute all my 
 unhappincss. The. good and merciful God has at
 
 LIFE OP FATUER MARIA EPHRAIM. Ill 
 
 length, through your means, opened my eyes, and 
 brought me to a sense of my errors. Through your 
 good instructions, I have been enabled to sound the 
 depths of the abyss, that was daily growing deeper 
 under my footsteps. God, in his mercy, will forget 
 the past, I trust ; but what provisions have I made 
 for the future? The same snares in which I was 
 formerly entangled, are still extended for my de- 
 struction, and prepare for me occasions of sinning, 
 perhaps greater than those I have now to deplore. 
 On account of my rank in life, of the social position 
 of my family, I am obliged to live in the midst of such 
 dangers; but you know, as well as myself, all the 
 weakness of my poor heart, so ready to receive im- 
 pressions, and defending itself with so much difficulty 
 from the baneful effects of bad example. Now, the 
 good God inspires me with a project, which I wish to 
 submit to your decision ; it seems to me, that its exe- 
 cution would effectually establish me in peace ; but I 
 wish to proceed no farther in it, than may meet your 
 approbation. I wish, in fine, to break all ties with 
 the world, and consecrate myself entirely and ex- 
 clusively to the service of the Lord." — The good 
 priest, whilst observing the effects of grace upon this 
 young heart, was under the belief, that there were 
 visible and evident predispositions to an extraordinary 
 holiness of life ; but as this is a delicate cord, and 
 one which it is imprudent to touch at the commence- 
 ment of spontaneous conversions, he kept on his 
 guard, and never spoke on the subject. He was not 
 surprised, then, at the project of his penitent, and 
 thus answered him : " Don't neglect, my dear sir,
 
 112 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 this inspiration, which, probably, has come from on 
 high ; take care, however, not to put it into imme- 
 diate execution. Redouble your fidelity in corres- 
 ponding to the grace you have received; let us 
 earnestly pray to God, and have confidence in Him. 
 He will not desert us. He will enlighten you, and 
 make known to you, in due season. His holy will. 
 Don't neglect, above all things, to honor Mary, His 
 blessed Mother, with an ever increasing devotion." — 
 Vincent entered perfectly into the spirit of this advice ; 
 thus, writing one day to his director, he says ; " I 
 would wish to be able to describe to my best friend 
 all that is passing in my soul ; but it is impossible to 
 do it by letter. I am following your advice, and 
 hope never deserts me. We must not be discouraged, 
 for we have a powerful Protectress. I unceasingly 
 endeavor to be resigned, and pray God to make 
 known to me his designs. Such is the position, I 
 believe, in which you have advised me to keep my- 
 self." 
 
 From this moment, Vincent was wholly absorbed 
 in his ideas of giving himself to God ; all his re- 
 flections were directed to that point. But the arch- 
 enemy of the human race, who never loves noble and 
 generous resolutions, and those, above all, that tend 
 to snatch from him his victims, delayed not to raise 
 up difficulties and obstacles. When, however, he felt 
 his courage failing, he instantly — (according to his 
 own expression) — shut the gate against all discouraging 
 and backsliding thoughts. "My aim," he used to 
 say, " my aim is too noble, the career I sec opened 
 before mc, too glorious, to be renounced so easily ;
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA ErHRAIM. 113 
 
 the happiness of my present and future life is "wound 
 up in it." — Again, Mi'itiug to his director, he says: 
 " I trust myself fully to you ; you must be my good 
 angel, and must direct me on the road that, as I firmly 
 believe, I am called to pursue. You shall think for 
 me, act for me, and pray for me; and, as I believe 
 myself animated by good intentions, I am confident 
 that the Lord will favor my desires. I sometimes 
 fear, that it will be impossible for me to realize my 
 project, so much do I feel myself unworthy of so much 
 happiness; but then, when I reflect, that I have 
 placed everything in your hands, I am comforted. 
 Pray for me." 
 10*
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 VINCENT ACQUAINTS niS PARENTS WITH HIS DESIGN OF QUITTING THE 
 WORLD. HIS PARENTS ARE VIOLENTLY OPPOSED TO IT. FAMILY 
 MISFORTUNES EFFECTUALLY DETACH HIS HEART FROM THE WORLD, 
 AND STRENGTHEN HIS VOCATION FOR A RELIGIOUS LIFE. 
 
 No one, at least no one of those who were at all 
 concerned, knew of the things passing between Vin- 
 cent and his dear friend and director, the curate of 
 St. James'. His family, however, and all his intimate 
 acquaintances were not long in noticing so extraordi- 
 nary a change. He who a little before was the soul 
 of mirth and laughter, who might always be found in 
 every party of pleasure, and who made one of its 
 chief ornaments, seemed now to avoid the company of 
 his most intimate friends, becoming all at once grave 
 and reflective, and mixing no more in society. His 
 parents observed, that, contrary to his custom, he now 
 practised all the duties of a Christian; that he 
 said his prayers, morning and evening, with the 
 greatest spiritual abstraction ; and that his demeanor 
 in church was devout and exemplary : all this was not 
 displeasing to them ; but then, he appeared so full of 
 abstraction, frequently absenting himself from home, 
 without giving any excuse, and enveloping his conduct 
 in an air of mystery ; all this gave them some uneasi- 
 ness. — Vincent, on his part, knowing the affection his 
 parents entertained for him, was well aware that some 
 explanation was needful ; besides, he was tired of con- 
 (114)
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 115 
 
 centrating in his own bosom a project that so much 
 concerned him. lie, therefore, resolved to feel his 
 way. He first addressed himself to his mother, and 
 acquainted her with the resolution he had formed, of re- 
 nouncing the world, and of dedicating himself to the 
 service of God in a cloister. Madame Ferrer did not 
 appear at first to pay much attention to this communi- 
 cation of her son ; she, however, deemed it prudent to 
 acquaint her husband. Coupling this declaration to 
 the kind of life lately led by their beloved son, both 
 began to believe that the matter was becoming serious ; 
 and when they calculated the whole extent of the con- 
 sequences such a resolution must necessarily produce 
 upon the future existence of their family, — Vincent 
 being an only son, and consequently the main prop of 
 its duration — they became greatly alarmed, and re- 
 solved to do all in their power to turn him away from 
 the execution of it. In pursuance of this plan, they 
 made use of every means to procure him amusements, 
 and to bring him back to a lov for society. They 
 secretly begged his friends to engage him in parties 
 of pleasure, and to endeavor to involve him in worldly 
 pursuits. Vincent, on the other hand, clearly laid 
 open his intentions: he loudly cried out, that "he 
 had but too much loved the world, and relished its 
 pleasures ; that, happily, God had made him see the 
 error of his ways ; and that, with the assistance of 
 divine grace, all attempts to bring him back to worldly 
 desires, would be fruitless." Every one, even his very 
 sister, entered into a conspiracy, in order to change 
 his resolution ; the latter deeming the opportunity too 
 good to be allowed to pass by, without being avenged
 
 116 LIFE OP FATHER MARIA EPERAIM. 
 
 for the witticisms her brother had inflicted upon her 
 some time before. She now, in turn, endeavored to 
 throw an air of ridicule over his projects, and brought 
 into play all the little arts in her power, to turn him 
 away from them. 
 
 God was the author of all the changes to which his 
 servant had been subjected; He was, above all, the 
 author of the project which now occupied his mind ; 
 in good time, the same God will bring it to a happy 
 execution, notwithstanding all obstacles that may be 
 raised against it ; and in case of need, he will bestow 
 upon his servant an increase of His divine grace, by 
 which he will be strengthened against every tempta- 
 tion. The very common events of life are frequently, 
 in the hands of God, used as the agents of His divine 
 will. 
 
 Whilst things in the Ferrer family were thus pro- 
 ceeding, one of Vincent's female cousins falls sick and 
 dies. He felt a great affection for this young person ; 
 he prayed for her, and besought the prayers of others 
 on her behalf. Death is always more or less striking; 
 it strikes with redoubled force, when it is premature, 
 or when it takes away some one with whom we are in- 
 timately connected. All these circumstances came to- 
 gether on the present occasion ; they made a due im- 
 pression upon the heart of our young convert, and had 
 no slight tendency to detach him still farther from 
 the false splendors of the world, so apt to be lost 
 even in the most flourishing season of youth, and to 
 strengthen him in his vocation. But this was not the 
 only lesson he now received on the part of heaven. His 
 mother, his dearly beloved mother, falls sick also ; her
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 117 
 
 sickness in a short time makes frightful progress ; all 
 assistance is lavished in vain: after six ^Yeeks of 
 intense suffering, she is no more. Madame Ferrer 
 carried with her to the tomb the regrets of all her 
 neighbors, and the heartfelt esteem of all her ac- 
 quaintances, who regretted and venerated in her the 
 qualities of an accomplished woman ; her children and 
 relations, above all, felt her death, as a most severe 
 infliction. The veneration which her children, after 
 having embraced the religious state, entertained for 
 the virtues of their mother, whose memory was always 
 most dear to them, leaves little doubt on our mind, 
 that she was one of the elect. She had, perhaps, too 
 much condescendence, too much weakness in regard to 
 her children, when they began to move in the world ; 
 but these faults were fully atoned for by her intense 
 sufferings, endured with Christian patience during her 
 last sickness. 
 
 This infliction was terribly felt by the Ferrer family : 
 the father was totally cast down ; the two children in- 
 consolable. The loss of a mother so justly and so 
 tenderly loved, gave the finishing stroke to Vincent's 
 resolution. Better than ever, he now appreciated at 
 their just value, both the nothingness of the happiness 
 apparently enjoyed for a few moments by indulging 
 in earthly affections, and the vanity of the goods pur- 
 sued by the world with so much anxiety. He became 
 fully aware of their inability to satisfy the cravings 
 of the human heart. It served to completely break 
 whatever tics still bound him to the world. Hence- 
 forward he united himself more closely with God, and 
 was most fervent in his prayers to that Giver of all
 
 118 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 
 
 good, In order to obtain from Him the grace of succeed- 
 ing in the design he so long meditated. His piety 
 and fervor were redoubled ; he found no consolation 
 in this world, except whilst buried in profound adora- 
 tion of God ; he was pouring forth in his presence all 
 the affections of his soul. His assiduity and devo- 
 tional demeanor at the parish-church were most re- 
 markable, and tended not a little to the edification of 
 all beholders. 
 
 When the first pangs of grief for the death of his 
 mother were a little abated, Vincent respectfully 
 sought an interview with his father, and repeated to 
 him his resolution of embracing the life of the cloister, 
 humbly asking, at the same time, his consent. At this 
 new declaration, Mons. Ferrer, contrary to his usual 
 custom, (for he is a gentleman* of peaceable manners, 
 and endowed by nature with great easiness of dispo- 
 sition,) became highly exasperated ; he spoke harshly 
 to his son, opposed a formal refusal to his desires, and 
 told him that, " Were he to consent to any such pro- 
 ject, he could only do so in permitting him to become 
 a secular priest ; but that, in reality, he was as m'uch 
 opposed to the one as to the other." This refusal 
 saddened the heart of our persevering young man, but 
 it did not cause him to lose all courage. He confided 
 the whole to his spiritual director, in order to obtain 
 
 * Whether this estimable man is still living (1851), the transla- 
 tor has no means of ascertaining; it is, however, probable that he 
 still continues to edify the public of Perpignau by his virtues, and 
 to enjoy the well-deserved esteem of his friends and acquaintances. 
 Severely has he been chastened ; but from what we know of him, 
 he is the very kind of person that would humbly kiss the chasten- 
 ing hand.
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 119 
 
 his advice ; he was careful to be most strict in his re- 
 ligious duties, and most regular in his conduct, hoping 
 thereby to obtain from heaven that efficacious grace, 
 that heavenly benediction, of which it was foreshown 
 to Iiim, he would soon stand in the greatest need.
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 VINCENT IS OBLIGED TO STJEFER MANT ATTACKS ON HIS VOCATION. 
 DrVERS PERSONS ARE EXPRESSLY SENT TO REASON AND ARGUE WITH 
 HIM. HIS FATHER FORCES HIM TO TAKE A TOUR TO PARIS. 
 
 In the mean time, Mens. Ferrer, still cast down by 
 the death of his beloved wife, was farther alarmed by 
 the constancy of his son. He feared, that he would 
 be obliged to lose him also. This idea terrified him, 
 and he resolved to exert every means to break his re- 
 solution. He sought the assistance of all those who, 
 he believed, had any ascendency over the mind of his 
 son, and sent them to reason with him. He also en- 
 deavored to enlist on his side the Abbe G * * * . 
 That good ecclesiastic, without, however, compro- 
 mising his sacred ministry, did all in his power to try 
 the vocation of his young penitent, and to discover, 
 whether it may not proceed from the first movements 
 of fervor, or from the wanderings of a heated and 
 lively imagination ; but all his attempts, on that score, 
 only tended to confirm his former persuasion, that it 
 was really the work of God. The intervention of 
 Monsigneur de Saunhiac, Bishop of Perpignan, was 
 also solicited, in order to throw into the scale of 
 opposition the episcopal authority. That pious and 
 venerable prelate would wish to be excused from a 
 commission which he looked upon as incompatible 
 with his ofiicial character ; yet, through consideration 
 for Mens. Ferrer, whom he esteemed, and whose 
 position he deplored, he thought himself called upon 
 (120)
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPURAIxM. 121 
 
 to speak seriously and paternally to the young man, 
 to represent to him the desolation in which he was 
 about to plunge his father, who founded all his hopes, 
 and the future existence of his family, upon his per- 
 son ; he observed to him, that he should, before putting 
 his design in execution, carefully examine, whether 
 God demanded so great a sacrifice. 
 ^ Against all these attempts Vincent remained con- 
 stant and firm in his vocation. Persuasion and oppo- 
 sition proving ineffectual, Mens. Ferrer was advised 
 to send his son on a pleasure excursion, and to oblige 
 him to remain some months at Paris. It was natu- 
 rally supposed, that the distractions of the journey 
 would have an effectual influence upon him, and work 
 a powerful change in his intentions. Mons. Ferrer 
 relished the advice, and clung to it as his last hope. 
 Summoning, therefore, his son to his presence, he 
 addressed him in nearly the following words : " My 
 son, you are yet too young to be able to decide de- 
 finitely, what kind of life you are most adapted for. 
 You have now finished your studies, and are at the 
 eve of entering some career. It now remains for you 
 to put actually in practice, what other young men of 
 your rank and fortune deem indispensable to a com- 
 plete education ; you must travel for seme time ; you 
 must go and see many things, of which you are now 
 ignorant, and which will enlarge your ideas : at the 
 present time, and according to the present manner of 
 thinking, education is not completed, till after having 
 visited the Capital. My wish therefore is, that you 
 make ready, and proceed to Paris, there to pass some 
 months. It shall be my care to provide the necessary 
 11
 
 122 LIFE OF FATHEK MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 funds to enable you to travel at your ease, and as 
 becomes your rank ; trusting to your own prudence 
 and wisdom, that the confidence I place in you will 
 never be abused, or meet with anything, on your part, 
 tending to betray it." 
 
 His father's will was always a law to Vincent ; on 
 the present occasion, he obeyed with the greater 
 alacrity, inasmuch as there was nothing in the pro- 
 posed journey incompatible with his own project ; but, 
 on the contrary, it may be made the means of its exe- 
 cution. Having therefore first asked the advice of 
 his director, and recommended himself to his prayers, 
 he embraced his father and sister, and set out for 
 Paris on the 18th of November, 1837. 
 
 It was purely to please his father, that Vincent 
 undertook this journey; to please him still farther, 
 he was careful to observe every curiosity that came 
 in his way, for he knew that it was his father's wishes, 
 that he should join instruction to amusement. He 
 was, accordingly, very exact in rendering an account 
 of all he saw. He wrote for this purpose many letters 
 that were so many details of his adventures. He in- 
 serted in his correspondence all the minute incidents 
 of his journey, described in an easy and flowing style. 
 Far from finding such details tiresome, a stranger, 
 even now, would find them interesting : it may be then 
 easily imagined, with what pleasure they were read by 
 his father and sister, and more especially, when it is 
 taken into consideration, that everything coming from 
 an absent loved one, becomes doubly dear. He seemed, 
 indeed, by his care and punctuality in informing his
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARTA EPIIRAIM. 123 
 
 friends of all he heard and saw, to be travelling more 
 on their account, than on his own. 
 
 His first letter is from Narbonne. It contains a 
 long account of the curiosities of that ancient city. 
 He also describes in a spirited manner, and in the 
 tone of a connossieur, the delicate and elegant carvings 
 of the beautiful church of St. Justus. He stopped 
 but a short time at Toulouse ; having already, during 
 his studies, become well acquainted with everything 
 worth seeing in that town : his stay at Bordeaux was, 
 however, longer. He describes the latter as a large 
 city, and in order to give his friends some idea of its 
 extent, he says that Bordeaux is to Toulouse, what 
 Perpignan is to Espyra, their village. 
 
 A poor young man, of a lively and gay disposition, 
 animated with ardent desires, and the spirit of curi- 
 osity, is generally desirous of seeing everything, and of 
 knowing everything, especially if he has the means of 
 indulging his inclinations. Launched, without a guide, 
 into the midst of so large a city as Paris, he is at 
 least exposed to the danger of losing his love for 
 virtue, and of assuming the airs and maxims of the 
 world : such was the very idea entertained by Mons. 
 Ferrer. But his son was so fortunate as to take pre- 
 cautions against the latter, and, at the same time, to 
 preserve the former. He did all in his power to 
 satisfy the wishes of his father ; but he knew at what 
 place to stop, when arrived at the precincts of evil. 
 He never sacrificed his conscience, well knowing that 
 his peace of mind was at stake. 
 
 " Here I am," he says, writing to his relations, 
 "here I am arrived at the end of my journey. Shall
 
 124 LIFE OF, FATUER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 
 
 I tell you what kind of life I lead at Paris, in this 
 great city, the centre of all pleasures, as well as of 
 business ; where everything is brilliant and magni- 
 ficent, fairy-like, and magical? Well, then, in this 
 great city, I, an unknown individual, observe and re- 
 flect I have forgot to say, that I am con- 
 tinually straying about, and this is my principal oc- 
 cupation ; so that I may be mistaken for the Wander- 
 ing Jew, only that I have a fuller purse than he is 
 reported to have. I leave no corner of the city un- 
 examined; from the Barriere de I'Etoile to La Salpe- 
 triere, from the Observatoire to Pere La Chaise, I 
 explore everything." 
 
 His voluminous correspondence from Paris, speaks 
 of everything remarkable contained in that Capital. 
 He was enabled, by the assistance of his friends, to 
 procure a medal of Deputy; by means of this species 
 of universal pass, which he showed with all the gravity 
 of a National Representative, he was permitted to 
 assist at many ceremonies, from which he would be 
 otherwise excluded. About this time, the funeral 
 obsequies in honor of General Damremont, were cele- 
 brated at the church of the Invalids, and he had the 
 pleasure of being installed in one of the best places 
 of honor. He assisted also at many meetings of tho 
 Chamber of Deputies ; he saw, at a short distance, 
 nearly all the members of the royal family; in fine, 
 he saw enough to satisfy the curiosity of the greatest 
 lover of sicrht-seeinni;. 
 
 But in the midst of all this, he knew how to pre- 
 serve himself from evil ; and in all these subjects of 
 distraction, wherein many others would have run into
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MART A EPIIRAIM, 125 
 
 dissipation, and lost thcrasdves hopelessly, ho dis- 
 covered the secret of eliciting good. By seeing the 
 world, the great world, at a shorter distance, he 
 learned to know it better, and this very knowledge 
 served to inspire him with greater disgust for it. 
 Writing to his dear confessor, he says, " My sojourn 
 at Paris will be of great advantage to me, I hope. 
 
 People entertain a false notion of Paris ; 
 
 there is not a city in the world, where a person can 
 live with more regularity, if he be so inclined, and 
 where he has less to fear, if he knows how to fortify 
 himself against dangerous temptations. I love, I 
 
 assure you, the manner of living here, One 
 
 enjoys perfect liberty, and docs whatever is most 
 pleasing to one's self, and no person thinks of con- 
 tradicting or censuring. There is less strength needed 
 here to be virtuous, than in our small towns and vil- 
 lages, where each of your actions is judged and com- 
 mented on. For this reason, I hope to carry back 
 with me from Paris, a good store of strong resolu- 
 tions." Those resolutions were drawn from a pure 
 source ; for, in the same letter to Abbe G. * * *, he 
 informs him that, according to his recommendation, 
 he passed much of his time with the Lazarist Fathers. 
 One of his friends made reiterated efforts to draw 
 him to the theatre, but always v/ithout success ; for 
 lie knew that sound morality, as well as religion, re- 
 proves and condemns such representations. On this 
 subject, he thus gives his views, in one of his letters 
 to his family : " On the subject of theatres, you 
 should be resigned to hear nothing from me ; many 
 others of your friends will tell you all about them. 
 11*
 
 126 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 My manner of thinking with regard to them, may 
 appear extraordinary, perhaps ridiculous, to certain 
 people ; — but, how can I help it ? Upon this, as upon 
 many other points, each one has his own opinions and 
 maxims. One of my friends, to whom I had a letter 
 of introduction, strongly insisted upon taking me to a 
 theatrical representation. Though pained at being 
 obliged to refuse, I yet could not give my consent. 
 Besides, there is great danger in frequenting the 
 theatres at Paris ; one runs the risk of being burnt 
 alive. On the night of the 14th inst., the theatre 
 called ' Les Italiens' took fire ; the conflagration was 
 almost instantaneous, and raged with the greatest in- 
 tensity. In a few hours, both it and the surrounding 
 houses were consumed. Fortunately, or rather provi- 
 dentially, the fire took place after the night's per- 
 formance; consequently, the theatre was empty.'
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 VINCENT QtriTS PARIS ON HIS RETURN TO PERPIGNAN. HE PASSES 
 THROUGH LYONS. HE IS SEIZED WITH A DESIRE OP VISITING THE 
 ABBEY OF AI6UEBELLE. GOD DETAINS HIM THERE. 
 
 After a sojourn of six weeks at Paris, Vincent 
 thought that it was useless for him to remain any 
 longer. He had fulfilled all the wishes of his father, 
 and he now thought it full time to return. Separation 
 had caused him moments of great pain, and so great 
 was his attachment to his father and sister, that he 
 could not live for any length of time at a distance 
 from them. But in order to make some addition to 
 what he had already seen, he resolved to return to Per- 
 pignan by a diflferent route. He accordingly passed 
 through Burgundy and Lyons, where he sojourned 
 some time to see the curiosities of the city. He was 
 mostly struck by the easy manners and devotional 
 feelings of the population of Lyons. 
 
 And now, my dear readers, Vincent is approaching, 
 is at the doorway, on the steps of his future home. 
 During his sojourning at Paris, he did not appear to 
 be much occupied with the idea of his being called by 
 God to an extraordinary plan of life ; his manner of 
 travelling differed little from that which any other 
 young man of his rank would use for amusement. He 
 did not seek to profit by his freedom from restraint, 
 and carry into execution his resolution of quitting the 
 world. But this very thing was maturing elsewhere, 
 
 (127)
 
 128 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 in heaven; everything was preparing to seize upon 
 this young heart, and lead it insensibly to the execu- 
 tion of the designs of Divine Providence. No one 
 was aware, Vincent himself did not suspect that this 
 journey would conduct him to the very end which had 
 already been decreed by the Most High. ; 
 
 Arrived at Montelimart, our traveller feels himself 
 strongly inspired to proceed no farther, until he had 
 first visited the monastery of Aiguebelle. An invisible 
 power drags him towards this spot, where hearts formed 
 for the world and in the world, hearts agitated for- 
 merly like his own, that vainly sought calm and happi- 
 ness elsewhere, now breathe at ease in this delicious soli- 
 tude, the pure uir of the desert. — But let us allow him- 
 self to relate this important circumstance of his life : 
 "You believe me, perhaps," he says, writing to his 
 father, " nearer to you than I really am. It is true, I 
 thought to be at Perpignan ere now, but I have stopped 
 on the road. AVhen at Montelimart, I was seized with 
 a desire of visiting the Trappist monastery, a few leagues 
 distant from that town. As I was unacquainted with 
 the road, it fortunately came into my mind to ask direc- 
 tions from the parish-priest of Montelimart. I begged 
 him to point out the way to the monastery, and to 
 take charge of my baggage until my return. I was 
 fortunate in my application, for the Abbe Tourdan, 
 who is, at the same time, parish-priest of Montelimart, 
 and vicar-general of the diocese of Valence, gave a 
 most kind reception. He offered to show me the way 
 himself, and actually had the kindness to accompany 
 me to a convent of Trappist nuns, at a place called 
 Maubcc, one hour's journey from Montelimart. Thence
 
 LIFE OP FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 129 
 
 \o ray place of destination, the way was not difficult ; 
 unaccompanied, I proceeded towards the abbey, where 
 I arrived after a walk of a few hours. Some crosses 
 bearing inscriptions, planted at intervals on the route, 
 announced its proximity. I found the gate closed ; I 
 rapped at it with a sort of religious awe, not unmixed 
 with tremor." 
 
 Vincent was received with all the ceremony pre- 
 scribed by the rule. The brother who had charge of 
 the gate, opened it, and immediately fell on his knees 
 before him, saying : Benedicite, as if to ask his 
 blessing. The same brother, making him a sign to 
 follow, led him into a small room destined for the re- 
 ception of strangers, and immediately went to give 
 notice, by three strokes on a bell, of his visit to the 
 two brothers, who are charged with the receptiqn of 
 those that visit the monastery. Whilst waiting their 
 coming, he was invited to read a card attached to the 
 wall, on which was written an abridgment of the con- 
 duct visitors were expected to observe during their 
 stay at this house of silence and prayer. 
 
 Scarcely had he time to run his eyes over the card, 
 and to read some sentences written in large letters on 
 the walls, when he saw religious extended full length 
 at his feet. Arising from that posture, they made a 
 low bow, and without uttering a word, conduct him 
 through a long porch to the church, in order that he 
 may adore the blessed Sacrament. After a few min- 
 utes spent in prayer, they conduct him back by the 
 same way to the forementioned room, where one of 
 them read aloud to him a few sentences from a book 
 of devotion. This finished, they give him over to the
 
 130 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 care of the brother appointed to take care of the guests, 
 and who is called for that reason the ^'^iiotelier" or 
 ^^entertainer of strangers." This brother, in a re- 
 spectful manner, inquires " whom he has the honor to 
 receive ; what is the motive of his visit ; is it to pass 
 some days in the monastery, to make a spiritual re- 
 treat ; or simply to make a passing visit to the 
 house?" To these questions, which he soon saw were 
 not dictated by curiosity, Vincent thought it sufficient 
 to exhibit his passport, adding that he wished to pass a 
 few days in the community, if he could obtain such a 
 privilege. The Hotelier then conducted him to the 
 apartments destined for strangers, and assigned him a 
 small chamber, very modest, in truth, yet also neat and 
 clean. The furniture was adapted to the chamber : a 
 small bed, a little table, a Crucifix, an image of the 
 Blessed Virgin, a few pious books, a chair, and pens, 
 ink, and paper ; all very simple and plain, doubtlessly, 
 but very appropriate and well arranged ; all, in fine, 
 that is needful to one coming into such a solitude, 
 whether to make a spiritual retreat, or for a simple 
 visit of edification. — " This is the chamber you are to 
 occupy," said the good brother, with politeness and 
 affability manifest in all his movements ; " but, perhaps, 
 sir, you need some refreshment ? Whilst waiting for 
 the usual hour of repast, allow me to offer you some 
 refreshment." Vincent answered that he stood in 
 need of nothing but repose. "You can," continued 
 his host, " you can command me in everything ; it is 
 my duty to see to your wants, and I shall feel obliged 
 whenever you grant me the privilege of being in any 
 way serviceable to you."
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPURAIM. 131 
 
 Vincent was now left alone for a few moments ; a 
 crowd of thoughts came to lay siege to his poor heart. 
 All that he had seen made a deep impression upon 
 him ; those religious, whose long and amply wide 
 tunics rendered them so extraordinary to his eyes, 
 appeared still more so by that air of venerable piety, 
 mixed with candor, good nature and ardent charity, 
 so manifest in their looks and actions. He had met 
 some of them, whilst passing from the reception room 
 to the church ; they seemed weighed down by years 
 and virtues ; they had made him so low a bow, an in- 
 clination almost to the earth, and saluting him not 
 through deceitful politeness, but as brothers bidding 
 " God speed" to a brother in Jesus Christ. When he 
 reflected upon their age and virtues, his own youth 
 and unworthiness — everything, in fine, he had seen 
 and heard crowding on his mind, threw him into a 
 state of stupefaction. 
 
 In the same letter to his father, of which we have 
 already given the commencement, he thus continues : 
 *'I rapped at the gate of the monastery, fully pos- 
 sessed with the ideas of monachism entertained by the 
 world. I expected to find gloomy and austere-looking 
 figures, savage and melancholy men ; I found, on the 
 contrary, every countenance serene and gracious ; 
 manners afi"able and polite ; a cordial and afi'ectionate 
 reception. In fine, one cannot help being astonished 
 at the air of nobleness and high breeding, for which 
 these happy religious are distinguished." The fatted 
 calf was not, however, killed to honor his reception. 
 At the Trappist monasteries, flesh meat is never 
 served up to guests, whatever be their rank or station
 
 132 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 
 
 in life. The rule expressly prohibits it. Meats per- 
 mitted by the church on fast-days, and days of absti- 
 nence, frugally abundant in quantity, suitably seas- 
 oned, and of the best quality, are the only provisions, 
 except in cases of sickness, ever laid before any one. 
 Vincent had now been resting himself some time, 
 and had made himself acquainted with the regulations 
 he ought to observe, whilst a guest in the monastery, 
 when some one entered his chamber, to announce the 
 intended visit of the Reverend Father Superior. 
 Ah ! said Vincent to himself, now, at least, I shall see 
 some one corresponding with my preconceived notions 
 of a Trappist ; this Superior must necessarily be a 
 grave old man, of harsh, uncouth manners, sunk deep 
 in austerities, and expressing himself only in a senten- 
 tious, dogmatical manner ! What then must have 
 been his disappointment, or rather his agreeable sur- 
 prise, when, contrary to his expectations, a rather 
 young monk entered his chamber, and accosted him 
 with all that amenity of manners, and that amiable 
 simplicity which formed the distinctive traits in the 
 character of the well-beloved Father Orsisius, mitred 
 abbot of Aiguebelle ? A few moments' conversation, 
 added to so engaging a reception, opened our young 
 man's heart. In the most artless, natural manner, 
 he related the greater part of the events of his past 
 life. He said that, " for some years past, he found 
 within himself a void, that nothing could fill up ; that 
 the world and all its pleasures only inspired him with 
 disgust ; that he was continually hearing an internal, 
 secret voice, prompting him to make some great sacri- 
 fice for the love of God ; and that his relatives, in
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 133 
 
 order to turn him away from such thoughts, had pre- 
 vailed upon him to undertake a journey to Paris. 
 Finally, that being now on his return, some irresistible 
 power had conducted him to Aiguebelle, where, with 
 his permission, he wished to make a retreat of a few 
 days." The Reverend Father, who, though young, 
 possessed in an eminent degree a knowledge of the 
 human heart, soon perceived from this short narrative, 
 evident indications of a right spirit. He was aware, 
 however, that prudence forbade precipitation. Dis- 
 sembling, therefore, his sentiments, and contenting 
 himself for the present with encouraging him to make 
 a retreat, he led him to expect great consolation and 
 peace of mind. He assured him, moreover, that he 
 would do his best to second his designs, and after 
 having given him some preparatory advice for the 
 exercises, he left him to his own reflections. Vincent, 
 now overpowered with joy at all he heard and saw, 
 felt himself entirely disposed to open his whole soul 
 to this man of God, whom he already loved ; and in 
 whom he had the greatest confidence. He had no 
 doubt but the Lord, in His goodness, had mercifully 
 conducted him to this Ananias, that he may learn 
 from him what he should do. He resolved to do his 
 best to correspond to these merciful designs, and pre- 
 pared himself accordingly, with all due attention and 
 humility of heart, for confession. 
 
 He passed one whole week in complete retirement ; 
 conferring only with God and his confessor. The 
 latter saw him frequently, and supplied him with books 
 proper for the occasion. Oh ! were we permitted to 
 penetrate into the inmost recesses of Vincent's heart, 
 12*
 
 134 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIJRAIM. 
 
 during this interval, of what contending emotions 
 •would it be found the theatre ! The world, with all its 
 seductive charms on one side ; heaven, with all its 
 recompenses, on the other ! His relatives, whom he so 
 much loved ; his poor father, whom he was going to 
 plunge into, an agony of grief; his dearly-beloved 
 sister, who had interchanged with him the solemn 
 oath of unalterable affection ; in fine, all his natural 
 inclinations and affections arrayed against the power- 
 ful attractions of divine grace ; against the grace of 
 that God, who formed his heart, and who alone had 
 the right to command it ! Of that God, who was ope- 
 rating in him and for him, and who prescribed all 
 these sacrifices only to draw him to Himself exclu- 
 sively ! The contest was unequal ; the claims of God 
 were the strongest ; the noble courage of the former 
 pupil of the Jesuits burst forth anew in his soul, and 
 enabled him to conquer ! The road through which it 
 was God's will he should pass in going to Him, was 
 now open and before the eyes of his soul, and he 
 resolved to pursue it, in spite of all obstacles. Vin- 
 cent's affection for his relatives was, however, too 
 strong; or rather, he considered it an act of unpolite- 
 ness and a breach of respect, to break the strong and 
 pleasing ties that bound him to them, without first 
 going to bid them a last adieu. Perhaps, also, he 
 deemed it impossible to die entirely to the world, and 
 to bury himself in solitude, before he had taken a 
 parting glance at the frivolities of mundane j)leasures, 
 and had appeared once again in society. 
 
 The Reverend Father Abbot, who had directed the 
 exercises of his retreat, plainly saw that this infant
 
 LIFE OP FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 135 
 
 vocation was going to be submitted to critical trials, 
 and that bis reappearance in the world, in the midst 
 of his friends and relations, especially, could not fail, 
 in his present unstrengthened state of mind, to have 
 a baneful influence upon his determination. But 
 he, however, confined himself to giving advice, and 
 enforcing caution on his penitent ; neither encouraging 
 nor discouraging his contemplated return to the world. 
 The ministry of peace that he was performing the 
 functions of, did not permit him to go farther, in such 
 cases, than the most circumspect prudence would 
 warrant; he left him at full liberty to take what 
 future steps he might deem proper. He was, besides, 
 persuaded, that if this vocation came from heaven — 
 of which he had no doubt, himself, — God was suffi- 
 ciently powerful to smooth all difficulties, and to con- 
 duct, notwithstanding all obstacles, his creature to his 
 designed end. 
 
 Vincent had now finished his retreat ; he had his 
 mind made up upon what G od required of him ; that 
 is, that he should devote himself entirely to his service, 
 and that this sacrifice should be consummated at 
 Aiguebelle. He was going to absent himself only for 
 a few days, in order to bid a last adieu to his family ; 
 and then returning with all speed, he was to offer 
 himself a holocaust on the altar of the Lord. He 
 had already taken leave of the Father Abbot, and 
 had arranged everything for his departure the next 
 day, intending to proceed first to Montelimart, where 
 he had left his baggage, and thence by stages to 
 Perpignan.— What delayed his departure, and finally 
 put it ofi" altogether, will be seen in the next chapter.
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCEU INDTTCE VINCENT TO REMAIN AT AIGTJEBELLE 
 ON THE DAY OP THE PURIFICATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN. HOW 
 HE PASSES THAT DAY. THE SINGING OF THE SALVE REGINA. HE 
 RENOUNCES HIS INTENTION OF GOING TO TAKE LEAVE OF HIS FAMILY. 
 
 Meanwhile, it was observed, in the course of con- 
 versation at the strangers' room, that Vincent was 
 leaving the monastery on a day — the 2nd of Febru- 
 •ary, the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed 
 Virgin — which, being spent wholly there, would con- 
 duce greatly to* his edifidation. The good father, to 
 whom the care of strangers w\as committed, called his 
 attention to the fact, that this festival was celebrated 
 at Aiguebelle with particular ceremony and devotion ; 
 that a postulant was about to receive the habit also, 
 at which ceremony he would be at liberty to assist, if 
 he had any such desire ; and that, after all, a delay of 
 twenty-four hours could not much interfere with the 
 object of his journey. Vincent approved of these 
 reasons the more willingly, that, intending to receive 
 the Holy Communion on the morning of that day, it 
 seemed to him not altogether becoming to begin a 
 journey immediately after, without the greatest ne- 
 cessity. Consequently, he deferred his departure 
 until the day after the feast. Another circumstance 
 also induced him to this : a young gentleman from 
 
 Toulouse, named Mens. De St. S , had just arrived 
 
 at the monastery, who seemed so proud of having 
 (136)
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM, 137 
 
 broken with the world, and so actuated by the ardent 
 desire of consecrating himself to God in the cloister, 
 that his presence and courageous deportment made a 
 deep impression upon his (Vincent's) mind ; — an im- 
 pression indeed not to be easily effaced. 
 
 This day was to the community of Aiguebelle one of 
 heartfelt delight; they are favored with ineffable 
 consolations on such days by the august Mother of 
 their Saviour ; it was especially a happy day to 
 Vincent, who felt all his former fervor and devotion 
 towards this powerful Protectress of youth, renewed ; 
 he did not fail to receive an increase of internal peace 
 and of holy resolution from his glorious Patroness. 
 
 At high Mass, he witnessed the fine ceremony of 
 the distribution of the wax-candles. The Reverend 
 Father Abbot, in full state, advances with all his ofii- 
 cers, and takes the seat near the steps of the Sanctu- 
 ary. Around him, in their proper places, are arranged 
 the ministers of the altar, and a little in advance is 
 placed the crozier — bearer, holding on high the crozier 
 — the emblem of abbatial as well as of episcopal 
 dignity. Then all the community advance in proces- 
 sion towards the abbot; the priests, and choir-brothers 
 being foremost, each according to his rank in the 
 order ; the lay-brothers follow, each one according to 
 his rank, also. All in succession prostrate themselves 
 before their superior in chief, and having kissed his 
 ring, they receive from him a lighted wax-candle, 
 which having kissed, they rise up, and continue the 
 procession ; having first made a low bow to their abbot. 
 Oh ! what an imposing sight to see those legions of 
 humble penitents thus advancing in perfect order, 
 12*
 
 138 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 having no witnesses of their modesty and devotion, 
 except the angels of heaven, always present at their 
 exercises, and the majesty of God, from whom alone 
 they expect any recompense ! Everything spoke to 
 the heart of Vincent; the grave demeanor, the 
 striking dress of the monks, the singing of the 
 ^^ Lumen ad revelationem" so expressive, and at the 
 same time, so analogous to the ceremony; the long 
 rows of lighted torches, the symbol of a Christian's 
 faith ; but, above all, the angelic fervor, and the odor 
 of sanctity breathed forth by those generous wrestlers 
 of the Cross ; spoke a language easy to be interpreted. 
 
 In his turn, he also presented himself to receive a 
 lighted torch, which, to his mind, seemed to make him 
 a partaker of the virtues of the worthy religious, who 
 had preceded him. 
 
 Towards the ending of the Mass, came the other 
 so expressive ceremony of the Holy Communion. ! 
 I appeal to all you who have had the happiness of 
 witnessing the monks of La Trappe receiving the 
 Holy Communion ; is it not true, that your hearts 
 have been moved by such a spectacle, and that your 
 eyes have not been free from tears ? Is it not true, 
 that the very recollection of such a sight has the power 
 of recalling pleasing and delicious thoughts to the 
 mind ? At the moment of the priest's communion, 
 the deacon, who had been kneeling at his side, rises 
 to his feet, kisses with a holy trembling the sacred 
 altar, on which the Victim of propitiation is reposing ; 
 that Victim — now about to distribute himself for the 
 nourishment of the elect of Heaven — inclines himself 
 forward towards the neck of the celebrating priest,
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPERAIM. 139 
 
 and receives from him the kiss of peace. As hereto- 
 fore, at the institution of this awful sacrifice, the 
 sovereign High Priest — himself both priest and victim, 
 — wished to embrace all his disciples before admitting 
 them to the participation of his adorable body and 
 blood; thus also, in the continuation of the same 
 mysteries, the deacon, in the name of the celebrating 
 priest, who never leaves the Holy of Holies, carries 
 this peace to the sub-deacon, and through his medium, 
 to all those approaching the divine banquet. What 
 love ! what joy ! what happiness in those souls of the 
 Saviour ! They follow him constantly in the way of 
 the cross, to ascend with him even to Calvary ; and 
 it is to indemnify, and to encourage them at the same 
 time, that he often deigns to admit them to the 
 delights of Thabor. What then must be the rapture, 
 with which those souls, stripped of all earthly affections, 
 are possessed at the moment, in which they unite 
 themselves so intimately to the God of Love, and of 
 all Consolation ! 
 
 It is one by one, that the predestined of La Trappe 
 present themselves to receive their God, and in just 
 the same order they retire after receiving Him. 
 Each one puts himself in his place, according to his 
 seniority in the monastery ; never is there any con- 
 fusion, never the least mark of forgetfulness. All 
 previously embrace in succession, as a sign of the 
 brotherly charity which they had vowed. AVhen the 
 deacon repeats the " Confiteor,'' all full on their knees, 
 with their foreheads nearly touching the floor of the 
 sanctuary. In this humble posture, they acknowledge 
 themselves unworthy of receiving the thrice holy God,
 
 140 LIFE OF FATHER MABIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 and purify themselves by a sincere avowal of the 
 blemish as still remaining on their souls. All then 
 rise, and the first in order advances slowly. Scarcely 
 does he see the Holy Host, elevated by the hands of 
 the priest, but he prostrates himself anew, to adore 
 it ; he then approaches with a holy trembling, receives 
 it with love, and retires behind the altar; all the 
 others follow in the same manner, and observe exactly 
 the same ceremonies. The grave, modest, and col- 
 lected deportment of the Trappists, retiring after 
 having received the Holy Communion, is but only a 
 continuation of this edifying and striking spectacle. 
 They retire, passing from behind the altar, always in 
 one single file, but so slowly, that they seem motion- 
 less. It may be said, that their exterior senses all 
 wrapped up, in order to concentrate in the heart, — 
 the residence of their Beloved, — all their afi'ections ; 
 or that the imitation of the wise precautions of the 
 bridegroom of the Canticles, "not to unseasonably 
 disturb the sleep of the bride, doiiec ipsa velit;" 
 keeps them in such holy rapture. Vincent also fol- 
 lowed in the single file of this holy soldiery ; he, for 
 the moment, imagined himself enlisted among them. 
 Like the rest, he was admitted to the feast of the 
 Lamb without blemish, and had the unspeakable hap- 
 piness of nourishing himself with the bread of the 
 
 strong. 
 
 All the day was thus consecrated by pious exer- 
 cises, and Vincent experienced great spiritual conso- 
 lation. The God who had given himself to him with 
 such generosity, filled his heart with ardent love and 
 charity, and frequently during the day did he repeat
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 141 
 
 his thanks for being providentially detained at the 
 monastery on the occasion of so great a festival. — But 
 all was not yet over : the God of the Holy Com- 
 munion, who is the same God of heaven, exhaustless 
 in his mercies, had not yet distributed all His favors ; 
 but reserved the most remarkable of them for the end 
 of this solemn festival ; whilst Mary herself, Vincent's 
 powerful Protectress ; Mary, who, that morning, at 
 the time of the Holy Communion, had presented him 
 to her Son, as heretofore, on a similar day, she had 
 presented that Son to God the Father, in the temple 
 of Jerusalem, — this same Mary, the blessed among 
 women, was the distributor. 
 
 The community were now reunited for the last ex- 
 ercise of the evening, and Vincent was in the aisle 
 of the church, whence he was able to see the greater 
 part of the choirists, who were then chaunting the 
 Complins of the Blessed Virgin. By the feeble light 
 of the lamp of the Sanctuary, he saw advancing two 
 ghost-like columns, which, with the greatest awe, 
 entered the choir through two doors, placed one at 
 each side, at its farthest extremity. When these two 
 columns came together opposite the Tabernacle, they 
 bent themselves towards the throne of the Living- 
 God, and then proceeded, in perfect order, to the 
 very middle of the choir. These columns were no 
 others than the lay-brothers, who came to join their 
 voices to those of the choir-relif2;ious in sincrina; the 
 ^^ Salve Reg ina.'" All thus assembled, choirists and 
 laics, seemed like an army arranging themselves in 
 the camp of the God of Victories, in order to salute 
 before retreating, the powerful Protectress of their
 
 142 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 combats. Two wax torches, lighted before her image 
 at the bottom of the Sanctuary, revealed her august 
 presence, so full of majesty. All standing, and with 
 looks animated by devotion, the choir-leader, at a 
 signal from the Superior, commences the sacred 
 hymn ; and then all the other voices are raised, as one 
 lone cry to heaven ; those voices that, consecrated to 
 silence, are never heard but at the foot of the altar, 
 and that have a power to astonish, and to penetrate 
 to the inmost recesses of the soul ; those voices con- 
 tinue the sacred chaunt on the highest key, and that 
 with so much decorum and gravity, as to consume a 
 quarter of an hour in singing it. 
 
 How affecting are the sighs of filial confidence, 
 whilst invoking a mother's tenderness ! But how much 
 more afi'ecting and sincere are the prayers of those 
 exiled sons of Eve, who, dead to the world, are 
 groaning in this vale of tears: ^^ Exules Jilii JEvoe, 
 gementes et jientes in hac lacrymarum voile !" Yin- 
 cent could not help uniting his own confidence to 
 theirs ; he also supplicated her whom he had so often 
 called his ^^good Mother,'' to turn her looks full of 
 mercy towards him : " illos tuos muerieordes oculos 
 ad nos coiiverte." But when those voices, never 
 wasted in idle conversation, came to this three-fold 
 exclamation that ends the sacred anthem: ^^Oclemens, 
 ina, dulcis Virgo diai'ia," which they sang with 
 redoubled ardor, he seemed to have lost all external 
 feeling; he was completely rapt up in ecstatic de- 
 light. The divine Mary, " the Ravisher of liearts" — 
 " Raptrix coj'dium," as St. Bernard calls her, let fall 
 on her protege one of those penetrating regards that
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 143 
 
 pierce the very heart, and fill it with burning lights ; 
 his bosom is overflown Avith emotions, which he can 
 no longer master, and he breaks out into such sobs 
 and tears, that he cannot conceal them from those 
 around him. In the midst of these stormy feelings, 
 suddenly a certain calm established itself in his mind, 
 by the means of which he could distinctly hear a 
 sweet voice — that of his tender Mother — inviting 
 him to consecrate himself to her Divine Son ; but to 
 do instantly, and without putting it off to another 
 day. His consent had not been yet pronounced ; his 
 eyes are cast towards the sacred image, when sud^ 
 denly the sense of the words from the Canticle of 
 Canticles strikes his mind; the words ^^ Posueru7it 
 me custodem," which are placed in the mouth of the 
 Blessed Virgin, and which, as he had before noticed 
 that day, surround her sacred head, as an emblem of 
 her protecting power, convey to his mind their full 
 meaning. " Fear not," the divine Shepherdess 
 seemed to say to him ; " fear not, my son, to follow 
 the inspirations of grace ; thou hast nothing to fear 
 from the snares that thy enemies may prepare for 
 thee : I will have a care of thee, myself, for it is I 
 who am the guardian here." He could hold out no 
 longer. Yes, my God, exclaimed he, here also 
 shall I repose, because here is thy residence ! " JIwo 
 est Domus Domini ;" '■^ Ilsee requies mea.'^ I shall 
 repose here, for I have made my choice : " Ilio 
 Jiabitaho, quoniom elegi earn.'" At the same time, his 
 affected soul gave itself up to effusions of confidence 
 and devotion, and he gave full scope to his tears; — 
 tears sweet in themselves, as accompanying the ac-
 
 144 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. ' 
 
 complishment of a generous sacrifice. — Vincent was 
 no longer belonging to himself, no longer his own 
 master : he had just sacrificed whatever he had most 
 dear in the world — his relations and the aifections 
 he bore them — on the altar of God, to whom he con- 
 secrated himself, to live for Ilim and to love Ilim 
 alone !
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 VINCENT APPLIES FOB IMMEDIATE ADMISSION INTO THE COMMUNITY. 
 THE VARIOUS TRIALS TO WHICH HIS VOCATION IS SUBMITTED. THE 
 HEV. FATHER ABBOT LAYS BEFORE HIM SOME OP THE AUSTERITIES 
 OF THE ORDER. 
 
 The next morning Vincent eagerly announced to 
 the father Avho had the supervision of the strangers' 
 apartments, that he had laid aside his intention of 
 departing ; and, at the same time, he requests him to 
 notify the Reverend Abbot of this change, and of his 
 desire of speaking with him. His wishes were soon 
 complied with. At this interview, he related all he 
 had experienced the evening before : the wonderful 
 change that divine grace had made in him, the admira- 
 ble effects of the powerful protection of the Blessed 
 Virgin ; and finally he begs him to grant him the 
 joyful privilege of being immediately admitted among 
 his children. 
 
 The Reverend Abbot was by no means surprised at 
 this new revelation. In his former interviews with 
 this young man, he could not hinder himself from 
 believing that God had particular designs upon him, 
 and had already marked him for his own ; but then, 
 as has been already observed, he felt the necessity of 
 putting to the proof the vocation of postulants. In 
 the present instance, he felt himself called upon to 
 make use of more severe proofs than usual. He con- 
 sidered that Vincent was a member of a rich and dis- 
 13 (145)
 
 146 LIFE OF FATHER MAKIA EPHKAIM. 
 
 tinguished family, and that his precipitate flight from 
 the world, to bury himself in a cloister, would neces- 
 sarily cause some noise. He considered, moreover, 
 that he was the only son of a father who almost adored 
 him, and who founded upon him all his hopes; and 
 that the disappearance of this son would most probably 
 plunge that father into the abyss of despair. Besides, 
 the young man himself, being evidently of an ardent 
 temperament, and of a vivid imagination, would, per- 
 haps, repent, in a short time, of the step he was now 
 about to take. All these considerations, therefore, 
 induced the reverend father to put on a more reserved 
 air, and to more severely try the new postulant's 
 vocation. "My good young friend," said he to 
 Vincent, " I bless the Lord for the many manifesta- 
 tions of his love towards you ; He suggests to you 
 the desire of consecrating yourself to His service; 
 give yourself up then, without restraint, to all the inspi- 
 rations of His grace. The project you meditate, is a 
 very serious one, and demands all our precautions : 
 we must not be precipitate ; for which reason our holy 
 rule has prescribed very wise measures, to which you 
 must make up your mind to submit yourself, ere you 
 can obtain the habit. Put your trust in God, in the 
 mean time ; pray without ceasing, continue to recom- 
 mend yourself to your illustrious Protectress, and 
 there can le little doubt, but that we shall finally 
 arrive at the ends which God has in store for you, and 
 at the strictest execution of his wise designs." 
 
 From this moment, Vincent was considered and 
 treated as a postulant. The time of the duration of 
 this first probation is, however, undetermined, and is
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 147 
 
 always spent in ascertaining the stability of vocation 
 and fixity of purpose in the new brother. It was 
 during this period that Vincent wrote to his father 
 the letter from which some extracts have been given 
 in a former chapter. He could not help informing 
 his family of what had become of him, but he dared 
 not as yet discover the whole truth ; hence it is, that 
 the letter was so vague and indefinite. He wished 
 his father to have some suspicion of his determination ; 
 he allowed him to see some part of it. but he did not 
 confess it altogether ; he wished by this means to feel 
 his way, and to have an answer, in order to know 
 what was thought upon the subject by his family in 
 general ; and by his father in particular. " I have 
 seen here," he continues in the forementioned letter, 
 " two young gentlemen of Perpignan, who have come 
 to consecrate themselves to the Lord ; and of whom 
 my Aunt Alday had frequently spoken to me. They 
 are both enrolled among the lay brothers ; one of 
 them taking the name of Brother Tustin ; the other, 
 of Brother Florentinus. I have had the pleasure of 
 recognizing among the choir-fathers, one of my old 
 
 school-fellows at Aix, Monsieur E ; he was one 
 
 of my cousin's most intimate friends. His present 
 name is Father Mucins. All sorts of persons are 
 received here. Visiters arrive daily ; some for the 
 sake of making a spiritual retreat ; others, for curi- 
 osity alone. There are also living here some persons 
 desirous of withdrawing from the world, without, at 
 the same time, binding themselves by religious vows ; 
 such persons are admitted as boarders. Among them, 
 my attention was called to the persons of Monsieur
 
 148 LIFE or FATHER MARIA EniRAIM. 
 
 De la R , a magistrate of great reputation in 
 
 the world ; and of Monsieur , Superior of the 
 
 episcopal seminary of the diocese of . As for 
 
 myself — persuaded as I am, that I shall derive great 
 profit from a sojournment here, I have decided to stay 
 some time longer. In this house, one learns to put a 
 just value upon the world and its deceptions, whilst 
 serving God with joy and fullness of heart. La Trappe 
 has nothing terrible, or frightful, but the name. I 
 am very glad to have turned off from my direct route 
 to Perpignan ; for, surely, the time I shall pass in 
 this holy asylum cannot be considered as lost.- . . Some 
 time has passed since I have had the pleasure of hear- 
 ing from home ; I hope you will gratify my longings 
 by writing to me at this place. I reckon upon your 
 well-known and long-tried goodness. You can di- 
 rect your letter to ' Aiguebelle, near MontelimarV 
 {Drome)" 
 
 Such a letter was sufficient of itself to awaken the 
 suspicions of the family, who long since perceived 
 that an event similar to the one that detained Vincent 
 in the monastery, may be daily expected. Its real 
 design was to prepare them by degrees for an open 
 avowal of his determination, which, he knew, would 
 cause them great afl^iiction ; he anxiously awaited an 
 answer, in order to know what effect it had produced. 
 In the mean time, he was permitted to acquire a more 
 intimate knowledire of the house he was henceforth to 
 
 O 
 
 inhabit, and of the kind of life he was to follow. He 
 had been too confused on the first day of his arrival, 
 to be able to observe closely what was passing around 
 him, and during his stay in the strangers' department.
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 149 
 
 his time was wholly taken up with spiritual exercises, 
 as has been already mentioned. The father whose 
 duty it was to entertain strangers, accompanied him 
 in his visit through the different departments of the 
 monastery. He commenced with the court-yard, 
 which presented to him a vast magazine of agriculture ; 
 he saw a large shed containing waggons and carts, 
 ploughs of different constructions, and many other 
 instruments used in the cultivation of the soil. He 
 noticed forges, wherein the religious were engaged at 
 work ; some shoeing horses, others manufacturing 
 farming utensils, and others again employed in the 
 manufacuture of locks, keys, and other fancy articles, 
 either for sale, or for the necessities of the monastery. 
 At another side of the same court-yard, he took notice 
 of an immense sheep-fold, of the religious conducting 
 to pasture a large flock of sheep, whilst others were 
 sweeping and cleansing the fold, in preparation for 
 their return at night. The continual passing and 
 repassing of the religious ; some having on their 
 shoulders gardening-utensils ; others, baskets contain- 
 ing the various articles about which they were em- 
 ployed — all, in fine, busy and apparently happy, 
 presented to his imagination the activity and industry 
 of a large swarm of bees. He expected to find in 
 this enclosure nothing else but the customs and prac- 
 tices of the cloister, to hear nothing but canticles, 
 hymns and prayers ; what then was his surprise to 
 find there a faithful resemblance of rural labors, and 
 to hear the noise and din of agricultural industry ; to 
 see, in fine, a model farm ! He remarked divers 
 streams of pure and limpid water, some of which, 
 13*
 
 150 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 
 
 after having supplied the work-shops and wash-houses, 
 passed through the gardens ; others again were dis- 
 tributed through the monastery, by means of various 
 pipes or conduits, where they were used for different 
 purposes. Vincent, after quitting the court-yard, 
 passed through the different work-shops and halls ; 
 and by special privilege, he was permitted to visit 
 certain places, to which access was prohibited to 
 strangers. One of the latter was the pharmacy, 
 where he had the pleasure of meeting with an old 
 friend in the person of the religious to whose care it 
 was committed. He was surprised at everything he 
 saw, but what astonished him the most were the order 
 and regularity everywhere prevailing, although joined 
 with great simplicity. He remarked that all the 
 door-latches were made of wood, and that a decent 
 and becoming poverty was the prevailing feature of 
 everything belonging to the monastery. After visit- 
 ing the various places, he went to see the Father 
 Abbot. He found him in a small chamber, as modest 
 and simple as the other rooms of the monastery, 
 without any other furniture than an old writing-table, 
 a few pictures, and two stools of maple, upon one of 
 which the Reverend Father was sitting. 
 
 For the further information of Vincent, the Reve- 
 rend Abbot took the present opportunity of instruct- 
 ing him in the domestic economy and by-laws of the 
 monastery. He informed him that the Abbot, or first 
 Superior, has the full and entire administration of his 
 monastery, as well in temporal as in spiritual con- 
 cerns ; but that he is, nevertheless, under the control 
 of the general Superiors, who have the right of do-
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM, 151 
 
 posing him, in case his administration should bo 
 found faulty ; that the Abbot is elected by a majority 
 of the votes of the community, and that his election, 
 presided over by the Vicar-General of the congrega- 
 tion, must be afterwards confirmed by the Court of 
 Rome. After the Abbot, continued the Reverend 
 Father, come the religious, according to their different 
 ranks, and years spent in the order : first, the choir- 
 religious, so called from its being their principal 
 occupation to assist in choir, and to offer to God a 
 continual sacrifice of praise. They are consecrated 
 to the Lord by the three usual monastic vows, to 
 ■which is generally added a fourth vow, termed the 
 vow of stahility. After them are ranked the Lay- 
 Rrothers, who are also bound by the same vows, 
 publicly made in the hands of the Abbot on the day 
 of their profession. These also have an ofiice to say, 
 but shorter than that of the choir-religious ; they are 
 more particularly employed in the servile works of 
 the monastery, and are governed by nearly the same 
 regulations as the latter. Their habit is of a dark- 
 brown color, whilst that of the choir-religious is 
 white. 
 
 As a passing observation, it may be truly affirmed, 
 that Aiguebelle and other monasteries of La Trappe, 
 possess at this moment a numerous and brilliant 
 assemblage of these good brothers, rivalling in zeal 
 and regularity the choir-religious, and uniting the 
 most distressing labors to the habitual practice of the 
 most sublime virtues. There may be found in their 
 ranks many that cannot, and others that scarcely can 
 read, who are already far advanced in the ways of
 
 152 LIFE OF FATHEK MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 perfection ; ignorant according to the world, their 
 correspondence to grace has enriched them with the 
 science of the saints. They are the consolation of 
 their superiors, who see them marching of their 
 own accord to the acme of holiness, and elevating 
 themselves by their virtues, without any impulse 
 from without, whilst they are the edification of all 
 other religious, who love them with all brotherly 
 affection. 
 
 We are told in the Gospel, that the Divine Saviour, 
 one day, in the course of his mortal life, went to visit 
 a family of his friends : it was the family of Lazarus. 
 When he arrived, one of the sisters of Lazarus, 
 Martha, set about the necessary means of worthily 
 receiving so divine a guest, whilst his other sister, 
 Mary, kept him company and listened to his divine 
 words : both co-operated, each in her own way, to 
 honor their Master. Something similar is daily pass- 
 ing at the monasteries of La Trappe. It is in the 
 name of the whole community that a portion of the 
 religious, like Mary, give themselves up to the sweets 
 of contemplation, and to singing the praises of the 
 Lord, whilst another portion, imitating the labor of 
 Martha, are busied in providing for the subsistence 
 of the former ; all thus concur in the work of God 
 with delightful unanimity, that often causes them to 
 repeat, whilst pouring out the affections of their 
 souls : " Quam bonum et qtiam jucmidum habitare 
 fr aires in unum^" — How sweet and pleasing a thing 
 it is for brothers to live in unity ! 
 
 Next in order come two other classes of brothers ; 
 namely, those who, without binding themselves by any
 
 LIFE OF FATIIEU MARIA EPIIRAIM. 153 
 
 vowB, yet wear the habit of the order; and those 
 ■who, in a secular dress, submit themselves to certain 
 regulations ; the former are called " temporary 
 brothers," the latter, "brothers belonging to the 
 family."* Under these two names are comprised 
 all dwellers in the monastery, who are not bound by 
 vows, whether on account of not having the courage 
 to take them, or for some other cause : — they are, 
 nevertheless, considered as belonging to the family, 
 and live in the house under certain regulations. 
 
 Vincent found all this most interesting, and felt 
 himself more and more encouraged in his resolution. 
 The Rev. Father, however, having always in view 
 his system of trial, thus continued his discourse: 
 " Hitherto, my young friend, you have only seen the 
 fair side of the medal ; it will be necessary for you to 
 take a glance at the other side also ; in order that 
 you may not enter into any engagement without 
 being fully aware of the responsibilities you incur. 
 Our principal austerities may be classed as follows : 
 fasts, vigils, singing of the Divine Office, and manual 
 labor. 
 
 " Fasts — I must tell you, that fasting is a continual 
 practice here : flesh-meat, eggs and butter, are, ac- 
 cording to our rule, prohibited to every one in health ; 
 fish, to every one, whether sick or in health, and oil 
 is permitted to be used by the sick only. The fare 
 of the community consists of pulse, roots, and herbs ; 
 
 » There is no English word to express the term " frere donne" 
 of the French. It has been rendered in the text by *' temporai-y 
 brother," — as near an approach to the original, as a wish to be 
 intelligible would permit.
 
 154 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 milk and butter are also used, but with this restriction, 
 that during Advent and Lent, all the fast-days com- 
 manded by the church, and all the Fridays of the 
 year, except those falling in Paschal times, the two 
 latter must not be served up in the refectory, nor 
 mixed with the other provisions : everything eaten 
 during the times just mentioned, must be seasoned 
 only with salt and water. The cooks are directed to 
 prepare the provisions in as simple a manner as pos- 
 sible, and never to make use of spices or anything 
 only tending to the gratification of the palate. During 
 two-thirds of the year, the Trappists eat but once in 
 the twenty-four hours. This one meal consists of 
 soup, a dish seasoned with salt and water, and of a 
 half-pint of weak wine. There is added some kind 
 of fruit, as a dessert, on those days that are not fast- 
 days commanded by the church, and on the Fridays 
 of the Paschal season. 
 
 From the 14th of September until Lent, this one 
 meal is taken at half-past two o'clock ; in Lent, it is 
 delayed until one-quarter past four. The rest of the 
 year is the time in which nature is re-invigorated 
 among us ; but you will find, even then, the regimen 
 sufficiently severe, for it difiers a great deal from that 
 followed during Lent by the most religious families 
 living in the world. Dinner, during this portion of 
 the year, is taken about twelve O'clock, and a slight 
 collation is served up in the evening. Our greatest 
 feasts enjoy no privilege as far as eating is concerned: 
 all are made subservient to the general rule of living, 
 Sunday and Christmas-day alone being excepted. It 
 is, moreover, expressly prohibited to serve up in the
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 155 
 
 refectory anything extraordinary, upon any pretext 
 whatever, as, for instance, on the day of the pro- 
 fession of a religious ; and still more this prohibition 
 is enforced on the days preceding Advent and 
 Lent. 
 
 Vigils — You have passed through our dormitories, 
 but probably you have not examined our beds in par- 
 ticular. These will not be found very complicated : 
 two planks, a straw mattrass rendered hard by being 
 quilted, and then covered over with a coarse sheet, a 
 woollen blanket, and a pillow stuffed with straw, are 
 all that is required for the repose of the Trappist. 
 On such a couch he places himself without undressing, 
 in order to recruit his exhausted strength ; and at 
 midnight, or at one, or, at the latest, at two O'clock, 
 according to the degree of the festival, and the greater 
 or less solemnity of the office, the bell of the monas- 
 tery rings in the midst of darkness, and at all 
 seasons of the year, to summon him to choir. Neither 
 intense cold, nor scorching heat can excuse his ab- 
 sence. At the first sound of the bell, he is on his 
 feet, and a few minutes after, he may be found in the 
 choir, singing the praises of the Lord. 
 
 The Divine Office — The author of the sacred 
 psalmody, the pious David himself, has marked for 
 us the hour at which we should commence the holy 
 office : ' Media node,' says he, ' surgeham ad con- 
 Jitendum tihi ;' ' I arose in the middle of the night 
 to sing your praises ;' and the names of ' Matins' 
 and 'Nocturns,' which this part of the office still 
 bears, sufficiently announce at what time it should be 
 celebrated. This very time is literally observed by
 
 156 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 US. At the first sound of the bell, all the community 
 snatch themselves from a sleep which was perhaps a 
 long time denied on account of the hardness of their 
 couch, and hurry to go and offer to the King of 
 heaven the homage of their exactness and devotion. 
 Five minutes after awakening, the office begins, and 
 lasts until four or half-past four O'clock. This first 
 recitation, though long, is not the only one. The 
 Prophet, after having told us that he commenced this 
 holy exercise at midnight, goes on to tell us that he 
 continued it during many hours of the day : ' Septies 
 in die laudem dixi tihi:' ' Seven times a day I have 
 sung the glory of thy Holy Name.' We continue to 
 follow this holy model ; our day is found to be a 
 sacrifice, almost uninterrupted, of praises to the glory 
 of the Most High. This singing frequently repeated, 
 and ordinarily prolonged from six to seven hours a 
 day, and, above all, celebrated, as practised among 
 us, in a grave and solemn tone, must, it may be 
 naturally surmised, be very fatiguing and dis- 
 tressing. 
 
 Manual Labor — Although the Divine Office is the 
 proper and peculiar employment of the choir-religious, 
 manual labor is also one of their obligations. Our 
 rules declare, that it should not be continued longer 
 than six hours a day in summer, except in harvest 
 time, and at the season for gathering potatoes, — a 
 most important crop to us. No one, however, is ex- 
 empt from it, for, according to our holy father, St. 
 Benedict, it is whilst thus employed, that the religious 
 is really a monk. 
 
 There only remains for me to say a few words con-
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 157 
 
 cerning the poor and rough manner in which we are 
 clothed. A flannel shirt, which, especially at the 
 commencement, feels like hair-cloth, a gown covered 
 with a long strip of black, called ' a scapular/ con- 
 stitute our dress during the time of labor ; whilst 
 during the rest of the time, we are enveloped in a 
 large cloak, called ^ a coule^' or 'a chappe\' the 
 former being the distinctive mark of a professed re- 
 ligious, the latter, of a novice. All these dresses are 
 wholly of wool ; in winter, they are found too light, 
 and in summer, too heavy for comfort. The upper 
 part of the habit is furnished with a kind of head- 
 dress, called '■ capuce,' serving as a hat by day, and 
 cap by night. 
 
 We have no other recreation than that proceeding 
 from the alternation of successive exercises. Be- 
 tween the Divine Office and labor, there are some in- 
 tervals, which must be consecrated to the study of the 
 psalms, or to the reading of some spiritual book. 
 
 Each of those practices taken separately, is not of 
 a nature to frighten an ordinary desire of living peni- 
 tentially ; but all united cannot fail to put to the 
 proof certain constitutions, of which yours is one. 
 Your delicate appearance, and evident want of corpo- 
 real vigor, have placed me under the necessity of 
 making this observation, in order that you may not 
 undertake, unwarned. 
 
 I will not speak to you at present about the per- 
 petual silence which every one must observe on 
 coming to La Trappe, nor of the passive obedience 
 to which he must submit himself, nor of that love for 
 humiliations that causes him to wish to be the lowest 
 14
 
 158 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 of the low, nor of that spirit of self-denial that makes 
 him renounce not only the world and all that it holds 
 dearest, but also himself, his self-will, his self-love, 
 and to have none other desire than the will of his 
 superiors, whom he is to regard as bearing in their 
 persons, with reference to him, the manifestation of 
 the will of God. All these things will be explained 
 to you in their proper place ; what I have just told 
 you, may be sufficient for the present to make you 
 understand what a serious step you are about to take, 
 and with what maturity you should weigh it in the 
 presence of God." 
 
 The enumeration of these austerities, together with 
 the austere and grave manner assumed by the Rev- 
 erend Father, whilst relating them, afflicted in some 
 degree our dear postulant, to whom a contrary man- 
 ner of living had become habitual from his infancy. 
 At one time he thought that the Reverend Father 
 dwelt expressly upon these things, in order to turn 
 him away from his design ; he even gave utterance to 
 this thought, adding : " But you say nothing, dearest 
 Father, of the ineffable consolations which God sheds 
 upon practices so revolting to nature ; you say not a 
 word of the happiness enjoyed in the service of God." 
 The Reverend Father replied, that " the rule made it 
 his duty to act and speak in this manner with all pos- 
 tulants, without distinction." "Vincent's courage was 
 not, nevertheless, abated : he modestly remarked, 
 " If I persist in soliciting admission into your holy 
 congregation, it is not either through relish, or in- 
 clination, but because I feel an internal conviction 
 that the good God demands from me this sacrifice ;
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 159 
 
 and whereas, He has had the goodness to call me to 
 such an act of devotion, I am confident that He is 
 suflSciently able to inspire me with courage and 
 strength, to undergo everything necessary to its 
 accomplishment."
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 VINCENT COMMENCES HIS NOVICIATE; AND TAKES THE NAME OF MARIA 
 EPHRAIM. HE WRITES TO HIS FATHER AND INFORMS HIM OP IIIS 
 PROCEEDINGS. 
 
 The Reverend Father was well satisfied with such 
 an observation, but yet continued his system of re- 
 serve. He saw his persevering neophyte every day, 
 and became more and more astonished at his wonder- 
 ful adaptation to the life of the community, until he 
 could not help seeing the work of God clearly mani- 
 fested in all his actions. He then hesitated no longer. 
 He had already prolonged his trials more than is 
 usually practised, and at length announced to him, that 
 his wishes were about to be gratified, and that he may 
 prepare himself for the solemn ceremony of taking the 
 holy habit. This news filled our young postulant with 
 joy. He was now considered as one of the com- 
 munity, and followed all the exercises. He had many 
 conversations with his master-novice, who instructed 
 him in the different practices of the house, and in 
 many of the monastic ceremonies. As his love and 
 zeal for the state of life he had embraced, were daily 
 increasing, it was deemed unnecessary to keep him 
 long in suspense as to the day on which he was to 
 receive the habit, and the ceremony was finally fixed 
 for the 11th of February. 
 
 On the morning of that day, immediately after 
 Prime, he repaired to the Chapter, where all the com- 
 munity had been already assembled, decked out in his 
 (160)
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. IGl 
 
 finest clothes. A profound silence reigns. The 
 master-novice who accompanies him, loads the way to 
 a large cross painted in black on the floor of the 
 chapter-room, and opposite the abbot's chair : there 
 our postulant prostrates himself at full length ; his 
 foreliead touching the ground. The Reverend Father 
 then addresses him in the following words : " Quid 
 petis?" "What do you seek?" He answers, still 
 prostrate on the ground, '■^ 3Iise7'icordiam Dei et 
 Ordinis," " The mercy of the Lord and the in- 
 dulgence of the community." — ''''Surge in nomine 
 Domini,'' " Arise, in the name of the Lord," the 
 abbot then says ; the postulant obeys, and stands 
 erect, whilst the superior addresses him in a few 
 admonitory words : " My brother, have you well 
 considered the step you are about to take ? This 
 is the proper answer to the request you have just 
 made. You asked to be admitted into our order, and 
 the order answers you, by making'you prostrate your- 
 self upon a cross. In this prostration is found all 
 your life in miniature, if you wish to pass it among 
 us ; for to carry his cross, and embrace his cross, is 
 the whole life of a monk. It is true, that this cross, 
 borne with love and devotion, is not an insupportable 
 burden ; the grace of God lessens the weight of it in 
 favor of pious souls, and it, of itself, will insure you 
 the mercy of the Lord, which you solicit ; for, in order 
 to obtain that immense treasure, we know no other 
 means than labor, poverty, suffering and humiliations. 
 Do you believe, then, my dear brother, that you have 
 sufficient courage to follow such a career, and to con- 
 tinue the kind of life that is practised in this house ?" 
 14*
 
 162 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPERAIM. 
 
 ''Yes, Reverend Father," answered Vincent, firmly; 
 "yes, I hope so, with the grace of God, and the 
 assistance of your prayers." — " Well, then, my dear 
 brother, I have but one word to add ; it is the word 
 which our blessed Father Saint Benedict addressed 
 to his novices, when he gave them the holy habit : 
 ' If you have made a commencement, make it with 
 all your heart,' — ' iSi iyicipis, perfecte incipe.^ You 
 are now going to divest yourself of your fine clothes, 
 and to take others, coarse and poor ; it is to teach you 
 that you should now quit also all your former habits, 
 and all the affections you have had in the world, and 
 assume the manners and sentiments of an humble 
 penitent." The master-novice, after this, led him to 
 the foot of the abbot's chair, where he is divested of 
 his secular clothes, and clothed in the humble dress 
 of the Trappist monk, which had just been blessed for 
 the occasion. He received the name of Ephraim, to 
 which was added that of Maria, in order thereby to 
 express his gratitude towards his Blessed Patroness, 
 to whom he felt himself indebted for his vocation. 
 During the ceremony, the community, uniting with 
 him in sentiment, sang that beautiful song of thanks : 
 "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who has 
 deigned to visit his people, and rescue them from 
 servitude," — '^ Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel 
 
 " The whole family was rejoiced ; a new 
 
 brother had just been acquired — a circumstance 
 always bringing its own pleasure; that new brother, 
 at the conclusion of the ceremony, went to dedicate 
 himself anew to the immaculate Virgin, and to place 
 his perseverance under her protection.
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 1G3 
 
 We have at length brought our Vincent to the 
 acme of his desires : he has now raised a wall of sepa- 
 ration between himself and the world, and enrolled 
 himself among the holy army of the servants of the 
 August Queen of angels. Nevertheless, one trouble- 
 some thought comes from time to time to trouble his 
 repose : his family, anxiously expecting him from day 
 to day, his father almost adoring him, his sister 
 scarcely able to live without his presence, are all this 
 time ignorant of his determination, and know not that 
 they are condemned to never see him again. But that 
 this aiSiction should be brought upon them by a son, 
 by a brother, who heretofore pretended to live only 
 for them ; so pure and so full of affection were his 
 sentiments ; what a sad position to be placed in ! 
 what a frightful source of unhappiness ! Such 
 thoughts weighed him down at intervals ; he was 
 obliged to exert all his virtue to conquer them. The 
 devil, always lying in wait for generous and noble ex- 
 amples of self-abnegation, turns this thought to his 
 own profit ; the young novice is sometimes pushed to 
 extremity, and has no other resource than to throw 
 himself into the arms of his good Mother, OGnsolatrix 
 afflictorum ; — the assured refuge of desolate souls. 
 He then felt his courage spring up anew ; but if the 
 temptation continued, he went immediately to discover 
 it to the Reverend Father Abbot, — the faithful de- 
 pository of all the motions of his soul ; and this ex- 
 pedient always succeeded. The advice received from 
 him was a powerful antidote for all the evils of the 
 soul ; frequently he had only to lay open the cause 
 of his trouble, to be instantly freed from it ; the old
 
 164 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 
 
 deceiver hates the light, odit lucem ; scarcely is he 
 discovered than he runs to hide himself. 
 
 His family at length broke silence ; his sister wrote 
 to him, but her letter was very vague. Nothing of 
 the design he wished to insinuate was understood, or, 
 at least, they wished to dissemble, if they had under- 
 stood it. Consequently his sister confined herself to 
 reproach him for his long absence, his delaying on his 
 journey, and the little trouble he gave himself to cor- 
 respond to the affection of his relations, who sighed 
 for his arrival with so much anxiety. Brother 
 Ephraim Maria — as Vincent was now called — felt that 
 the time had at length arrived to come to an explana- 
 tion with his family ; indeed, he could no longer put 
 off discovering to them the whole mystery. The letter 
 which he wrote to his father upon this subject, can- 
 not fail to interest the reader : we shall transcribe it 
 entire, though it is of some length, because we cannot 
 in any other way give so perfect an understanding of 
 the noble sentiments by which he was governed, than 
 by reproducing this letter. 
 
 Aiguebelle, February 21st, 1838. 
 
 My very dear Father, 
 
 I received yesterday Catharine's letter. The 
 reproaches and accusations which she deemed herself 
 justified in making, are not altogether unmerited ; 
 but I am not wholly so culpable as may at first be 
 imagined. My silence has not proceeded from negli- 
 gence, and still less from indifference ; it has been oc- 
 casioned by a chain of circumstances that I was far 
 from foreseeing. Even now I shall appear very cul-
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 1G5 
 
 pable, and I know not in what terms to announce to 
 you some late events, with which, nevertheless, you 
 must be made acquainted. If you had well considered 
 all I mentioned in my last letter, you would have easily 
 foreseen what I am now going to tell you. Yes, my 
 dear father, after much reflection, reasoning, and no 
 little hesitation, I have finally resolved to conse- 
 crate to God the rest of my days ; but do not, for 
 that reason, accuse me of dissimulation and want of 
 natural affection. Oh ! if you knew how much it has 
 cost me ; if you could sound the bottom of my heart, 
 and examine the wounds of my soul, you would soon 
 be convinced of my love for you, and for my dear 
 sister. Oh ! if you knew how much I bargained with 
 God — (allow me to express myself so) — to give myself 
 to Him, certainly you would accuse me neither of 
 cruelty nor ingratitude. To God alone would I be 
 capable of making the sacrifice I have made ; for there 
 is nothing in this world except God, that could in- 
 fluence me to separate from you, in whatever con- 
 dition we may be placed. It is useless for me to en- 
 deavor to describe all my feelings, all the strife which 
 the voice of divine grace, and the cry of nature, are 
 continually carrying on in my breast. You know how 
 I love you and my sister, and that you two are 
 the only ties that bound me to the world ; and God 
 has decreed that I should renounce such endearincr 
 ties. Ah ! when your persons are presented to my 
 imagination, I am then ready to succumb and return 
 to my former life ; and God certainly must have had 
 great pity on me to support so long my tergiversations. 
 But, that you, yourself, may judge, whether my vo-
 
 16G LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 
 
 cation has come from God, and whether I could in 
 conscience act otherwise than I have acted, a brief 
 narrative of the principal occurrences will be neces- 
 sary. 
 
 You know well, my dear father, that the principal 
 object of my journey was to prove my vocation, and 
 to endeavor to find out the will of God, relative to me ; 
 for my own part, at least, I have not consented to 
 separate from you but for this motive ; I have con- 
 stantly prayed the Lord to manifest his will, and all 
 my desires consisted in a speedy return to you. At 
 Paris I consulted the pious directors of Saint Laza- 
 rus ; at Lyons I addressed myself to various persons 
 of known integrity and piety, and I must confess to 
 you, that my notions were not thereby changed : the 
 more I saw of the world, the more I felt the necessity 
 of fleeing from it, for it inspired me with nothing but 
 disgust. I had always designed, ever before my de- 
 parture from Perpignan, not to pass through Monteli- 
 mart without visiting the monastery of La Trappe, at 
 Aiguebelle, which I knew to be not far distant from the 
 former place. At the same time, I wrote to the Supe- 
 rior of this house ; for you know that my present 
 determination was not taken at the impulse of the 
 moment. In my last letter I informed you of the 
 manner in which I left Montelimart, where I left my 
 baggage, and how I took the road towards the abbey, 
 accompanied by the Reverend Parish-priest of that 
 town, who was proceeding to the Trappist-nuns of 
 Maubec. I had now passed eight days at Aiguebelle. 
 In the conversations I had with the Reverend Abbot, 
 I imparted to him my design of returning to your pre-
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 167 
 
 sencc, in order to inform you, that, after all the proofs 
 to which I had submitted myself, I was only the more 
 decided to quit the world ; that my determination to 
 return hither was unalterable ; I even flattered myself 
 with the hope of being able to persuade you to fix 
 yourself here as a boarder, in order that we may 
 be enabled to live near one another. The abbot 
 approved of my design ; he even wrote a letter to the 
 Right Reverend Bishop of Perpignan, of which I was 
 to be the bearer, the said bishop being one of his 
 intimate friends. I was now happy in the thought of 
 embracing you after a little. In the mean time, much 
 was spoken of the Feast of the Purification, about to be 
 celebrated with unusual solemnity the very day fixed 
 for my departure ; and also, of the taking of the habit 
 by a novice on the same day. The weather was, 
 moreover, inclement ; I saw that it would not much 
 derange my plans to delay that day also ; and I con- 
 cluded to do so. But, behold ! I felt myself more 
 agitated than usual on the day of this festival ; I as- 
 sisted at some ceremonies that made the deepest, and, 
 at the same time, most pleasing impressions upon me. 
 There was general Communion, and I had the happi- 
 ness to participate ; all that day, in fine, was a day of 
 gladness and consolation for me. That evening, 
 whilst the community were singing the Salve Rcgina, 
 to salute the Blessed Protectress, before they retired 
 to rest, I was myself in a state of entrancement which 
 it would be impossible for me now to describe ; extra- 
 ordinary changes were passing in my soul ; I could 
 resist no longer ; T felt tears flowing down my cheeks, 
 and I promised to ray God, that whatever would be
 
 168 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 
 
 the consequence, I would take Him from that moment 
 for my portion. In the morning, I made my feelings 
 of the past evening known to the Father whose duty 
 it is to attend strangers, and also to the Reverend 
 Abbot. I informed the latter that I gave up my con- 
 templated journey towards home. The Reverend 
 Father has tried my vocation in every way, and it was 
 not until after ten days of reflection, and after sub- 
 jecting me to very severe trials, that, finding me 
 always in the same determination, he consented at 
 length to admit me as a member of his community. 
 My solemn reception took place on the 11th of the 
 present month. 
 
 I would wish to be able to bring before your eyes, 
 my dearest father, the various heart-rendings and 
 misgivings I have suffered, ere taking this step. I 
 foresaw all the chagrin it would cause the best of 
 fathers and the most loving of sisters ; nature im- 
 posed one class of duties, and grace another : there 
 was an incompatibility between them ; God, the 
 sovereign Master, made the balance always incline in 
 his favor, in addition to my seeing myself exposed to 
 a thousand dangers in the world. I deemed it even 
 dangerous to return again to Perpignan, and I had 
 not the heart to be, myself, the bearer of news that 
 would cause you a moment of inquietude. I have 
 hoped, that you would not refuse me permission to 
 follow my vocation, because you must necessarily per- 
 ceive in it the work of God ; in this I am truly fortu- 
 nate in having a father eminently religious, who may 
 understand how dangerous it is to resist Him, who 
 created us fur Himself; and the greatest mark of His
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA El'URAIM. 169 
 
 will is the courage He gives me to break the strong 
 ties that bind me to you. Well, then ! let us put in 
 common our confidence, to ofier ourselves to the Lord ; 
 offer to Ilim the sacrifice you make of my unworthy 
 person, as I offer Him myself every day. Let us be 
 assured that this sacrifice will be only momentary ; 
 God will accept of it, and will grant us the favor of a 
 speedy reunion in a place where another separation 
 need not be feared. I need make no comment upon 
 the little reliance we can place upon the happiness of 
 this world ; we have been submitted, in that respect, 
 to very rude trials. A little time ago, our family was 
 h model of perfect happiness on the earth ; we formed 
 among ourselves but one heart, but one soul. God 
 broke a ring of this chain in the death of my beloved 
 mother ; since that, our union became, if possible, 
 more close. The Lord, whose designs are incompre- 
 hensible, seems not yet satisfied; He demands still a 
 sacrifice ; well, then, let us unite all three of us, and 
 offer it to him ! This will not make us love one 
 another less, for, for my own part, since I have taken 
 my present resolution, I feel my affection for you and 
 my sister, more ardent and more pure. I never let 
 loose a sigh towards God, in which you are not both 
 partakers : God knows, I have only one desire : — the 
 happiness of all three ; and I therefore do not conceal 
 from you, that you and my dear sister form a prin- 
 cipal part in the sacrifice I have made of myself, and 
 that ye will soon be convinced that it is no calamity 
 to have a son and a brother enrolled among the hum- 
 ble worshippers of the God of all.-^I have besides 
 obtained the special privilege of seeing and conversing 
 15
 
 170 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 "vvith you, whenever you shall do me the favor of 
 visiting this place. 
 
 Of all the religious who are inmates here, there ia 
 scarcely one who has not made some great sacrifices. 
 God takes pleasure in trying his own : let the two 
 following cases serve for instances. There is at pre- 
 sent here a novice, who is an only child, and the son 
 of a widowed mother ; he is also the heir of great pos- 
 sessions, and the only one in whom his mother could 
 trust for the comfort of her advancing years. He 
 felt himself forcibly called to La Trappe, and obeyed 
 the call : all the prayers and tears of his mother to 
 recall him, were useless. Being still a minor, his 
 mother had recourse to the violent measures of the 
 civil law, to which he was obliged to yield ; but as 
 soon as ever he became of age, he fled anew, and 
 came to take refuge in the shade of the sanctuary, 
 under the auspices of our Blessed Lady. The other 
 instance is that of a most interesting gentleman, be- 
 longing to one of the first families of Toulouse : he 
 has preferred the cross of Jesus Christ to all the hap- 
 piness the world could afi'ord him, and of which he 
 was a favorite. In fine, my dear father, you know 
 better than I that the kingdom of heaven sufiers vio- 
 lence, and that we cannot reach this happy country 
 but by the way of the cross ; that is, by supporting 
 with patience the sacrifices which God demands 
 of us. 
 
 Do not be uneasy for my health : I find myself 
 perfectly well, notwithstanding the severity of the 
 regimen in use here ; severe, indeed, as it ought to be, 
 and is befitting penitents. The provisions are dressed
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM, 171 
 
 in the most simple manner, but yet most suitably to 
 my taste ; in truth, I assure you, that I find every- 
 thing most delicious. Besides, I believe that there 
 are special favors granted to those living here ; for 
 if I had attempted, whilst at home, to practise half of 
 the austerities, or to make use of the same food for a 
 few days that I now use every day ; oh ! what a con- 
 sumption of barley-water would there be ! — What a 
 consultation of physicians ! 
 
 I know that the step I have taken, will be differ- 
 ently interpreted, but this consideration causes me no 
 alarm : as I have not sought to enlist the suffrages 
 of any one, I am very little concerned at what any 
 one may think fit to say relative to me. My con- 
 science tells me, that I have fulfilled a painful, but 
 imperious duty. God is pleased, and that is sufiicient 
 for me. There is no dishonor in putting one's self in 
 the service of the King of Heaven, " whom to serve 
 is to reign;" your afiiiction alone causes me any 
 trouble ; but I beg of you, my beloved father, do not 
 think harshly of me, and, above all, do not curse me. 
 If you knew my ardent affection for you ! 0, that 
 you knew how I love you ! Look into everything, jis 
 if you were in the presence of God, and then judge 
 if I could, if I should, have acted otherwise, and not 
 obey His Divine Will. 
 
 I would wish to write to my dear sister, and to my 
 very good cousin. I would have much to say to them 
 concerning the falsity of the goods of this world ; not 
 that I wish to assert, that it is impossible to be saved, 
 whilst living in it ; each one has grace sufiicient for 
 salvation, but it is our duty to examine carefully what
 
 172 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 God demands from us. I believe, however, that salva- 
 tion is very difficult, whilst living among certain 
 classes. May those beloved relatives live godly and 
 piously ; and may my sister afford my dear father 
 more comfort and consolation than it has been ever 
 in my power to afford him. 
 
 Pardon me, then, dear father, the step I have taken 
 without first obtaining your sanction. Assure me by 
 letter, that you permit me to follow — not my own 
 inclination, but — as I firmly deem it — the will of the 
 Lord. I beg the prayers of all, as I daily pray for 
 you. Pray especially to the Blessed Virgin for me, 
 for to that Holy Protectress I am indebted for 
 my vocation ; to her I owe the permanency of my 
 sentiments during the dangers and temptations of 
 travel. If ever affliction should lay siege to your heart, 
 cast your eyes upon that Crucifix which you keep in 
 your study with so much veneration, and read the 
 words inscribed at its feet : " you wlio are in afflic- 
 tion, come and see if there he grief like my grief.'' 
 Such a sight must necessarily console you. 
 
 Adieu, then, my dearest father, and equally dear 
 sister : let us seek for consolation in God, and let us 
 beg of Him the inestimable favor of seeing ourselves 
 reunited one day in Heaven.
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 MONSIEUR FERRER, SENIOR, ARRIVES AT AIGUEBELLK : HE OBTAINS 
 PERMISSION TO CONDUCT HIS SON TO PERPIGNAN ; PROMISING TO GIVE 
 HIS CONSENT, IN CASE HE PERSISTS IN HIS VOCATION. 
 
 This letter, though loving and aiFectionate, carried 
 desolation into the family of Brother Maria Ephraim ; 
 the death of the wife and mother had already sensibly 
 changed their former happiness, and there was wanting 
 only this new sacrifice to sink them into the very 
 abyss of grief. The news was -soon spread ; the rela- 
 tions and friends of the family hastened to offer con- 
 solation. M. Ferrer, buried in grief, was almost beside 
 himself, whilst his daughter, Madam'lle Catharine, was 
 the very picture of despair. The wounds of their 
 hearts were not yet healed ; they opened afresh, and 
 bled profusely. Uncertain what was best to be done 
 in a matter of so much difficulty, they at length resolved 
 to endeavor to have patience for awhile. All insisted 
 that M. Ferrer should refuse his son the so-earnestly- 
 sought answer to his letter ; for, in addition to the 
 difficulty of determining what plan he should take, in 
 order to turn him from his project, it was supposed 
 that absolute silence would make greater impression 
 upon the heart of one whose affectionate and loving 
 disposition was so well known. 
 
 This manner of acting was really punishing our 
 young novice in the most sensible quarter. Better 
 than any one, he knew the ardent affection that his 
 15* (173)
 
 174 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM, 
 
 father and sister had for him ; and he had no doubt 
 that the step he had taken, was the cause of terrible 
 affliction to them. This thought afflicted him ; and 
 the uncertainty he was in, concerning the manner 
 they bore the certainty of having lost — perhaps for- 
 ever — him who formed the centre of their affections 
 in this world, almost brought him to despondency. 
 Reflections of this kind were those that pained him 
 most ; and, in order not to succumb to them, he was 
 frequently obliged to have recourse to the means 
 already mentioned, that had so well succeeded, when 
 the question was to place himself as a victim on the 
 altar of the Lord : these same means now served to 
 strengthen his constancy ; he offered to God the rest 
 of the Holocaust, and resigned himself to patience. 
 
 In the mean time, one of his near relations wrote 
 to him, in order to sound his intentions. His answer 
 was not long delayed. In it, he showed himself as 
 affectionate in his attachment towards his family, and 
 as admirable by the purity of his motives, and the 
 nobleness of his sentiments, as he had already ex- 
 hibited himself in the letter to his father, which has 
 been already laid before the reader ; but, at the same 
 time, he left no ground for hope, that his present 
 determination would ever be changed. Then, this 
 same relative advised Mons. Ferrer to have recourse 
 to means, which, according to him, were the most 
 expeditious, and the most sure to recover his son ; 
 they were no other than to set out immediately, and 
 take him away by force from the pious asylum he had 
 chosen ; he offered himself as companion and chief 
 actor in the expedition, being indeed a man of great
 
 LIFE OP FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM, 175 
 
 firmness of character, of an ardent temperament, and 
 well fitted by nature to carry into execution the 
 violent measures he had advised. Mens. Ferrer 
 allowed himself to be persuaded : they depart on their 
 expedition; the party consisting of himself, his daugh- 
 ter, his niece M'lle Eliza A , and the foremen- 
 
 tioned relative, all firmly persuaded that Vincent 
 would never be able to resist their united efforts, and 
 firmly resolved, besides, to bring him back with them, 
 at all hazards. 
 
 Brother Maria Ephraim was, all this time, far from 
 suspecting the plot that was formed against him. 
 Since he had the happiness of receiving the holy 
 habit, his whole desire, his whole occupation consisted 
 in one thi«g, — that of being a good novice, in order, 
 after awhile, to become a perfect religious. The 
 words addressed to him at his reception, by the 
 Reverend Father Abbot : " iSi incipis, perfecte in- 
 cipe,'" — " If you begin at all, begin with your whole 
 heart," had made a deep impression on his heart. 
 Plis co-religious could scarcely perceive that he was 
 but a beginner in religion; so much perfection in 
 monastic virtues had he all at once acquired. Al- 
 though the last arrived in the community, his fellow- 
 novices assigned to him, in their own mind, the first 
 place ; so much did they admire his fervor and exact 
 observance of the rules, accompanied as these virtues 
 were by amiability, ease and cordiality of manners so 
 pleasing, that he had already acquired the respectful 
 afi"ection of all. But the devil, jealous of so fine a 
 beginning, left nothing untried to upset and destroy 
 it: perhaps, also, God, in his special providence,
 
 176 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 ■wished to subject his servant to further trials. Saint 
 Bernard assures us, that God acts after this fashion 
 with persons the most devoted to His service, and the 
 same Saint proves by solid reasons, that such trials 
 are necessary to obtain perfection. Brother Maria 
 Ephraim was not exempt from them. Courage, then, 
 noble combatant ! You have put your trust in God, 
 you neither can, nor will, therefore, be confounded ! 
 You have put yourself under the protection of the 
 Queen of Heaven; she will know how to protect 
 you from the rage of your enemies, and, in case of 
 need, to turn to their own confusion all their efforts 
 to hurt you. 
 
 It was on the 7th of March that the Ferrer family 
 arrived at Aiguebelle ; — one month after Brother 
 Maria Ephraim had entered it. The uncle took upon 
 himself the direction of the whole expedition, and its 
 ultimate success. Their first care was to hide their 
 names and quality : they announced themselves as 
 persons led by curiosity to visit the monastery, and 
 to better disguise their real intentions, put a multipli- 
 city of questions to the father that waited upon them, 
 who, in turn, answered with the greatest simplicity. It 
 was now becoming late, and as the presence of the two 
 young ladies rendered a stay in the monastery during 
 the night, impossible, they retired until morning to a 
 neighboring village ; the two gentlemen having first 
 satisfied themselves with a superficial view of the 
 house, and other places, to which females are never 
 admitted. 
 
 A great part of the night was passed in deliberating 
 on what further measures should now be taken. The
 
 LIFE UF FATHER MARIA EPHRALM. 177 
 
 next morning, at an early hour, they again proceeded 
 to the monastery, and still acting the same part as the 
 day before, overwhelmed the gate-keeper and the 
 father ^Yho attended them, with various questions. 
 They expressed an eager desire, above other things, 
 to see the religious. It was told them that these, in 
 a short time, would be in attendance at High Mass ; 
 and that immediately after they would go out to work. 
 The two gentlemen signifying a desire to attend at this 
 Mass, were conducted to the gallery, from whence 
 their anxious eyes were constantly directed towards 
 the choir, in order to discover among those assembled, 
 the features of him in whom they were so much inter- 
 ested. They immediately recognized him under his 
 new costume. They could not, at the same time, keep 
 themselves from a secret sentiment of admiration at 
 the sight of so many heroic men, who had voluntarily 
 trampled under foot the pleasures and all the seduc- 
 tions of the world, and had come to an humble soli- 
 tude to devote themselves to so painful a life, and one 
 made up wholly of sacrifices. They experienced a 
 vivid emotion at the sight of their affecting ceremo- 
 nies, of their ardor in singing the praises of the Lord, 
 of their respectful attitudes in the holy place, and of 
 the fervor and veneration for the Most High, manifest 
 in their looks and holy abstraction. They were espe- 
 cially moved by the fervor of their young novice, who 
 was far from suspecting, at this moment, that his re- 
 lations were the eye-witnesses of his piety ; in spite of 
 themselves, they were forced to admire him, and had 
 they come with less unfriendly designs, they would
 
 178 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 have found something sublime in his resolution, and 
 would, wc have no doubt, have envied his happiness. 
 
 During this interval, the two young ladies were 
 continuing their questions with the gate-keeper : they 
 informed themselves particularly of the difference 
 between the novices and the professed brothers, and 
 of the distinctive marks between the costume of each. 
 — But the mass is now ended ; Mons. Ferrer and his 
 companion have returned to them, and have scarcely 
 had time to recount all they had seen during the time 
 they were absent, when they were warned that the re- 
 ligious are going to pass by, in order to betake them- 
 selves to the fields for labor. In effect, scarce was 
 the warning given, when they sec coming forth from 
 the monastery a long file of religious, who cross the 
 court-yard, and come directly towards the outward 
 gate. They have no longer the same costume they 
 had worn in the choir ; in the latter place, thoy were 
 dressed in ceremony : the professed in a cowl, having 
 long and wide sleeves ; and the novices, in a sort of 
 long cloak, called a " chappe ;" but at this time, they 
 are in the costume for work ; namely, a simple scapu- 
 lar, wooden shoes, and habit tucked up almost to the 
 knees. They walk one after another in single file, 
 and according to seniority; their heads are covered 
 with their capuces, beads hanging from the girdle of 
 each, and a spade, or some other instrument of agri- 
 culture, under the left arm. 
 
 Quickly and without loss of time, the family are on 
 the alert. The uncle arranges his little battery ; one 
 of the superiors passes first, at the head of his 
 company ; he alone, in conformity with the constitu-
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 179 
 
 tlons of the order, salutes the seculars ; whilst the 
 other religious follow without lifting up their eyes, or 
 paying any attention to what is going on. The 
 community had now almost passed, and he whom 
 they expected with so much impatience, had not yet 
 made his appearance. Suddenly he is perceived 
 nearly in the last rank ; at the same time, a movement 
 towards him is made by the strangers, they close up 
 and approach nearer to him ; the sister can contain 
 herself no longer, a piercing cry escapes her, whilst 
 the uncle, exclaiming, "ii5 is he," dashes forward with 
 the intention of seizing him. Maria Ephraim now 
 became aware of what was going on ; he recognized 
 the well-known voice of his dear sister, and had even 
 cast a timid glance towards the spot whence the voice 
 proceeded. His forehead is now covered over with 
 a modest blush, but he, nevertheless, had sufficient 
 presence of mind to observe the motion of his uncle, 
 and to avoid his grasp ; not because he had no longer 
 for his relations that affection of which he gave them so 
 convincing proofs, whilst living with them in the world, 
 nor because he was unwilling to see and converse with 
 them, — but because he was a novice, and, therefore, 
 obliged to observe certain rules, one of which was, — 
 and an essential one too, that no novice should either 
 see or converse with any member of his family with- 
 out the previously obtained permission of his Superior, 
 and that even then, the master-novice should be 
 present at the interview. He wished them to strictly 
 observe those formalities, and for that reason avoided, 
 for the present, coming in contact with his uncle, or 
 with any other member of his family. " Ow attempt
 
 180 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 has failed /" cried the uncle ; and, in fact, his design 
 was to seize upon his nephew hy force, and to compel 
 him, whether willing or not, to go along with him. 
 Poor man ! Did he not know how difficult it is to 
 seize upon any one in such a way, — and how more 
 difficult still it is, to seize upon one under the 
 special protection of the Almighty ! He was some- 
 what disconcerted at this signal failure of his 
 plan, and was now obliged to turn to some other ex- 
 pedient. 
 
 In the mean time, the two young ladies are no 
 longer mistresses of themselves ; they can no longer 
 resist the desire of seeing their relation, and of speak- 
 ing to him. Giving loose to a curiosity very natural 
 to their sex, they follow the footsteps of the religious. 
 They come up with them working in a vineyard, and 
 observe them at a distance. They approach nearer, 
 little by little, in order to discover him whom they so 
 earnestly sought ; but they cannot fully satisfy their 
 desire, because the religious are close to one another, 
 and so mixed up, that they find it impossible to dis- 
 cover him. The nature of the work obliges them to 
 keep in a stooping position, and therefore it is im- 
 possible to distinguish one from the other. They, 
 however, do not give over their attempt, and resolve 
 to approach so near as not to fail having a distinct 
 view of him whom they sought. The Reverend 
 Father Abbot, who, that morning, had not gone out 
 to work at the same time as the other religious, comes 
 up at this moment ; he sees those two young persons, 
 whom he mistakes for some women of the neighbor- 
 ing village, who, led by an indiscreet curiosity, of which
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MAPxIA EPHRAIM. 181 
 
 hitherto there had been no example, had trespassed 
 on the grounds of the monastery. He, deeming him- 
 self called upon to put an end to such imprudence, 
 modestly approaches, and asks -whether they had any 
 particular business with any one of the religious. 
 The good ladies become embarrassed : they answer, 
 that they only had a desire to see the Trappists, 
 whilst at work. The Reverend Abbot remarks, in a 
 polite way, that they should not push their curiosity 
 beyond the limits of good manners, and that if they 
 persisted in their present course of proceeding, he 
 would be under the necessity of sending the religious 
 back to the monastery. 
 
 These observations on the part of the abbot were 
 just, and were accordingly felt by the persons to 
 whom they were addressed. Our young ladies then, 
 being pushed to extremities, could hold out no longer, 
 and were under the necessity of confessing the whole 
 mystery. We have, said they, a brother among those 
 religious ; he ran away from us without taking leave 
 of the family ; and the ardent desire we have to see 
 him, is the cause of our present seeming want of good 
 manners. The Reverend Father soon perceived the 
 thing as it really was ; that his novice, Maria Ephraim, 
 was the subject of dispute. You should have explained 
 yourself sooner, answered he ; I will call your brother ; 
 only have the goodness, I pray you, to go a little 
 farther off, in order that ye may not be seen by the 
 community. They obeyed his directions, whilst he 
 went himself, to speak to the good brother, and inform 
 him of what had just passed ; the latter also, in turn, 
 gave the Reverend Father an account of what he had 
 16 •
 
 182 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 
 
 seen, and that he was only waiting his arrival to have 
 an opportunity of informing him of it, and, at the 
 same time, to beg his permission to speak to his re- 
 lations. As they were approaching the place where 
 the young ladies had now stationed themselves, they 
 saw at a distance, on the road leading from the mon- 
 astery, two gentlemen, who were running towards them 
 with all their might. It is my father and my uncle, 
 observed Maria Ephraim. All now had come to- 
 gether; the interview takes place; and what tender 
 embraces were given, what heartfelt joy was felt, by 
 all parties, may be more easily imagined than de- 
 scribed ! The Father Abbot was, at first, present ; 
 but fearing that he might cause some restraint on their 
 conversation, he withdrew, giving the novice the 
 privilege of remaining alone with his family, and of 
 conducting them to the monastery. 
 
 Behold them now reunited at last, and walking to- 
 wards Aiguebelle, sometimes at a quick pace, some- 
 times at a slow, and not unfrequently stopping alto- 
 gether. After their first emotions were over, Mons. 
 Ferrer, turning sorrowfully towards his son, said: 
 " Why, my dear son, have you treated me after this 
 manner ? What have I done to deserve such treat- 
 ment ? What sufficiently strong motive can you have 
 to determine you to abandon us at the very moment 
 we stand most in need of your assistance and con- 
 solation ?" Saying these words, he melted into tears, 
 whilst his daughter mingled her complaints and tears 
 with his. Brother Ephraim was greatly afi"ected : 
 although a novice of La Trappe, his heart was by no 
 means changed, and he still retained ,the same af-
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 183 
 
 fection for his relations, that he was always remarka- 
 ble for ; he falls weeping upon his father's neck ; he 
 embraces his sister again and again ; "No!" said he, 
 " no, my dear father, I have no reason to complain of 
 your treatment; but, on the contrary, am over- 
 whelmed by your kindness, which I have so little de- 
 served ; the friendship of all my relations makes me 
 blush at my own want of merit ! But what could I 
 do, my dear relations ? You, my dear father, that 
 know all my difficulties, and the violent combats I 
 had with myself; answer for me : tell me, was there 
 
 any means of resisting the designs of God !" 
 
 .... He could say no more : the desolation in 
 which he saw his family was breaking his heart ; and 
 he stood like one confounded. x\ll remained silent : 
 nothing was heard but sobs. 
 
 The uncle, who had hitherto spoken little, now com- 
 menced : "That is not the question," said he ; "we 
 have come here for thee, and home thou must go, 
 even were we obliged to have recourse to violence ; so 
 prepare thyself to follow us, without putting us under 
 that disagreeable necessity." Brother Ephraim made 
 no reply, but it was an easy matter for his uncle to 
 see by his manner, that he was little disposed to obey 
 him. Then, assuming a severe tone, he reproached 
 him with his conduct, which he termed impious ; he 
 taxed him with cruelty and ingratitude ; he brought 
 to mind, and depicted in a lively manner, the sad 
 position in which he was leaving his father, who 
 reckoned upon him for the very existence of his name 
 and family ; the no less unhappy condition of his only 
 sister, whom he was obliged to protect ; the affliction
 
 184 LIFE OP FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 into which he was plunging his whole family ; finally, 
 after a series of appeals and reproaches, needless to 
 be reproduced here, he besought him, by the soul of 
 his dead mother, and by her bones now mouldering in 
 the grave, to forego his mad, and (as he called it) 
 impious design, and to return to his father's house. 
 Our good brother, though overwhelmed with such a 
 torrent of abuse, and affected by the words of entreaty, 
 maintained, nevertheless, a calmness and serenity, that 
 were manifest in his countenance, in spite of the 
 emotions of his heart, and exhibited no outward signs 
 of indignation, to which passion his heart was entirely 
 a stransrer. 
 
 All the time the uncle was speaking, the others 
 maintained a rigid silence. Catharine appeared at 
 one time in the attitude of despair ; at another time 
 in that of expectation, according as she had more or 
 less hope of recovering her brother. Her cousin had 
 scarcely spoken a word ; she admired the virtue and 
 constancy of Brother Ephraim ; and, so far from com- 
 miserating his lot, she was rather induced, in the 
 secret recesses of her heart, to envy him his spiritual 
 happiness. 
 
 Mons. Ferrer, whose first emotion was somewhat 
 appeased, appeared absorbed in deep thought. He 
 seemed weighed down with chagrin at seeing himself 
 deprived of a son that formed his chief earthly hap- 
 piness ; and at the same time filled with veneration 
 for the exalted virtues of that son ; manifest proofs 
 of which were now exhibited before him. After re- 
 maining a considerable time thus concentrated, he at 
 length spoke, and his words were such as they should
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 185 
 
 bo — words of reconciliation. " My son," said he, " as 
 a father, sincerely attached to my religion, I have con- 
 stantly regarded it as my greatest obligation to give 
 you a Christian education ; my conscience bears wit- 
 ness that I have nothing omitted tending to accom- 
 plish that end. As it would therefore be inconsistent 
 in me to wish to oppose myself to the designs that the 
 Divine Governor of the world may have upon you, I 
 here openly declare that I have no such intention. 
 But religion itself does not attribute as a crime the 
 taking of prudent precautions, in order to assure our- 
 selves that our designs are suggested from on high. I, 
 therefore, propose that you return with us to Perpig- 
 nan ; that you remain there with your family during 
 a certain time, — say, two or three months, — where 
 you will be left at full liberty to examine yourself, 
 and the strength of your vocation ; and if, at the end 
 of that period, you still persist in your present deter- 
 mination, and wish to return to this place, I shall no 
 longer oppose you, nor place any obstacle in your 
 way." 
 
 This proposal was reasonable enough ; at least, it 
 appeared so to all interested, and that Brother 
 Ephraim could not possibly find any way to evade it. 
 Indeed, he himself felt inclined to give his family this 
 last proof of affection, and to yield to their urgent 
 entreaties. They had, in the mean time, drawn near 
 the monastery ; the community had just returned from 
 labor, and were about entering at the gate. He a^lso 
 entered with them, in order to speak to his Superior. 
 He related to him all that had just taken place be- 
 tween himself and relatives, and ended by laying 
 10*
 
 18G LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 before him the last request of his father. The Reve- 
 rend Abbot immediately perceived that his young 
 novice was inclined to yield his consent ; hfe regarded 
 him with an air almost of compassion, and said : My 
 dear Brother . . . ., and then stopped short. I 
 understand you, added Brother Ephraim. You 
 think that I will be induced to yield to temptation, 
 and that I will never come back. It is a dangerous 
 trial, replied the Rev. Father. — Do not be afraid, 
 answered Ephraim ; God, who had first conducted me 
 here, will find means of bringing me back again ; and 
 then, has not Mary, my tender mother, constituted 
 herself my Protectress ? Besides, I wish to do nothing 
 without your approval : if you wish me to remain, you 
 have only to express such a wish ; but if you author- 
 ize me to grant this satisfaction to my relatives, you 
 will have the charity to give me your holy benediction 
 also, to promise me the continuation of your pious 
 prayers in my favor, to recommend me from time to 
 time to the prayers of the community, and, with such 
 succor, I believe I may guarantee my return at what- 
 ever time you may be pleased to determine. The 
 Father Abbot was truly astonished at the temper, and 
 still more, at the confidence of his beloved novice. He 
 answered him, that, if he believed his yielding to his 
 father's proposal would be the means of mitigating 
 the sorrow of his relatives, and if he felt confident of 
 being able to withstand all the attempts that would 
 probably be made to weaken his vocation, he,' on his 
 part, yielded his consent. They then proceeded 
 together to report the result of their deliberation to 
 the family that were waiting for it with no little
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 187 
 
 anxiety, and who did not expect to find the abbot 
 so yielding. 
 
 Scarcely was the joyful news made known than 
 contentment returned to their breasts ; conversation 
 becomes general: they mutually congratulate one 
 another upon the prosperous result of their journey. 
 Brother Ephraim alone did not partake of the general 
 joy ; for he, alas ! was going to quit his beloved soli- 
 tude. He requested his father to renew, in presence 
 of the abbot, his promise of permitting him to follow 
 his vocation, in case that he persisted in his present 
 sentiments ; — a request that was immediately com- 
 plied with. Dinner was then served up for all the 
 family in the strangers' reception room, which is out- 
 side the gate of the monastery. Brother Ephraim 
 divested himself of his monastic habit, and resumed 
 his secular clothes. He wept abundantly whilst taking 
 leave of the Rev. Abbot. I am again about to enter 
 Babylon, exclaimed he, with a countenance and in 
 accents of deep sorrow ; you know better than I, Rev. 
 and dear Father Abbot, how much I have to fear 
 from its corruption. The Rev. Father embraced him, 
 gave him his benediction, promised him the prayers 
 of the community, and engaged himself to offer the 
 Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in honor of the Blessed 
 Virgin, every Saturday until his return, or until he 
 could be certainly informed that he would return no 
 more. All this consoled him a little, and he went to 
 rejoin his family. "/ shall he bach before harvest,'' 
 were his last words to the door-keeper, as he issued 
 from the monastery.
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 BROTHER MARIA EPHRAIM ARRIVES AT PERPIGNAN : HIS SOJOURNING 
 WITH HIS FAMILY. HE RETURNS TO AIGUEBELLE. 
 
 The carriage now rolled away on the road to Ninies, 
 bearing our travellers, well pleased with the success of 
 their journey. All were in high spirits ; all, except 
 Brother Maria Ephraim, who had now become again 
 Mons. Vincent. He appeared much cast down, 
 for, indeed, his heart was the seat of deep melan- 
 choly. What! said he, to himself, have I then 
 permitted the demands of the natural man to have a 
 greater influence over me than the calls of Divine 
 Grace ! Did not God, whose will was so visibly 
 manifest in regard to my unworthy person, deserve to 
 be preferred to the desires of flesh and blood ? He 
 was sorry for having yielded. One thought only 
 afforded him some little consolation. He felt com- 
 forted when he reflected that he had not deserted the 
 service of the Lord through caprice, but that he had 
 obtained the permission of his spiritual superior, and 
 was acting in obedience to that permission. I will 
 turn back, said he to himself ; I will turn back in- 
 stantly, and expiate my weakness by a strict observ- 
 ance of my religious duties. Vainly his companions, 
 who soon noticed the prostrate state of his mind, en- 
 deavored to cheer him, and to draw his attention to 
 something else. He returned in a moment to the 
 same train of thought ; everything he saw in the 
 (188)
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 189 
 
 world inspired him with a kind of horror, and made 
 him regret his beloved solitude, away from which it 
 seemed to him impossible to live. These various 
 thoughts made such progress in his soul, that he could 
 no longer resist them. Upon his arrival at Nimes, he 
 made his escape, without saying a word to any one, 
 and resumed in all haste the road he had just passed 
 over. His absence was soon perceived, together with 
 the cause of it ; ho is pursued and overtaken, and it 
 was not without recurring to force that they were able 
 to bring him back. All these circumstances did not 
 tend to render our travellers very well pleased, whilst 
 they greatly diminished the joy for the obtained 
 'victory. What is the use of our proceeding farther 
 in this affair ? whispered one to the other ; the monas- 
 tery is henceforth for him a loadstone, which attracts 
 him unceasingly. Little was wanting that they did 
 not openly express their regret for having proceeded 
 so far in the affair. But the uncle was not of this 
 opinion ; he found it very natural that the young 
 Vincent, so remarkable for his affectionate disposition, 
 should be grieved at parting from his new friends, 
 and laid all hopes of being able to bring him over to 
 his own manner of thinking upon the allurements of a 
 residence in the bosom of his family. 
 
 The journey was now continued without any other 
 occurrence worthy of remark, and in due time they 
 arrived at Perpignan. It was late when they entered 
 the city. The next morning, Vincent hastened to the 
 church of Saint James, and after praying and recom- 
 mending himself to God, he then went to throw him- 
 self into the arms of his dear director and worthy
 
 190 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPURAIM. 
 
 friend, the Abbe G * * *. The demon has con- 
 quered, said he, whilst embracing him, but I feel 
 confident that his victory will not be of long dura- 
 tion. 
 
 He then gave him a short account of what had 
 occurred, reserving a more detailed history for a more 
 favorable opportunity : he also went to confession, and 
 received the holy communion on the same day. 
 
 During the whole time that Mens. Vincent remained 
 at Perpignan, he was constantly a model of edifica- 
 tion for all those who had the happiness to approach 
 him. His arriving from an interesting journey to 
 Paris, where he had seen so many remarkable things, 
 and a description of which he had promised to give 
 \ipon his return, was entirely lost sight of: his friends 
 only saw in him the fervent Christian, forcibly taken 
 from La Trappe, from which place he brought with 
 him an abundant harvest of the most affecting virtues, 
 the sight of which commanded the admiration of all. 
 He was for a long time strictly watched, lest he might 
 endeavor to escape again, as he had done at Nimes ; 
 but upon formally promising his father that he would 
 not make any such attempt without giving previous 
 notice, he was suffered to be more at liberty. This 
 liberty, it is needless to say, was only used for the 
 Bake of giving himself more ardently to the practice 
 of every virtue. 
 
 His family were not forgetful that a certain limited 
 time only was granted to prove Vincent's vocation ; 
 and that at the expiration of that time, he was likely 
 to return to his former mode of life. Every means 
 was, therefore, made use of, in order to turn him off
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 191 
 
 from his design, or, at least, to stagger his resolution. 
 But it was impossible to engage him in things of the 
 world: societies that were before a pleasure, had now 
 become burdensome; amusements the most innocent 
 and the most lawful, afforded him nothing but feelings 
 of lassitude and disgust. 
 
 His uncle, above all, the one who was chiefly instru- 
 mental in taking him by force — we may so call 
 it — from Aicjuebelle, and who had treated him so 
 harshly on that occasion, did not wish to lose the 
 fruits of his labor ; he brought him severely to task 
 for the severe manners he assumed, and, assisted by 
 some friends of the family, he endeavored to make 
 him believe " that the Trappists are a wretched set of 
 men, whom a moment of enthusiasm, ephemeral as all 
 such fervid movements are, had engaged under a yoke 
 of iron ; that they soon repent of their folly, and 
 become a prey to melancholy and regret ; that in 
 embracing such a state of Hfe, men capable of becom- 
 ing useful members of society, shut themselves up in 
 sepulchre-like prisons, in which they vegetate and lead 
 a useless life ; that, so far from pleasing God by 
 their absurd practices, they even offend Him by the 
 criminal austerities of a homicidal rule ; finally, he 
 went so far as to insinuate, that the Trappists affected 
 a love towards his person in order to get possession of 
 his fortune; knowing well that they could not reach 
 the latter but through means of the former." We will 
 see in the following chapter what ought to be thought 
 of these accusations and of these calumnies. Vincent 
 knew well that all he could say would have little 
 weight on minds blinded by passion and prejudice.
 
 192 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 He, therefore, restricted himself to simply answering, 
 that he had happily experienced the kind of life he 
 wished to embrace, and that he knew what was best 
 for himself: he afforded himself, in the mean time, good- 
 tempered, affable, and even polite towards those by 
 whom he was thus harshly treated ; without, however, 
 giving up the point in dispute, or suffering himself to 
 be influenced by their misrepresentations. 
 
 The conversations he had from time to time with 
 his confessor, contributed not a little to keep him in 
 those pious sentiments ; but what strengthened him 
 more than anything else was an uninterrupted cor- 
 respondence he kept up with his Rev. Abbot. To 
 him were confided all his difficulties; his letters 
 mostly ending with deploration of the length of time 
 he was kept from his beloved solitude, and expressions 
 of anxiety for the arrival of the time, when he could 
 ap-ain embrace his former mode of life. The Rev. 
 Father had been truly affected at the departure of 
 this dear novice ; all the community shared his trouble, 
 for the subject of it had, in the short time he was 
 among them, endeared himself to every one ; they 
 were accordingly rejoiced at receiving the consoling 
 news of his perseverance. The Rev. Father, in par- 
 ticular, was diffuse in heartfelt thanks to the great 
 Giver of all good, and was convinced that the great 
 trials he was undergoing were to be looked upon as 
 the most indubitable proofs of vocation. He found 
 the means of having conveyed to him some letters, 
 destined to give him strength in his difficulties. We 
 are happy to have it in our power to- lay before the 
 readers one of these letters; the more so, as it
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPURAIM. lOo 
 
 depicts to the life the soul of this worthy Su- 
 perior. 
 
 " Aiguebelle, March IStli, 1838. 
 
 My very dear Son in Jesus Christ, 
 
 I return thanks to God for the good senti- 
 ments He maintains in your heart ; indeed, it would 
 be impossible for me to express all that I have felt 
 since your departure from the house of the Lord. I 
 have recommended you to the prayers of our fervent 
 religious, and of your excellent brother-novices, all 
 of whom have been much afflicted at your separation 
 from them. Yesterday (Saturday) I applied the Holy 
 Mass for you, and have oflfered it in honor of the 
 Blessed Virgin, who, I am confident, will soon bring 
 you back to this house. I do not let a day pass 
 without recommending you to God, because I am 
 almost certain of your vocation ; indeed, one should 
 be very blind not to see a miracle of Divine Grace, in 
 your assumption of the religious habit. You confess, 
 that you were somewhat weak in yielding to the 
 wishes of your relations : Jesus Christ, it is true, did 
 not descend from the cross to console his mother, 
 whom he left all alone in the hands of strangers. . . . 
 But be of good cheer ; we will keep our hands up- 
 lifted towards heaven, until our dear brother triumph 
 over his enemies, and re-enter the citadel. The Holy 
 Mother of God has never yet refused me anything I 
 prayed for, conducive to the honor of her Son. She 
 has given me the sweet confidence that her servant. 
 Brother Maria Ephraim, shall not perish. I shall 
 offer on every Saturday the Holy Sacrifice of the 
 17
 
 194 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 Mass for you, until your return ; for return you will, 
 I feel almost certain." 
 
 Letters such as this, filled the heart of Vincent 
 with new ardor ; he sighed for the moment that he 
 would be disengaged from the ties that bound him, 
 his heart unceasingly being borne towards Aiguebelle, 
 as towards its centre. At last, he could contain him- 
 self no longer ; he had now passed nearly two months 
 at Perpignan, — a little more than half the time his 
 relations had requested : he decided then to address 
 himself to his father, and earnestly beg his permission 
 to follow in the way the Lord Himself had marked 
 out for him. The good Mons. Ferrer was well aware, 
 that the hopes of being able to retain him, were falla- 
 cious ; for the life his son led since his return to the 
 paternal roof, made him clearly see, that that gene- 
 rous and devoted soul was not fit for the world, whose 
 ways he so much detested. He durst not, there- 
 fore, go against the designs of God, by opposing 
 any longer the pious desires of his son: he simply 
 requested a delay of a few more days. Vincent, 
 who did not expect so propitious an answer to 
 his petition, gave thanks to the Author of all good, 
 and secretly made preparations for his new de- 
 parture. 
 
 That day was now fast approaching. Vincent 
 could not restrain his joy at seeing himself in pos- 
 session of the holy liberty of the true children of God ; 
 he experienced, however, some fear from other con- 
 siderations. Being an affectionate and respectful 
 son ; an excellent brother ; he was troubled by the 
 grief of a beloved father; by the sorrow of a sister
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 195 
 
 whom he excessively loved. It would certainly be 
 entertaining a false notion of saints, to consider them 
 as beings apart, of a different nature from our own, 
 and strangers to all natural affections, or weakness, 
 as it is sometimes called; but which, nevertheless, 
 binds men among themselves, as members of one 
 body, children of one father, citizens of the same 
 country, when it is consecrated by virtue. Religion, 
 far from condemning, strengthens and purifies the 
 sentiments of our heart; it shows us a Man-God 
 weeping on the tomb of his friend Lazarus, in order 
 to teach us how to sanctifv our tears, when lawful 
 tenderness and just grief cause them to flow. Let us 
 not then be surprised that Vincent was a prey to the 
 unutterable bitterness that comes sometimes to tor- 
 ture the heart of man. To reach God, he was obliged 
 to put in practice the terrifying advice of the inflexi- 
 ble solitary of Bethlehem. His ears were unceasingly 
 ringing with these words of the Gospel, " Whoever 
 loves father and mother more than me, is not worthy 
 of me." Saint Chrysostom passed through a similar 
 ordeal, when a love of solitude was about to snatch 
 him from the arms of his virtuous and affectionate 
 mother, who, leading him to the place of his birth, 
 had accosted him in the most heart-rending accents 
 of grief. Vincent, too, at the moment of departure, 
 was assailed by two contrary affections : — the natural 
 love due to his relations, and the obedience due to 
 the voice of God, so manifestly speaking to his con- 
 science ; that powerful voice that nothing can resist, 
 and that cries out to him to abandon the roof that 
 received him at his birth, and everything he holds
 
 196 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 
 
 dearest in the world, in order to follow Jesus Christ. 
 The poor father prayed, conjured his son to have 
 compassion upon him ; in tears, he entwined him in 
 his arms, and pressing him to his heart, spoke in a 
 tone of lamentation: "My son," said he, " why do 
 you wish to abandon me ? Alas ! my dear Vincent, 
 why do you wish to leave me." His sister and cousin 
 clung to his knees, and raised a cry that went to his 
 very heart. What a cruel moment for such a son as 
 Vincent ! A frightful conflict of thoughts and senti- 
 ments horribly tormented his soul ; it was so hard for 
 him to be obliged to divest himself thus of all the 
 most pleasing and the most lawful affections of nature ! 
 it was so killing to ^him to be obliged to sacrifice all 
 his tenderness towards a father and a sister so ten- 
 derly loved, and so worthy of being so ! But, on the 
 other hand, the will of God, calling him far from his 
 family, was so manifest ! He was, however, obliged 
 to pronounce the terrible and decisive word that cut 
 off all farther hope, if they still entertained any, of 
 being able to turn him off from his determination. 
 Then, indeed, Vincent trembled in all his limbs; 
 frightful convulsions took possession of his faculties ; 
 nevertheless, his courage sustains him to the end; 
 and he has afterwards confessed, that this last was 
 the greatest temptation he had ever undergone, 
 and that he would have unavoidably succumbed, 
 were he not assisted by a special grace from on 
 high. Immediately after this glorious but ter- 
 rible victory, he made his escape from his father's 
 house, and without bidding adieu to any one, he 
 quits Perpignan, and takes the road to Aiguebelle.
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 197 
 
 It is thus that, after having renounced, for the 
 love of God, riches, pleasures, and all the seduc- 
 tive enchantments of the world; for the love of 
 God also, he leaves father, sister, relations, friends 
 and country. 
 17^
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 ANSWERS TO SOME ERUONEOUS NOTIONS ENTERTAINED OF, AND TO 
 SOME FALSE ACCUSATIONS MADE AGAINST, TEE COMMUNITIES AND 
 BROTHERHOOD OF LA TRAPPE. 
 
 Whilst our young novice is prosecuting his journey 
 back to his monastery, let us be permitted to lose 
 sight of him for a while, whilst we examine some few 
 of the erroneous notions entertained of the monastic 
 life in general, and of that of La Trappe in particular, 
 and which have been made use of as arguments, in 
 order to turn Vincent from his intention of conse- 
 crating himself to the service of God. We do this 
 the more willingly, whereas such prejudices are widely 
 spread among people of the world, who bring them 
 forward on all occasions, in order to villify and blacken 
 a respectable state, and to devote to contempt, or, at 
 least, to pity, a class of men that deserves esteem and 
 admiration, ^e will examine separately each accu- 
 sation : may we be able to enlighten our readers 
 thereon, and communicate to them our own con- 
 victions, or, at least, cause them to be more just in 
 their conclusions. 
 
 "The Trappists," they assert, "are an unhappy 
 race of beings, whom a moment of mistaken fervor 
 had induced to bow their necks to a yoke of iron ; 
 they are, for the most part, slaves, abhorring their 
 chains, and are retained in such an unnatural state of 
 life only by the impossibility of dissolving the sacred 
 tie, or by the despotic ascendency of the directors of 
 (198)
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 109 
 
 their conscience." This first accusation properly con- 
 tains two : 1st, The Trappists bind themselves in a 
 moment of mistaken fervor ; 2nd, They are an un- 
 happy race of beings, &c. 
 
 FIRST ACCUSATION. 
 The Trappists bind themselves in a moment of mistaken fervor. 
 
 It is easy to perceive how false and full of calumny 
 this first accusation is, when we reflect upon the 
 severe trials to which Vincent was subjected, when 
 first he asked admission to the noviciate at Aiguebelle, 
 and if we follow the frightful scries of painful usages 
 which follow in that course of life he desired to em- 
 brace ; usages, surely, that are rather fitted to repel 
 any aspirant, than to inspire him with enthusiasm. 
 But these are not the only precautions which a 
 superior, who is himself deeply interested in the kind 
 of subjects he has to govern, puts in practice, in order 
 not to incorporate in his congregation any but mem- 
 bers who give evidence of being called by God. 
 After his reception, the young novice is confided to 
 the care of one of the professed and long-tried fathers, 
 called the Master of Novices, whose duty it is to ex- 
 plain to him the rule under which he is to fight, and 
 the engagements he is going to contract. lie ex- 
 plains to him all its extent, and all its austerities, 
 many times a week. The novice himself, during his 
 year of noviceship, is frequently called upon in full 
 chapter, to renew his solemn petition of being re- 
 ceived; he is warned, each time that he is thus called 
 upon, that he is yet free, and at full liberty to re- 
 tract, without any conscientious scruples ; but that
 
 200 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 ■when the last step is taken, that is, when he has made 
 a solemn profession, he is then irretrievably bound for 
 life. At the same time, the rule obliges the superior 
 to exercise the novice in all sorts of humiliations, in 
 season and out of season; such are the words of the 
 rule. In every community, be it ever so small, there 
 are always some duties and offices fatiguing and 
 humiliating ; it is to the novices, and to the choir- 
 novices more especially, such employments are com- 
 mitted. After having passed through these diflferent 
 trials, the novice is not even then admitted to pro- 
 fession until all the community, assembled in a kind 
 of conclave and by secret scrutiny, give their votes 
 in his favor ; and he himself, unsolicited by any one, 
 demands the privilege of pronouncing his vows. Now, 
 we ask in all candor, is such a manner of proceeding 
 likely to lead to legerity of purpose and mistaken 
 fervor ? and more especially, when it is considered, 
 that he who thus binds himself, is not authorized to 
 do so, until he has entered his twenty-first year, when 
 he is the most capable, through maturity of under- 
 standing, to form a judgment of his own proceedings, 
 and when, so far from following the impulses of 
 nature, he has most frequently to contend against the 
 most violent opposition, and trample upon the voice 
 of his passions and of his natural ajQfections ! Would 
 to God that such precautions were used by men of 
 the world, when about to engage in occupations not 
 less dangerous, certainly, and much more liable to 
 bitter and frequent regrets !
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 201 
 
 SECOND ACCUSATION. 
 The Trappista arc unhappy hcinrju. 
 
 And people living in the turmoil of the world dare 
 make use of such language ! Are such people capa- 
 ble of judging in such a matter ? or, do thej know 
 what happiness really is, to be competent judges of 
 the method of finding it ? Alas ! were it permitted 
 to examine the folds of the human heart, what wretch- 
 edness would be seen accompanying souls tormented 
 by the pursuits of ambition, of glory, of riches, and 
 even of science ! What an abundant source of chagrin, 
 solicitude, and desolating disappointments would we 
 discover in the lives of soldiers, merchants, and of those 
 who give themselves up to the cultivation of letters, 
 were we only disposed to examine them attentively ! 
 And if we compare such a manner of living with the 
 consolation, tranquillity and undisturbed peace of 
 mind enjoyed by the humble inhabitant of the cloister ; 
 oh ! how often would we be led to exclaim : Better is 
 the peaceful life of the "modest and humble Trappist ! 
 On the other hand, if from the life of the public man, 
 or of the man whose existence is bound up with 
 society, we pass to that of the private individual, who 
 seems to have no other solicitude than the care of his 
 domestic aifairs, we need not go very far to be as- 
 sured that even the best regulated families are not 
 always exempt from chagrin and trouble. Yes, the 
 sentiment of the holy patriarch, Job, has been, and 
 always will be, verified, " Man born of woman lives 
 but a short time, yet this life, short as it is, is fraught 
 with miseries: in all places, egotism, ambition and
 
 202 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 
 
 vanity divide the human heart." If it were true, then, 
 that we could shelter ourselves from such storms in 
 any place upon earth, this place, it may be reason- 
 ably supposed, should be the calm monastic retreat, 
 and in the midst of the tranquil life of its peace- 
 able inhabitants. And, truly, there exist among them 
 none of those excitements we have just mentioned ; 
 equality in the relations of life, the same interests, 
 the happiness of living in common, everything, in fine, 
 tends to strengthen their union and peace. In the 
 world, on the contrary, opposite interests are the 
 cause of disunion ; whilst rival virtues only tend to 
 unite more closely those men, whom the spirit of God 
 assembles from different countries, from different con- 
 ditions and from diiferent employments ; and who 
 have only one prominent desire, — that of forgetting 
 all passing and past events, in order to give them- 
 selves up wholly to God, and to religious truths that 
 can never pass away. A man frequently goes through 
 life, without ever having met with a friend ; we mean, 
 a true and disinterested friend ; he may pass his days 
 in afilictions and calamities, unassisted by the men 
 who surround him, and creating no sympathy in their 
 bosoms. It is not thus in the holy solitude of La 
 Trappe ; each religious has as many friends as he has 
 brothers in religion, for they are all one family, de- 
 voted and ready to sacrifice themselves for one an- 
 other, having everything in common, and the bond 
 that unites them gaining strength from their charity 
 being an emanation of the divine love, to which, as to 
 a common centre, all their words, thoughts and ac- 
 tions have a tendency. The poor humble religious
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 203 
 
 that exclaimed, after a day of labor and penance, 
 " My God, I know not, if you are satisfied with me, 
 but I am perfectly satisfied with you," may serve as 
 an example of the holy joy inseparable from a retired 
 and penitential life. Indeed, the voice'of the passions 
 being stilled by penance, austerities have also their 
 own enjoyments, and the God whom they seek after, 
 will never hide himself from his servants, or forget 
 them. 
 
 But our sole authority to establish the happiness 
 of the religious state, would, by itself, be of little con- 
 sequence ; we can, however, support it by the autho- 
 rity of others also. Among the many illustrious 
 testimonies we could bring forward, we will cite only 
 two : these, we trust, will be found sufficient and 
 competent, both having drunk of the two cups : — that 
 of the world and the one of religious solitude. They 
 both performed an active part in the world, and are 
 therefore more capable of forming a just estimate of 
 it ; both, also, before the end of their mortal career, 
 took refuge from worldly concerns in the bosom of 
 solitude, and are therefore able to speak from experi- 
 ence of the comparative merits of the two states. 
 
 Our first testimony, then, shall be that of Mons. 
 Clausel de Coussergues, member of the illustrious 
 family of that name, known to such advantage by the 
 whole of France, and also brother of the present 
 bishop of Chartres. He was for many years a dis- 
 tinguished officer in the military service of his 
 country, nor did he quit that service, until the peace 
 had rendered his services unnecessary. Talented, and 
 educated in accordance with his birth, he, in the
 
 204 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 prime of life, after having experienced the pleasures 
 of a life of luxury and refinement, and at an age 
 when he could still be beloved and sought for by the 
 Avorld, broke oif all connection with it, in order to em- 
 brace the monastic profession. He declares that he 
 is happy, perfectly happy under a Trappist habit ; in 
 all his letters, he repeats that solitude is more agree- 
 able to' him than the noble and select society to 
 which his rank in the world gave him free access. 
 
 " I am perfectly contented in my state of life," 
 says he, in one of his letters, " nor have I suifered the 
 slightest attack of sickness, nor experienced any other 
 trouble since my arrival at La Trappe, than a little 
 cold in the morning, when going to labor in the 
 fields. The rule is severe, but the superiors are 
 charity itself. Indeed, people accuse our Father 
 Abbot of being too good ; I do not find that a great 
 defect, and if it is, it is surely a holy one. . . . With- 
 out ever speaking, the brothers are full of friendship 
 for one another ; if any one become relaxed in his 
 religious duties, or in the observance of the rule, all 
 are sorry for him, he is prayed for, and p,dvised with 
 the greatest mildness. 
 
 The season of Lent is the most austere time : when 
 I entered the monastery, it was at that season ; I did 
 as the couriers, who are at first exercised by wearing 
 leaden soles to their shoes. 
 
 Every evening after Complins, all assemble at the 
 sound of the bell to sing the Salve Regina. The sing- 
 ing lasts a quarter of an hour ; it is very beautifulj 
 and sufficient of itself to refresh one from all the 
 fatigues of the day. The more one suffers for the
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MAllIA EPHRAIM. 205 
 
 love of God, the happier he is in the thought of rcach- 
 ino- heaven at last : he rejoices whilst reflecting that 
 *the life of man is but as the flower of the field.' 
 This is one of the advantages of a reli- 
 gious life, that everything which announces the tomb 
 and a speedy dissolution, causes as much joy in that 
 state as it does of sadness in the world. There is no 
 beggar so badly fed as we are, and yet there cannot 
 be found one of us who would exchange his miserable 
 condition for an empire. In this world, inevitable 
 death hastens to make no distinction between the 
 emperor and the monk ; both depart, each taking with 
 him only his past works : the monk rejoices to have 
 sown in the midst of tears ; days of evil are passed, 
 days of eternal joy succeed. 
 
 I saw one of our brothers die. Ah ! if you knew 
 the consolation experienced at the moment of death ! 
 the triumph over death itself! Our Reverend Father 
 Abbot asked him: Well, my dear brother, are you 
 now sorry to have suffered some little ? I confess, to 
 my shame, that I felt an inward desire of dying, like 
 those cowardly soldiers that demand their discharge 
 before their term of service has expired." 
 
 We will add to the foregoing satisfactory evidence 
 another, from the experience of Mens. Charles Saul- 
 nier de Beauregard ; a man of an illustrious Burgun- 
 dian family, who had been a doctor of Sorbonne, and 
 who has lately died, whilst superior of the monastery 
 of La Trappe of Melleray : it is an extract from a 
 letter he wrote to his family : 
 
 " I must needs affirm, my dear father, that the 
 past six years, during which I have had the happiness 
 18
 
 206 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 of being a religious, have been, in every way and 
 without any comparison, the sweetest moments of my 
 life, although I can lay no claim to the virtues of the 
 good and holy brothers that have deigned to admit 
 me into their community. Among them I live in 
 contentment ; I see years pass over my head with 
 astonishing rapidity. I have not had, during my 
 noviciate, one sole moment of disgust or mental anxiety 
 on account of my condition, and since I have had the 
 happiness of pronouncing my vows, that condition 
 has become more and more dear to me, and I would 
 not change it for all that the world possesses most 
 pleasing and delicious. Do not for this suppose me 
 far advanced in perfection. Oh, no ! I am the last 
 of my brothers on that score. All are happy and 
 content. That penance whose exterior offers to the 
 eyes of the world nothing but what is austere and re- 
 pulsive, is, in itself, full of consolation and sweetness. 
 Crucem vident, unctionem non vident : the world only 
 sees the punishment, it is blind to the pleasures. 
 Penacne is like an orange, the rind of which only is 
 bitter. I am, nevertheless, in as good health, not- 
 withstanding our fasts, and wretched food, and in as 
 good spirits, notwithstanding our rigorous silence, as 
 you had ever known me. But this is not all ; for in 
 the midst of all the pleasures held out to me by the 
 world, I felt their insuflSciency ; I was forced to see 
 the contrast between what I really was, and what I 
 ought to be, and that reflection poisoned every mo- 
 ment of my life. Here, miserable though I be, no 
 trouble pursues me, and the confidence I have in 
 God's infinite mercy, inclines me rather to desire
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPURAIM. 207 
 
 than to dread the end of my life. Everything I so 
 long idolized — riches, ambition, science ; all these 
 things now appear to me but as folly and children's 
 play-things. IIow good God has been towards me ! 
 I have now but one desire, but it is a very lively and 
 sincere one ; it is, to find myself, after some years, re- 
 united in heaven to all I held most dear upon earth." 
 Finally, we shall say to those who compassionate so 
 much the lot of the Trappists : that these good 
 religious do not quit their solitude, where they are 
 employed in prayer, in manual exercises and in works 
 of charity, in order to come and disturb your false 
 happiness, of which they are nowise envious, but 
 which, on the contrary, they consider visionary and 
 miserable. Permit, then, some privileged beings to 
 free themselves from the trammels of the body, and 
 from the miseries of human nature, in order to live 
 upon earth the life of angels. Fear not that the 
 number of these creatures of election shall ever be- 
 come very considerable : the Trappists certainly will 
 never depopulate the world I 
 
 THIRD ACCUSATION. 
 
 La Trappe, it is continually repeated, is the lot of bruised and crushed 
 
 hearts only. 
 
 What man, in other respects respectable, and to 
 whose opinion we are willing to render public homage ; 
 what man, I say, of that description has ever dared 
 to assert, that " an unhappy physical and moral con- 
 dition alone can induce any one to bury himself alive 
 in penitential solitude?" The Lord, it is true, whose 
 ways are incomprehensible, often makes use of some
 
 208 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 worldly mishap for weaning from the world and for 
 inspiring to embrace the monastic state, those whom 
 he has already chosen as his elect. Thus, Saint Paul, 
 the first hermit, was thrust into the desert through 
 the perfidy of a relation ; a sensation of cowardice 
 conducted Saint Arsenius to the same place ; the 
 blessed Peter Gonzales, being ashamed of having been 
 publicly thrown from his horse into a ditch, conse- 
 crated himself to God in the order of Saint Domi- 
 nick. Thomas Pound, having accidentally fallen down, 
 whilst dancing at a court-ball, and the queen having 
 addressed to him the insulting words, " Get up, you 
 ox," forsook the world, and went to die holily in a 
 monastery. Saint Liguori, in consequence of a repri- 
 mand received, whilst an advocate at the Neapolitan 
 bar, consecrates himself forever to the service of the 
 altar. These and thousands of other such instances, 
 if they could be produced, so far from invalidating 
 the common rule, strengthen it, on the contrary ; 
 whereas, by events fortuitous in appearance. Provi- 
 dence furnished a favorable opportunity of developing 
 and determining vocations, which had long before 
 existed. But let there be no mistake : one must be 
 truly called by God, to live as a Trappist ; he must 
 have a solid vocation. A sudden caprice may lead 
 him to become a monk, but cannot make him per- 
 severe for a long time, as a second caprice will very 
 probably counteract the first. This accounts for the 
 very large number of postulants at our monasteries, 
 and also, for the very small number of those who 
 remain to make a solemn profession.
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 209 
 
 FOURTH ACCUSATION. 
 
 Monasteries are places of refuge, or, as a certain loritcr of no little cele- 
 brity has styled them, they are a sort of religious penitentiaries, to which 
 great sinners and great criminals fy for asylum and protection. 
 
 By no means. La Trappe does not hide within its 
 peaceful and silent cloisters men that, covered all 
 over with heinous crimes, avoid the notice of society. 
 By no means will it be found true, that great crimi- 
 nals alone are the inhabitants of this retreat ; crimi- 
 nals that constantly invoke the mercy of heaven, and 
 despair to obtain it. No ! too much calm and serenity 
 beam in the countenances of the children of Saint 
 Bernard, to make it credible that those who sing the 
 psalms of David with so much feelmg, and whose eyes 
 sparkle with so holy a joy, have their hearts inces- 
 santly tortured, their consciences always stung by old 
 shameful remembrances. The desire of a more severe 
 penance, it is true, conducts to this retreat some 
 persons wishing to atone for a life of dissipation and 
 moral weakness : it is also true, that, under the habit 
 of a Trappist, there beat timid and repentant hearts, 
 that holily exaggerate the heinousness of their own 
 faults, and piously believe that they can never satisfy 
 the divine justice. But the greater number is made 
 up of those innocent souls which the breath of vice 
 had never sullied ; of those pure doves that live already 
 in heaven ; of young people umvilling to expose them- 
 selves to the stormy sea of the world, so fertile in 
 wrecks ; of old men who wish to halt before the end 
 of the short journey of life, and to amass some good 
 works to offer to Him, who, at the last day, shall ask 
 an account of our actions, of our thoughts, and of our 
 18*
 
 210 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 most trivial words. Some of these were soldiers, accus- 
 tomed to obedience and to sacrifice of life, who have now 
 enlisted in the army of the Lord, in His elect Guard, 
 sure of attaining the first rank, if they wish ; for under 
 the appearance of men miserable and voluntarily poor, 
 there may be easily discovered proud characters, inde- 
 pendent souls, and hearts of tried courage : many of 
 them have been proved through a series of campaigns, 
 and by certain brave achievements that obtained for 
 them national recompenses. Some, again, were sailors, 
 whom continual exposure to death fashioned to have a 
 contempt for life, and who wish to reach heaven, the 
 harbor of everlasting safety. There may be found 
 others, who, after filling various public ofiices, and 
 feeling the nothingness of human things, desire no 
 longer to command, but to obey. Finally, there may 
 be found pious priests, who Avere formerly the edifi- 
 cation of a seminary, but who, fearing the dangers of 
 the sacred ministry, in the midst of a corrupt world, 
 aspire to a more holy life, and wish to consecrate 
 themselves to God without reserve; or, perhaps, 
 having exercised for many years the noble functions 
 of the priesthood, they now have ascended the holy 
 Mountain, to lift up their hands with Moses, after 
 having borne arms in the plain with Joshua ! Such 
 pious and generous ministers are of opinion, that it is 
 perhaps more glorious to imitate Jesus Christ in his 
 life of suffering, obscurity and prayer, than to follow 
 him in his apostolic career, in which he finds the most 
 imitators.
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM, 211 
 
 FIFTH ACCUSATION. 
 The Trappists are people vselesa to society. 
 
 The most moderate enemies of the religious com- 
 munities treat them as useless members of society. 
 They, doubtlessly, did not mean to say that they lead 
 an idle life, because all religious, and more especially 
 the Trappists, are continually occupied during the day, 
 and during a great part of the night ; indeed, they 
 take no other relaxation than what a transition from 
 one employment to another affords. But, they say, 
 these are only exercises of contemplation, in which 
 society is no way interested. You deceive yourselves, 
 whoever you be that permit yourselves to hold such 
 an opinion : for, in the first place, if the religious of 
 La Trappe sing the praises of the Lord, if they give 
 themselves up to the holy ardor of prayer, they dedi- 
 cate to it that time which the rest of mankind give to 
 repose, and which a great number waste in trifling, 
 and, perhaps, in sinful practices. 
 
 Secondly, they deceive themselves, who imagine that 
 the good works and the pious austerities of holy men 
 are useless to the rest of society. We direct our 
 appeal to Christians only, who are of the faith : well, 
 then, we ask them, is it not from on high that pros- 
 perity comes to man ? That favorable seasons, that 
 fecundating dews come? Are these advantages 
 bestowed on man through the potency of bis own 
 efforts ; or are they not rather bestowed through the 
 humble supplications and the penitent life of a few 
 just souls ? A tradition, founded upon a revelation 
 worthy of being believed, certifies that Saint Theresa, 
 without issuing from the precincts of her cloister, con-
 
 212 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 verted by her prayers as many souls as Saint Francis 
 Xavier, after all his peregrinations through Judea and 
 Tapon. We are passing through days of evil ; we are 
 this long time on the eve of great catastrophies ; the 
 crimes of all kinds of which unhappy France has been, 
 and still continues to be, the theatre, provoke the 
 anger of the Almighty ; something, nevertheless, 
 seems to stay the arm of an avenging God, already 
 raised to punish us : this something is, there can be 
 no doubt, the religious communities ; those noble and 
 pious souls have hitherto appeased the gathering storm, 
 and offered themselves as holocausts on the altar of 
 the Lord, and as victims to assuage his just anger. 
 In former days, Sodom would have obtained pardon, 
 had she but a small number of just souls within her 
 gates. Who can be sure that France does not owe 
 her preservation to the pious cenobites scattered here 
 and there through the land? Let us call to mind the 
 immense number of prophecies, true or false, which 
 inundated France a few years ago, and which always 
 revealed a species of general terror as seizing upon the 
 imagination, on the very subject we have just named ; 
 that is, the impending punishment for the crimes of 
 the people. Even those who professed to give no 
 credence to what they styled "foolish rhapsodies," 
 and "old women's vagaries," only adapted to frighten 
 the weak-minded and superstitious, could not help 
 feeling their minds disturbed, and some degree of 
 alarm in their souls. The greater number of these 
 prophecies was doubtlessly divested of the character- 
 istics of true prophecy, but there were some few of
 
 LIFE OF FATnER MARIA EPHRAIM. 213 
 
 them ^vhich it would be at least imprudent to reject 
 Tvith disdain. 
 
 In former days, the Lord sent a prophet to the 
 city of Nineveh, announcing its approaching destruc- 
 tion. Nineveh was not destroyed for that time, 
 because the Lord had laid down a condition " if the 
 inhabitants would not repent." In like manner, the 
 scourges with which France was threatened, have been 
 perhaps mitigated by the fasting, the prayers, and 
 the penances exercised for this intention by pious per- 
 sons in every condition of life; and more especially, 
 by those living in monasteries. Selfishness certainly 
 is not the ruling vice of La Trappe ; the religious 
 endeavor there, it is true, to expiate their own faults, 
 and to insure themselves the mercy of God; but 
 they interest themselves also in the salvation of their 
 neighbors and of their friends : they pray for the 
 whole world, but in a special manner for their own 
 country. They often place themselves between the ves- 
 tibule and the altar, and supplicate the God of mercy 
 to have compassion on his people, and not to cast upon 
 the culpable the bolts of his anger : Parce^ Domine, 
 parce ijoijulotuo, ne in aeternum irascai'is 7iohis ; 
 " Spare, Lord, spare thy people ; he not forever 
 angry with us," is their constant prayer. Their whole 
 life is a continued expiation, but they redouble their 
 zeal in the seasons consecrated to penance. Would 
 that those who so benevolently declare themselves 
 their opponents, were witnesses of their afiecting 
 ceremonies during the holy season of Lent ! Their 
 disdain and hatred would be changed into sentiments 
 of respect and admiration, and, perhaps, of gratitude
 
 214 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 
 
 also! On the first day of Lent, Ash- Wednesday, 
 when the opening of the penitential season is pro- 
 claimed to the rest of the world by the imposition of 
 ashes, they also advance to this ceremony, which is at 
 the same time the commencement for them of more 
 austere observances. The religious advance slowly, 
 two by two, barefooted, and with doAvncast eyes ; the 
 voice of song is suppressed, their arms hang down by 
 their sides, and the wide sleeves of their cowls dangle 
 about their bodies. When arrived at the altar, suc- 
 cessively and with a profound inclination, they pros- 
 trate themselves one after another at the feet of their 
 Reverend Father Abbot, in whom they venerate the 
 representative of the Divinity. The abbot then im- 
 prints on their large tonsures in characters of ashes 
 the sentence of their approaching dissolution ; it is a 
 sentence of death pronounced on the dead, since they 
 had already renounced all the advantages of life. 
 They are not, therefore, much troubled with the 
 terrors which the thoughts of death naturally suggest, 
 but they groan in spirit for the many sinners in the 
 world, who live as if they were never to die, and as 
 if this earth was their final resting-place. 
 
 This is only the prelude of their numerous acts of 
 penance during this holy season. Every Friday, the 
 day especially set apart for "still more painful prac- 
 tices, they go in solemn procession through the clois- 
 ters, whilst singing the seven penitential psalms. On 
 these days they fast on bread and water, taking, as 
 has been already mentioned, only one meal about 
 sunset on the other days, in conformity with the 
 custom of the Christians of the primitive church.
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA ErilRAIM. 215 
 
 Their intentions, even in fasting and praying, are 
 directed according to the will of the Superior. At 
 one time, their fasts and mortifications are offered for 
 the wants of the Church; at another time, for the 
 maintenance of peace, and for the preservation and 
 spread of the Gospel ; sometimes, for the peculiar 
 wants of particular families; and not unfrequentlj, 
 for obtaining the blessing of Heaven upon whole 
 states and people : their fellow-creatures, in fine, are 
 always remembered and made partakers of their good 
 works. On Holy Thursday, in imitation of the 
 humility of our Divine Redeemer, they assemble 
 around them in their monasteries crowds of the poor ; 
 they wash their feet, and distribute to each one a 
 piece of money ; they then serve them at table, and 
 dismiss them, after having presented to each a loaf 
 of bread. The Superior, also, on this day, Avashes 
 the feet of his brothers in religion, and every Satur- 
 day in the year, the religious practise mutually to- 
 wards one another this act of brotherly love. 
 
 On Good Friday, they seem as if wishing to obtain 
 from Heaven by a holy violence the pardon of sinners. 
 After having during several hours sung the ofiice of 
 the night, all disappear about four O'clock in the 
 morning. We are not permitted to follow them into 
 the secret recesses to which they betake themselves : 
 God alone is witness of the holy rigors they exercise 
 upon their bodies. They soon reappear, with gravity 
 in their features, and all barefoot, in which state they 
 continue all the day. To be able to fully appreciate 
 such penitents, one should see them at such seasons, 
 for it is impossible to describe them. They should
 
 216 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 be seen during the long and fervent recitation of the 
 whole Psalter, Avhich they chaunt without taking time 
 to recruit their exhausted strength, and also during 
 the striking ceremony of the adoration of the Holy 
 Cross. 
 
 Independently of these particular seasons, the Rev- 
 erend Abbot, from time to time, assigns to such and 
 such religious a special object, to which all their pious 
 exercises are to be directed. Now it is the conver- 
 sion of a certain number of sinners, that they are to 
 obtain from God ; at another time, the prosperous 
 issue of some undertaking conducive to the glory of 
 God, and the happiness of the people. There is, at 
 this moment, affixed to the door of the chapter-room 
 a catalogue, in which all the religious of the monas- 
 tery are distributed by series, and to each series i-s 
 committed a particular intention, with which they are 
 to chiefly occupy themselves in their prayers. Thus, 
 the first series are charged with soliciting the blessing 
 of heaven upon the bishops, the parish-priests, and 
 upon the different religious communities ; the second, 
 with imploring the grace of God upon all persons con- 
 stituted in authority, whether civil or military ; and 
 in this way, the others have different objects assigned 
 to their special prayers : indeed, as has been already 
 mentioned, their neighbors are always partakers of 
 the works of piety practised by the Trappists. 
 
 There are certain epochs of the year more espe- 
 cially set aside by the world for dissipation of all kinds, 
 for parties of pleasure, and for profligacy. Oh ! how 
 sublime is the devotion of the Trappist at that time, 
 humbling himself and praying for the conversion of
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA El'IIRAIM. 217 
 
 sinners ; and how still more sublime is that devotion, 
 when, in the midnight darkness, — the very time 
 chosen by profligates and libertines for the celebra- 
 tion of their hideous orgies and detestable disorders, — 
 the solitai-y Trappist, with his brethren, solitaries like 
 himself, whilst all nature, except the vicious and 
 evilly inclined, is in a state of repose, lifts up towards 
 heaven his pure and innocent hands, imploring grace 
 and pardon ! 
 
 Besides the stated hours of prayer and spiritual 
 exercises, the Trappist has also portions of his time 
 not thus employed, and which he is far from passing 
 in idleness. In proof of which, it may be suflicient 
 to say, that one of the principal obligations of a dis- 
 ciple of St. Benedict is to live by the labor of his 
 hands ; and he fulfils that duty, as he does all others, 
 with ardor and exactness. 
 
 There are various trades and manufactures carried 
 on in the monastery at Aiguebelle, — the one with 
 which we are best acquainted ; but the same may be 
 found in the other monasteries of the order, since they 
 are all conducted on the same principle. In the 
 aforesaid monastery, there are two mills adapted for 
 the preparation of the diflerent kinds of grain. There 
 is also a factory for the manufacture of various quali- 
 ties of cloth, cotton and woollen, from the raw ma- 
 terial. From the factory, the cloth is transferred to 
 the tailor establishment, in which a sufficient number 
 of workmen, all belonging to the religious community, 
 are continually employed in making the clothes of 
 the other members. In this establishment are also 
 made and repaired the ornaments and robes of the 
 19
 
 218 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 church, and from which many of the secular clergy- 
 are also supplied. There are, in addition, workshops 
 for shoemakers, book-binders, printers, engravers, 
 &c. ; not to mention a very large one for baking 
 bread for the community. There are, besides, different 
 works in wood carried on ; the sawyers, carpenters, 
 cabinet-makers, wagon-makers, plough-makers, &c., 
 being all, like the others, brothers in the community. 
 The turners also form a not unimportant item in the 
 list of mechanics; indeed, their utility in the monas- 
 tery will be duly appreciated, when we consider that 
 the greater part of the domestic vessels is made of 
 turned wood, and turned ; as also are the candlesticks 
 and many of the ornaments of the altar. There are 
 also many workmen in iron, such as horse-shoers, black- 
 smiths, locksmiths, cutlers, &c. Some of the brothers 
 are masons ; others, stonecutters ; some, again, are tin- 
 ners, and some coopers. In fine, almost every useful 
 trade has its peculiar workshop and followers within 
 the cloisters of La Trappe. The leather for the use 
 of the community, is there tanned and prepared from 
 the raw hide ; the wax needed for the celebration of 
 the divine mysteries is obtained from the numerous 
 bee-hives, which one or more of the brothers attend 
 to, with as much care as skill. Silkworms are also 
 raised in some of the monasteries, and the silk pro- 
 duced forms no small addition to their revenues. 
 Many of the religious are well skilled in veterinary 
 surgery. There is always in every monastery a 
 pharmacy, well supplied with the best and most 
 necessary drugs, together with a botanical garden, 
 cultivated by a skilful botanist, whose peculiar duty
 
 LIFE OF fAtHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 219 
 
 it is to raise medicinal plants for the use of the 
 pharmacy. Many celebrated physicians, it is well 
 known, have taken refuge from the wiles of a deceit- 
 ful world in the solitude of La Trappe ; and at this 
 very time, there is now living, as an humble monk in 
 the monastery of Aiguebelle, one of the most learned 
 physicians of France. He is well known to the sur- 
 rounding country, and is expressly commanded by the 
 Rev. Abbot to visit the poor, who are sick and in- 
 firm, and who are unable to come to him. He sup- 
 plies them with medicine, and treats their maladies 
 with still greater care, because his payment is not 
 expected in this world. 
 
 All those not employed at the different trades, and 
 at the different employments of the monastery, are 
 engaged in agriculture : the details of their various 
 labors would lead us from our subject. Be it sufficient 
 to say, that the estate belonging to the monastery of 
 Aiguebelle consists of four hundred acres of land, 
 good and bad, portioned off into divers farms, and 
 that the religious cultivate it without any secular 
 assistance, except that of a few servants. The sale 
 of the superfluous produce is committed to the care 
 of one of the monks, styled "the Father Economist," 
 whose duty it is to superintend the temporal affairs 
 of the community. To his praise be it said, that the 
 lands are cultivated with as much ability as any other 
 lands in the country. 
 
 This slight sketch of the internal policy of monas- 
 teries will suffice, it is hoped, to do away with, in the 
 minds of the less obstinate, the false notion, " that 
 monks are useless beings." Monks useless beings !
 
 220 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 
 
 We may as well assert, that the working classes of 
 our mechanics, and the laboring cultivators of our 
 soil, are of no advantage to the rest of men ; that 
 society can have no interest in the astonishing results 
 of their mechanical proceedings, nor in the indispen- 
 sable productions of the land fertilized by their labor. 
 Monks useless beings ! Ask the truth of such an 
 assertion from the crowd of indigent and unhappy 
 wretches, who daily and hourly flock to the gates of 
 their monasteries : they can tell you, whether it is 
 useless for them to have their hunger appeased, and 
 their bodies protected from the inclemency of the 
 seasons. Ask it from the Parish-priests and Mayors 
 living in the neighborhood of their monasteries ; they 
 will tell you that the monks are the main support of 
 their indigent families, and that a simple attestation 
 from under their hands suffices to entitle the unfor- 
 tunate to the eleemosynary grants of the monastery. 
 Many of the religious are exclusively employed in the 
 service of the poor ; a separate kitchen, sleeping 
 rooms, and infirmary, are kept for their special use. 
 All, without exception, are charitably received ; no 
 questions are asked concerning their country or 
 religion ; tliey suffer, they are hungry ; such titles are 
 sufiicient to cause them to meet with the most afi"ec- 
 tionate reception. Their clothes, their shoes are 
 mended ; they are taken care of in sickness, nor are 
 they dismissed, until perpectly recovered, and able to 
 exert themselves for their own maintenance. Monks 
 useless beings ! It is not thus that they are judged 
 of by a multitude of persons of all ranks and condi- 
 tions, who, in the days of affliction, address them-
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM, 221 
 
 selves to the worthy Abbot of Aiguebclle, to implore 
 his prayers and those of his community, certain of 
 consolation through their intercession. One should 
 see, as vre ourselves have seen, the enormous number 
 of letters addressed to the superiors of La Trappe to 
 beg the intercession of the holy religious for the 
 aversion of threatened evils ; one should see also the 
 immense multitude of those who urgently beg to ob- 
 tain letters of affiliation, in wder to participate in the 
 good works of La Trappe ; many thousands of which 
 letters are granted every year. 
 
 SIXTH ACCUSATIOISr. 
 
 Some, icithout going so far as to accuse monks of being useless beings, con- 
 sider them, notwithstanding, as wretches voluntarili/ condemning them- 
 selves to undergo the tortures of a murderous rule. 
 
 We cannot say whether such accusers as these have 
 or have not a knowledge of the rule of Saint Benedict ; 
 but we can inform them that this admirable rule has 
 always passed as a chef-d'oeuvre of wisdom, and that 
 many of the wisest legislators have largely borrowed 
 from it, and sovereign pontiffs have approved of it. 
 Gregory the Great, in particular, commends it for its 
 excellence in a general Council, and the definitions of 
 that same Council loudly proclaim, " that it is most re- 
 markable for its moderation." Ever since the sixth 
 century, this religious code has constantly served as 
 basis to all the founders of order, upon which to 
 establish their constitutions, and duiung the period it 
 has made a multitude of saints. To say, at this late 
 day, that such a rule is murderous, would be to reverse 
 the order of ideas hitherto received, and to assert that 
 19*
 
 222 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 
 
 man has become degenerate, which would be an insult 
 to our glorious epoch, that has quite different pre- 
 tensions from those of believing itself an age of decline 
 and degeneracy. This rule, we confess, taken to the 
 letter, offers some difficulties for its exact observance ; 
 but it is not to procure for himself the delicacies of a 
 luxurious life, that the Christian enrolls himself under 
 its standard. Moderate, for a while, the excess of your 
 commiseration, you who are so concerned for the 
 health of the poor monks of La Trappe, whilst we call 
 your attention to a few considerations, which, we 
 fervently hope, may have due weight on your minds. 
 A regular life, a life free from passion and solici- 
 tude, a life that sweetly passes in the bosom of peace ; 
 is not such a life, we ask, peculiarly adapted to the 
 preservation of health ? The transition from one occu- 
 pation to another ; the transition that calls into exer- 
 cise the intellectual powers of the soul, and the 
 physical strength of the body, tends also, it must be 
 confessed, to the same result. On the other hand, 
 the diet made us of at La Trappe, the food prepared 
 in its natural state, consisting for the most part of 
 boiled herbs and pease-soup, and served up without 
 any mixture of spices, more or less hurtful to the con- 
 stitution ; is not all this, without mentioning the obli« 
 gatory absence of all excess, very conducive to a 
 healthy state of animal existence? Many tempera- 
 ments, more especially the nervous, experience re- 
 markable benefits from such a course of living. In 
 fine, is it not a principle of hygiene acknowledged by all 
 medical practitioners, that " appetite is the best di- 
 gestive?" And is the stomach ever better disposed
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 223 
 
 to perform its functions than when it is entirely dis- 
 embarrassed from the meats already taken ? This is 
 so true, that the Trappists, after taking more at one 
 meal than nature would permit them to take, were 
 they accustomed to two or three repasts in the day, 
 can give themselves up to the most serious occupations 
 without the least inconvenience. 
 
 It is with the Trappists as with the rest of mankind. 
 Some are of feeble constitutions, some enjoy moderate 
 health, whilst others again are more robust. If some 
 are not so strong as they were before embracing a life 
 of penance, others may be found in the enjoyment of 
 better health than they ever experienced in a life of 
 delicacy. There may be found at La Trappe coun- 
 tenances the very pictures of health and happiness. 
 All ages are there represented, from the youth of 
 eighteen up to decrepitude. The mortality is not 
 greater among them than elsewhere ; it is in propor- 
 tion to the population, and if death sometimes chooses 
 his victims among the young or lately professed, he 
 has also to whet his scythe against the lives of the 
 old in virtue as well as in years. The last abbot 
 that died at Aiguebelle, the venerable Father Stephen, 
 had nearly the age of one hundred years, fifty of 
 which he fought the battles of the Lord in the ranks 
 of the Trappists. We went expressly to visit the 
 cemetery where repose the remains of those champions 
 of the faith ; we ran over with our eyes the inscriptions 
 on the' black crosses planted at the head of each grave, 
 and found that many of the sleepers below had 
 reached to an advanced age ; many of them to the age 
 of eighty. The following is an exact list of the ages
 
 224 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM.' 
 
 of the last seven that died at that monastery : 23 years, 
 33, 64, 78, 60, 31, 68. It is not true, as common 
 report would have it, that the Trappist each day digs 
 a spade-full of earth from his future grave. We 
 noticed, however, a grave half finished ; it was for the 
 first that may happen to die. We noticed near it 
 a poor old father, who appeared weak, and under 
 great bodily sulTerings ; he seemed absorbed in pious 
 meditation, and seemed to say to himself, " perhaps 
 this grave is for me." — He has since gone to receive 
 the reward of his piety and virtue. 
 
 Let it not be supposed that the austere manner of 
 life practised in those houses dedicated to penance, 
 shuts out all care and attention to the sick. The 
 holy rule of which we have spoken, had provided for 
 everything. We have already said something about 
 the pharmacy, and the physician whose duty it is to 
 visit the infirmary every day, to see each patient, and 
 prescribe for him according to his wants. It may be 
 said that the sick are objects of the most peculiar 
 care at La Trappe. They do not obtain, it is true, 
 all the delicacies and all the capricious gratifications 
 that are common among the rich families of the world. 
 The Trappist, though sick, is yet a Trappist ; that is, 
 he is bound by his vow of poverty. He receives, 
 however, all that is needful to his sickness and in- 
 firmity, whilst the services of which he is the object 
 have their source in the most attentive love and 
 charity.
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 225 
 
 SEVENTH ACCUSATION. 
 The Trap2»si8 seek after the fortune of their Poatulants. 
 
 We are at length arrived at the last accusation that is 
 made against monks ; and more especially, against the 
 Trappists. It is one that cannot be seriously made, 
 and its truth believed in by those who make it. In- 
 deed, it would not be worth while to attempt a re- 
 futation, were it not one of the arguments used to deter 
 Maria Ephraim from embracing a religious life. It 
 could proceed only from blind or affected ignorance. 
 " The Superiors of La Trappe have an eye to the for- 
 tunes of those who come to join them !" As little as 
 may be known of the spirit by which such establish- 
 ments are ruled, it is easy to see the amount of bad 
 faith and malice contained in such an accusation. 
 In fact, it is impossible to carry disinterestedness 
 farther than is done at Aiguebelle. Nothing is de- 
 manded from those who present themselves for recep- 
 tion into the congregation, except virtue and devotion. 
 If the novices wish to bestow anything, it is only re- 
 ceived under the title of alms, and that the house may 
 be better enabled to assist those who stand in need 
 of assistance. We may also add, that the constitu- 
 tions by which such communities are governed, oblige 
 the novices, before their profession, to divest them- 
 tjelves of all property, on account of the vow of 
 poverty they are on the point of making. But it 
 would be needless to set about seriously refuting so 
 absurd an accusation, and which, we repeat it, those 
 who make it, do not, themselves, believe. Let us then 
 return to our dear brother Maria Ephraim.
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 BROTHER MARIA EPHRAIM ARRIVES AT AIGUEBELLE : HIS JOY AT 
 FINDING HIMSELF AGAIN IN THE MIDST OF HIS BRETHREN. CERE- 
 MONIES AT THE BENEDICTION OF THE HEW ABBOT OF LA TRAPPE, 
 THE REVEREND FATHER OHSISIUS. 
 
 We have left our dear brother Maria Ephraim on 
 his journey back to his beloved retreat, and return- 
 ing thanks to the Lord for giving him the necessary 
 strength to break the ties that bound him to the 
 world. "Laqueus contritus est," sang he with the 
 Prophet, " et nos liberati sumus." Nevertheless, his 
 joy was not wholly complete ; his heart was oppressed 
 with a disagreeable weight, when he thought of the 
 sad state in which he had left his family. During the 
 journey, he could not drive it from his thoughts, and 
 more especially, the last scene was always present to 
 his mind and left therein a deep impression. At 
 every stopping place he endeavored to find an oppor- 
 tunity of addressing a few lines to his father. Those 
 letters are always resplendent with love, and vividly 
 express the terrible combats of which his heart was 
 the battle-field upon which two enraged rivals, the 
 love for God, and the love for his parents, God and 
 nature, obstinately contended one with the other. 
 Victory of necessity remained with the true owner of 
 that heart ; to Ilim whose it was, both by the right of 
 conquest and the right of property ; by the right of 
 property, because He had created it ; by the right of 
 (22G)
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 227 
 
 conquest, because He had seized upon it bj His 
 Grace. 
 
 Behold him at last arrived at Aiguebelle, on the 
 19th of April, 1838, after an absence of about seven 
 weeks. His arrival was the cause of general rejoicing 
 in the community, so much was he beloved by every 
 one. The good brother who opened the gate for him, 
 wept tears of joy on seeing him. Scarcely was the 
 ceremonial of reception gone through, than he was in 
 the arms of the Reverend Abbot, blessing him and 
 regarding him as a privileged child, whom the Blessed 
 Mother of God had brought back from the banks of 
 the waters of Babylon. You are come back to the 
 ark, my dearest brother, he exclaimed ; let us all re- 
 turn thanks to the divine goodness for having so 
 visibly protected you ; in the mean time, erect in your 
 heart an altar of gratitude to the Lord and to his 
 Holy Mother. The novices were especially grieved 
 at his departure : they were now proportionably re- 
 joiced at his return. Many of them were exactly in 
 the same position as brother Ephraim, with regard to 
 the relations they had left in the world : they had 
 also to sustain combats against flesh and blood that 
 loudly cried out for their rights. This identity of 
 circumstances established among them a sympathy 
 of sentiments that added to their mutual fraternity. 
 The Reverend Abbot, convinced that the return to 
 the fold of this dear lamb, was the work of God, 
 ordered an act of thanksgiving to be publicly made 
 by the entire brotherhood. 
 
 Brother Ephraim, though absent from the monas- 
 tery, had not ceased to be under obedience : he was
 
 228 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 accordingly reinstated in all the rights and privileges 
 that seniority entitled him to have over the novices 
 who were his juniors in a religious life ; he was, also, 
 continued in the office of Crosier-bearer, which had 
 been conferred on him prior to departure. 
 
 Three days after his arrival, the benediction of a 
 new abbot, the Reverend Father Orsisius, took place 
 at Aiguebelle. As the ceremonies used at La Trappe, 
 on such an occasion, may not be known to the gene- 
 rality of our readers, we deem it expedient to give a 
 brief account of them. The Reverend Father Stephen, 
 for reasons needless to bring forward in this place, 
 had resigned the office of abbot. His resignation was 
 accepted in the month of June, 1837, and the election 
 of a successor took place on the 31st of October of 
 the same year. This election was presided over by 
 the Reverend Father Joseph Marie, Abbot of the 
 *' Grande Trappe," and superior of the congregation 
 in France ; Father Orsisius, of the monastery of Aigue- 
 belle, was unanimously elected, and his election after- 
 wards confirmed by the court of Rome. 
 
 Monseigneur de La Tourette was at that time 
 Bishop of Valence, but his advanced age and infirmi- 
 ties not permitting him to travel, application was 
 made to Monseigneur, the Archbishop of Avignon, 
 and Metropolitan of the province, for the benediction 
 of the new Abbot. The worthy archbishop yielded 
 to the prayers of the solitaries of Aiguebelle with such 
 benevolence as can never be effaced from their memo- 
 ries, and for which they shall always entertain the 
 most lively gratitude. The moment of the Prelate's 
 arrival had been announced, and the religious had
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 229 
 
 made all the preparations admissible by the austerity 
 of their institute, to give it all due solemnity. They 
 had, a few days before, erected, opposite the main 
 gate of the monastery, a triumphal arch, consisting 
 of green boughs, and odoriferous shrubs, with which 
 the environs of their solitude abundantly supplied 
 them ; and had tapestried with verdure the court-yard, 
 and the extent of the cloisters, through which the 
 archbishop had to pass. The whole was agreeably 
 interspersed with devices and mottoes, happily chosen, 
 and traced in letters formed from the petals of flowers, 
 thus giving an exquisite variety to the scene. The 
 church also was decorated as on days of the most 
 solemn festivals. Two of the religious are sent in 
 advance to meet him, whilst the bells of the monastery 
 peal forth tokens of joy, and the entire community 
 are issuing in procession from the church. At their 
 head walks the deacon, bearing a cross of simple con- 
 structure. The cross is of wood, as well as the image 
 of our Redeemer, with which it is surmounted. Next 
 comes the superior, dressed in his cowl, and bearing 
 between his two hands a crucifix: he is surrounded by 
 the elders and officers of the monastery. In sub- 
 mission to the presence of a bishop, the Father Abbot 
 is without his crosier ; that badge of dignity being 
 left in the choir, in front of the abbatial seat : he 
 wears, however, a ring and an humble pectoral cross, 
 suspended from his neck by a violet-colored string. 
 Then come the other religious, each according to his 
 rank: walking with gravity and in silence. When 
 the Prelate makes his appearance, all prostrate them- 
 selves ; the superior alone remains standing, and after 
 20
 
 230 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 tlie Bishop's remaining a few moments on his knees 
 — a suitable bench having been previously prepared 
 for the occasion— he then advances towards him, pre- 
 sents the crucifix he holds in his hands, to be kissed, 
 and the aspersory, with which he sprinkles with holy 
 water the assembly : after this the incense and censer 
 thurible are presented, and the Bishop is saluted with 
 frankincense, according to the ritual. 
 
 There happened at this reception a circumstance 
 that does not frequently occur at the ordinary re- 
 ception of bishops, and which we more readily relate, 
 as it made a deep impression upon all who were pre- 
 sent-on the occasion. The venerable and good Father 
 Stephen presented with an expression of feeling im- 
 possible to describe, his successor, and implored for 
 him the episcopal benediction. The bishop, affected 
 by all he saw, could not subdue the emotion that op- 
 pressed him, and was forced to shed tears ; not tears 
 of sorrow, but tears of joy at finding on earth men so 
 conformable to the humility and self-abnegation of 
 Jesus Christ. The Reverend Abbot then addressed 
 a few words to the Prelate ; the procession resumes 
 its way back to the church, singing responses adapted 
 to the occasion. When each one had taken his proper 
 place in the church, the superior gave the tone for 
 the Te Deum, which was solemnly sung by all. After 
 a suitable prayer, the community, always in the same 
 order, escort the Prelate to the Chapter-room, and, 
 in conformity with the ritual of the Congregation, the 
 master of ceremonies sings with due inflection a 
 chapter of the Epistles of Saint Paul to Titus, upon 
 the principal duties of Bishops. After a few words
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRATM. 231 
 
 of edification from the Bishop, in reply, he finally 
 gives his blessing, and is conducted to his apartment. 
 
 The foregoing ceremonials, literally provided for 
 by the rules of the congregation, as indeed are, in 
 detail, all the other religious observances, were exactly 
 followed at the reception of Monseigneur, the Arch- 
 bishop of Avignon, upon the present occasion. 
 
 The next day, which happened to be the festival 
 of the Good Shepherd, the ceremony for which the 
 Bishop's presence was required, was solemnly pro- 
 ceeded with. It is one of the most interesting, and 
 difiei^s little from that prescribed for the consecration 
 of Bishops. The two Abbots — the one who had just 
 resigned, and the one who was now going to assume 
 the title — had each his crosier and mitre. What a 
 strange sight to see two poor Trappists with mitres ! 
 It seemed to those good Fathers that they were 
 bearing a crown of thorns. The Bishop of Valence 
 had sent as representative his grand vicars ; a numei"- 
 ous population had also assembled from the surround- 
 ing country ; indeed, all the respectable families of 
 the neighborhood showed by the interest they took in 
 the proceedings, how dear to their hearts were the 
 Trappists. After the ceremony came dinner. All 
 could not find seats in the refectory of the monastery ; 
 large as it is. Those who could find places dined in 
 it, whilst the greater number were entertained in the 
 apartments for the receptiun of strangers. However, 
 the common rule was not transgressed, notwithstand- 
 ing the solemnity of the occasion : simplicity of table 
 furniture and frugality in the viands made all the 
 ornaments of the monastic feast. These austere pcni-
 
 232 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 tents, like the God tliey serve, are immutable in the 
 worship they render to Ilim ; no fcBtival day can dis- 
 pense them from the sacrifice of privation and penance 
 which they have accustomed themselves to offer to 
 Him. After dinner, all retired, every one edified, 
 and some repeating a few lines left on the registry 
 of the Father who has the care of those who come to 
 visit the monastery. They were written, it is said, 
 by one of the most distinguished orators of the capital, 
 and are as follows : " Away ! censors of our frivolities ; 
 the sight of you torments the world, like a sublime 
 and heart-rending irony : away ! for ye have really 
 and traly understood the mysteries of human life !"
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. . 
 
 BROTHER EPHRAIM APPLIES HIMSELF WITH ARDOR TO THE EXERCISE 
 OP THE NOVICIATE. THE CONSOLATIONS HE EXPERIENCES. MOTIVES 
 FOR INTERIOR CONSOLATION, HOW WELL-FOUNDED AT LA TRAPPE. 
 
 After the departure of the crowd, which the oc- 
 casion, mentioned in the last chapter, had called 
 together, the monastery returned to its former calm, 
 and the regular exercises that had been more or less 
 interrupted in the midst of so great a tumult, resumed 
 very soon their holy and meritorious monotony. 
 Brother Maria Ephraim was intent on effacing the 
 spot which he believed to be imprinted on his soul 
 through condescending to the desires of his relations. 
 This he accomplished with all the fervor of a novice. 
 He applied himself particularly to obtain a thorough 
 knowledge of the monastic state : he asked for this 
 purpose permission to read the books of the order, 
 and made them his serious study. By this means he 
 learned, who, and what kind of men, were our 
 founders. The lives and examples of our fathers had 
 for him particular attraction. In study of this kind, 
 which the penetration of his mind and the solidity 
 of his judgment enabled him to search into, he found 
 an invincible attachment for the state of life he had 
 embraced, and he learned to appreciate more and 
 more the sublimity of his vocation. Grace, meeting 
 with such happy disposition in this generous heart, 
 did not fail to produce an abundant harvest of various 
 20- (2-33)
 
 234 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 
 
 virtues. Thus, in a short time, he was classed in the 
 rank of the most fervent in the noviciate, according 
 to the private thoughts and opinions of his superiors 
 and fellow-monks. 
 
 Whilst answering in a former chapter the divers 
 prejudices shed abroad, in the world, relative to La 
 Trappe, we have endeavored to establish the fact, that 
 unhappiness is a strange guest in the bosom of a true 
 Trappist. Our arguments, perhaps badly brought 
 forward, are not the pure effect of our imagination ; 
 they are found vividly expressed and developed with ' 
 conviction in the voluminous correspondence of 
 Brother Ephraim, which are, at this moment, in our 
 hands. We have already made some extracts from 
 those precious letters, but everything they con- 
 tain is so interesting, that we do not fear to weary 
 the reader by recurring to them again. " The 
 Trappe," he says, "is frightful, when we viewed from 
 a distance ; it is frightful, even, when we take a nearer 
 view of it ; but what hidden treasures may we not 
 discover enveloped in so vile and poor an exterior ! 
 Tor my own part, I find here all my delight, and have 
 no other ambition than to live and die a Trappist." 
 Not that everything is sweet and spiritual consola- 
 tion at La Trappe ; there are also days of storms and 
 clouds, that succeed days of greater calm ; and although 
 the Trappists, as Brother Ephraim remarks in another 
 place, hold themselves constantly under the protect- 
 ing mantle of the Blessed Mary, their tender mother, 
 the common enemy of mankind knows, nevertheless, 
 how to reach them with his envenomed arrows ; he lays 
 snares for them even in the midst of the cloisters, and
 
 LIFE OF FATnER MARIA EPIIRATM. 235 
 
 they sometimes find their tribulation very bitter and 
 their cross almost insupportable. But they have many 
 resources to repel and vanquish their enemies, and their 
 victories are more prompt, more easy and more com- 
 plete than the victories of those exposed to the tempta- 
 tions of the -world. When calm is established, God, who 
 is rich in mercy, communicates to these elect souls 
 holy ardors ; it is then that, in their ecstatic delight, 
 they exclaim with the royal Prophet, "Yes, Lord, one 
 day passed in communion with you, is worth a thousand 
 passed in the joys, and under the tents of sinners." 
 
 The ineffable joys that are the portion of the reli- 
 gious of La Trappe, are not derived from the goods 
 or pleasures of this world. The joys of the world are 
 incapable of satisfying the heart of man ; the reli- 
 gious have renounced them in devoting themselves to 
 solitude ; their enjoyments are based upon the solid 
 foundation of the eternal recompenses that are 
 assured to them ; they know that the " immutable 
 Truth" has said: "He that quits all to follow me, 
 that abandons his home, his goods and his country, his 
 father and mother, his sisters and brothers, for the 
 love of me, shall receive a hundred-fold, and after 
 death, eternal life." This hundred-fold they already 
 receive in the consolations of which people of the 
 world have no suspicion, and which they can never 
 comprehend ; and after this life, they hope for the 
 possession of the happiness of God Himself. As far 
 as the certainty of future happiness is concerned, they 
 found it upon two infallible principles : 
 
 1st. Upon the prerogatives of their order, and the 
 promises made to their saintly founders; 2nd. Upon
 
 23G LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 
 
 the all-powerful protection of their grcacious Mother, 
 the most Holy Virgin. 
 
 As to the prerogatives of their order, they are, it 
 must be confessed, most precious and full of consola- 
 tion : we shall here repeat them for the satisfaction 
 of the friends of La Trappe. 
 
 " Saint Benedict, the first founder of the order, and 
 author of its holy rule, being one day in deep con- 
 templation of divine things, an angel of the Lord ap- 
 peared to him, and said : 
 
 Ask of God whatever you wish : he is disposed to 
 grant it to you. The holy patriarch answered: I 
 have already received too many favors on the part 
 of God, to dare to solicit new ones ; let Ilim, in his 
 infinite mercy, do for me what is most pleasing to his 
 Divine Will. The angel then replied: There are 
 five things which God, to whom it belongs to listen to 
 and exalt the humble : 
 
 Ist. Your order shall continue to the end of the 
 world. 
 
 2nd. It shall remain faithfully attached to the 
 Roman Church till the end of time, and shall 
 strengthen in the faith an immense number of Chris- 
 tians. 
 
 3rd. No one shall ever die in this order without 
 being in a state of grace. lie who lives wickedly, or 
 who will abandon the rule, either shall be confounded, 
 or be excluded from the order ; or shall retire from it 
 of his own accord. 
 
 4th. All those who persecute your order, if they 
 repent not, shall either die prematurely, or in de- 
 spair.
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 237 
 
 5th. All those who love your order shall have a 
 happy end." 
 
 Next to the great Saint Benedict, we shall cite the 
 great Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux. This holy 
 father entered one day the lecture-room of his novices, 
 in order to address to them, as was his custom, a few 
 words of edification ; they were at this time more than 
 one hundred. He thus terminated his instruction: 
 "You will be happy, my brethren, if you persevere in 
 the practices of our holy order ; that is the true way, 
 the straight way, the high road that leads in an un- 
 broken line to the mansions of eternal joys. In all 
 sincerity I declare to you that I have seen, at various 
 times, not during sleep, or in a dream, but whilst 
 broad awake, and during the time of prayer, I have 
 Been, I say, the souls of our religious, both lay-brothers 
 and novices, scarcely disengaged from their bodies, 
 sensibly pass from this valley of tears into the bosom 
 of God, and ascend without obstacle to the highest 
 pinnacle of glory in Heaven." He then added: 
 " Whereas these relations interest you, I have still 
 some consoling ones to relate. One day, in this very 
 monastery, during the Mass of the community, it 
 happened that one of the servitors of the altar had 
 forgotten to supply the cruets with the wine and wa- 
 ter required for the holy sacrifice. This was the 
 cause of some delay and interruption. During this 
 interval, one of our religious, who had died a little be- 
 fore in the odor of sanctity, appeared to me in the 
 middle of the choir: he remained standing before me, 
 and pierced me with his severe look. I asked him 
 what he desired, and he replied : If your brothers
 
 238 LIEE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 
 
 tvere aware wltat companions and friends await tlie^n 
 in Heaven, they would he most careful of preserving 
 themselves from the least negligence, in order not to 
 disp)lease them, for they are all destined to enter one 
 day into our society. These words, it may be im- 
 agined, filled me with joy. We had at that time a 
 lukewarm brother, who seemed to be attracting others 
 to his own tepidity ; he was the cause of much anxiety 
 to me. God willed that I should question the appari- 
 tion on the subject of this brother : And Brother 
 N. — mentioning his name — do you think that he also 
 shall be saved ? He replied : That Brother also shall 
 be saved with all the others; and so saying, he dis- 
 appeared. But do not imagine, my dear children," 
 continued the saint, "that these consoling promises 
 have reference only to the brothers that were then iu 
 the monastery : they also have reference to you, who 
 inhabit it at this time, and to all those who here- 
 after shall serve the Lord in our holy order : this 
 heavenly messenger has positively said, that all may 
 be assured of salvation, and of the mercy of the 
 Lord." 
 
 On another occasion, the same saint related the 
 following fact in full chapter : " In one of the monas- 
 teries of our order, a religious by the name of Gerard 
 fell sick ; suddenly he was oppressed with great weak- 
 ness, and was supposed dead. He remained a long 
 time in this state, surrounded by his brothers and 
 the Abbot. At length, he awoke from this lethargic 
 state, opened his eyes and exclaimed : happy obedi- 
 ence ! I come from the tribunal of Jesus Christ; I 
 have even seen him face to face ; he has said to me :
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 239 
 
 Behold your place in the midst of your brethren ; no 
 religious of your order shall ever perish, if he love 
 his state and persevere in it ; he shall be purified 
 entirely at the moment of death, or very soon after. 
 Thus having spoken, he became speechless, and had 
 barely time to receive the Holy Viaticum, before his 
 final departure." 
 
 We have taken those facts from the works of St. 
 Bernard. Being so extraordinary, we did not give 
 them blind faith, but had recourse to authorities. We 
 are happy in finding numerous testimonies of their 
 authenticity ; testimonies that have operated in our 
 mind a full and entire conviction. We have them 
 now under our eyes, but deem it sufficient to mention 
 their names, without quoting the words, as it will be 
 easy for any one to verify the facts in the original 
 authors. The first we consulted, was the learned and 
 judicious Mabillon, Works of Saint Bernard, vol- 
 ume 2nd, chapter 7th, page 1197. — Manrique, Annals 
 of the Cisterciens, chapter 2nd, page 122, and chap- 
 ter 3rd, page 147. The works of Cesaire, and also 
 the works of Herbert. All these authors relate the 
 same facts ; we moreover find in them the very words 
 of certain religious contemporary with Saint Bernard, 
 asserting that they had heard those very recitals from 
 the mouth of that holy man ; and among others, the 
 words of a certain Brother John, temporal provider 
 of Clairvaux, who also adds, that such revelations had 
 very much contributed to his own perseverance in the 
 order. 
 
 In addition to what we have said, it is easy to pro- 
 duce an argument, which, we trust, \vill be brought
 
 240 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 
 
 home to every understanding. It is the following: 
 The conduct of a man who, in order to insure his 
 salvation, renounces all the pleasures of the world, 
 and embraces a manner of life painful to nature, 
 cannot proceed from anything else but a principle of 
 the most exalted charity, which it is impossible to 
 reconcile with a state of sin ; and God, who is essen- 
 tially good and merciful, cannot refuse eternal recom- 
 pense to him who is found and perseveres in so happy 
 a disposition. Besides, the man whom we describe, 
 being in favor with God, on account of the vivid senti- 
 ment of divine charity that determined his entrance 
 into religion, finds in the cloister a thousand resources 
 in the austerities of the rule, to eiface his former sins, 
 and to prevent relapse. In the monastery, there are 
 scarcely any occasions offered for resuming old habits ; 
 on the contrary, everything there tends to make him 
 forget them. Again, he destroys in the bud every 
 evil inclination that may have growth in the heart, by 
 a daily confession of them, publicly made in the chap- 
 ter-room ; and if he should be blind to his own defects, 
 his brother-monks would not be slow to discover them, 
 and thus, by charitably proclaiming them, oblige him 
 to exterminate them effectually. 
 
 Finally, when a religious submits himself to the 
 strict observance of La Trappe, such as it is practised 
 in all its purity now-a-days in France, it may be 
 asserted, that he is the friend of God, and that he 
 quits the bed of ashes on which he breathes his last 
 sigh, only to repose in His bosom. It is impossible 
 to conceive that any one of an impenitent mind ; 
 that a soul given up to evil passions and sold to the
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 241 
 
 enemy of mankind, can resist the austerities of re- 
 ligion ; and if, through bravado, through the spirit 
 of contradiction, or through any other evil motive, 
 such a man should endeavor to make the trial, it would 
 not be for a long time ; for he would either depart of 
 his own accord, or, as the vision of Saint Benedict 
 affirms, the dispositions of his heart, so unlike his 
 exterior practices, would soon betray him ; he would 
 find himself unmasked, and be obliged to quit, if he 
 did not adopt better principles. No ! there can be 
 no deception ; for nothing but the peace of the soul, 
 nothing but the pure spirit of the love of God, can 
 keep any one at La Trappe, and enable him to gather 
 roses in the midst of apparent thorns. From all that 
 has been said, we may, then, justly conclude, that the 
 revelations made to the founders of this order, contain 
 nothing contradictory to the lights of the most sound 
 reason. 
 
 The holy joys of the religious are also guarantied 
 to them by the protection of the ever Blessed Virgin. 
 The religious of La Trappe honor this illustrious 
 Queen with a particular veneration, giving to her the 
 worship of hyperdoulia, whilst they give to God alone 
 the worship of latria. They honor her nearly as 
 much as her Divine Son : every day they recite her 
 office, as they do the canonical hours ; indeed, it may 
 be said that they wish to honor the creature more 
 than the creator, whereas they begin their office 
 always with singing the praises of Mary before cele- 
 brating the corresponding part of the other canonical 
 obligations. In like manner, they appear eager to 
 offer to this benevolent Patroness the first part of 
 21
 
 242 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPURAIM. 
 
 the day; their first duty, after rising at midnight, 
 being to recite the matins of the Blessed Virgin, 
 and their last at night, before retiring to rest, being 
 the complins of the same, together with the solemn 
 singing of the Salve Regina. In addition to this, 
 their most solemn festivals are those dedicated to this 
 Queen of Angels. 
 
 Nor is God jealous of this ; He Himself has honored 
 Mary much more than men have it in their power to 
 honor her. It was He who raised her to the high 
 dignity of being the Mother of God ; it was He, in 
 becoming man, that wished to be formed from her 
 virgin blood ; and it was He, in fine, who, in coming 
 into this world to perform the wonders of his incar- 
 nation, has chosen the heart of Mary, as a suitable 
 spot for the erection of an altar, upon which he first 
 offered himself to his Father as a victim of propitiation 
 for sinful man, thereby authorizing the worship that 
 has been afterwards rendered to her. God, our Re- 
 deemer, is pleased to see his humble servants, not 
 daring to present themselves upon their own merits 
 before the throne of his Majesty, but addressing 
 themselves to his compassionate Mother, and making 
 her their intercessor with her divine Son. It was 
 only through Mary that He wished to come to us ; 
 through Mary, also, it is his pleasure that we ascend 
 to Him. 
 
 But if the religious of La Trappe have placed 
 themselves under the lofty patronage of Mary, that 
 glorious Queen, on her part, has taken under her 
 £Cgis, and chosen as her especial favorites, the numer- 
 ous children of Saint Robert, Saint Albcric, and
 
 LIFE or FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 243 
 
 Saint Bernard. The ^^ Annals of tJie Chterciens'" 
 preserve a pious tradition, -whicli it would be difficult 
 to gainsay : it is that of an alliance which this illus- 
 trious Virgin had entered into with the first of those 
 Saints, who was the first Cistercian Abbot, and the 
 regenerator of monastic discipline in France. Even 
 before his birth, the Holy Virgin appeared to his 
 mother, the pious Ermengarda, and presented her 
 with a gold ring, as a token of alliance with the Son 
 she was carrying in her womb. Saint Alberic also 
 received most splendid testimonies of the protection 
 of this tender mother. It is related that she ap- 
 peared to him, on one occasion, bearing in her hand a 
 cowl or tunic of dazzling whiteness, with which she 
 clothed him as with her own livery. It was after this 
 that the Cistercians abandoned the black habits, and 
 assumed white ones. It is also related, in an excel- 
 lent work, entitled, ^^ Astrum Cisterciense," that the 
 same Saint Alberic, being one day rapt in contem- 
 plation, the Holy Virgin appeared to him, and, after 
 having promised the propagation and increase of his 
 order, she added, " I, myself, will protect and defend 
 this order even to the end of the world :" Ugo ordi- 
 nem istum usque infinem sseeuli protecjam et de- 
 fendam. 
 
 It is sufficient to have even a slight knowledge of 
 the history of the Cistercian order, to become con- 
 vinced with what fidelity Mary has kept her promise, 
 and Avith what solicitude she has constantly protected 
 its children in their troubles and tribulations. Pope 
 Innocent VIII. presents a striking proof of this 
 protection. That sovereign pontiff was deliberating
 
 244 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 
 
 with himself, whether he should suppress the Cister- 
 cian order, which appeared to him of little advantage 
 to the church at the time it had fallen into great 
 relaxation ; the Holy Virgin appeared to him with a 
 threatening air, and reproved him in these words : 
 " You wish to destroy the Cistercian order, of which 
 I am the Protectress, but you shall not succeed in 
 your undertaking ; and if you do not speedily re- 
 nounce your evil design, I myself will bruise both 
 you and your authority :" Tu ordinem Cisterciensem 
 cujus Advocata ego sum, destruere conaris, sed non 
 prwvalebis, et nisi citius de tuo malo 2'>'^oi)oslto 
 resipiscas, ego te et otnnem tuam potestatem con- 
 fer ain. 
 
 A young man of Cologne had, without knowing 
 wherefore, conceived in his heart a deadly hatred to 
 the Cistercian order; he was continually in the habit 
 of calumniating it, and would not abstain from his 
 evil designs against it, until the Blessed Mary her- 
 self appeared to him, and said, " Wicked child ! you 
 are calumniating and trying to injure the best friends 
 I have in the whole world." Thus saying, she disap- 
 peared. 
 
 If it were possible to excel in the confidence the 
 whole Cistercian order have for the Blessed Virgin, 
 Aiguebelle would be found the place where her pro- 
 tection is most eagerly sought. To Mary is attri- 
 buted the progressive prosperity of the Monastery. 
 As she is its guardian, they have her statue in every 
 place ; in the cloisters, at the gates, in all the avenues, 
 and even upon the roof of the house, whence she may 
 discover enemies at a distance, and defeat (make
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 245 
 
 sport of) their hostile projects. The arras of Aigue- 
 bcllc arc a bridge, upon whicli the Virgin is repre- 
 sented in the act of pouring out waves of favors, and 
 limpid waters — aqua i?tf^^a— flowing under the bridge. 
 When the Reverend Abbot is absent from the monas- 
 tery, a statue of Mary, holding the keys in her hands, 
 is placed in his seat, and in the refectory she is 
 served as the superior would be served, were he 
 present, and the portion afterwards given to a poor 
 family. 
 
 But if Mary protects her servants so well upon 
 earth, it is easy to conceive that she docs not desert 
 them in a better life, when she can surround them 
 with more efficacious protection. Among the numer- 
 ous relations on this score, that we could draw from 
 the books of the order, we will select one mentioned 
 by many authors worthy of credit : A certain Cister- 
 cian monk, having great love for his sovereign Pro- 
 tectress, was once, whilst in a trance, permitted to 
 contemplate the glory of heaven ; he saw there the 
 different orders of the church triumphant, Angels, 
 Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors, 
 Virgins, all distinguished by particular character- 
 istics : he also noticed many religious of the various 
 religious orders. Whilst he was anxiously looking 
 about for some of his own order, and was pained at 
 not being able to discover any of his co-religious par- 
 takers of this heavenly splendor, he addressed him- 
 self, weeping, to the Blessed Mother of God, and said 
 to her : " What is the reason, Sovereign Mistress, 
 that I do not see here even one of the Cistercian 
 order ? Why arc your servants, those so devoted to 
 21*
 
 210 LIFE OF FATHER MAllTA EPIIRAIM. 
 
 you, excluded from this abode of happiness ?" The 
 Queen of Heaven soon calmed his trouble by answer- 
 ing him, " Those that belong to the Cistercian order 
 are all so dear to me that I keep them always at my 
 side." At the same time, she raised her royal mantle 
 of great breadth, and showed him an innumerable 
 multitude of Cistercian religious, male and female, 
 concealed under it. After returning to himself, the 
 monk related to his abbot all he had seen and heard, 
 ■with expressions of the greatest joy and gratitude. 
 
 The following is another relation drawn from the 
 jUmals of the Cisterciayi order, and the circumstance 
 occurred at a period nearer our own times, in the 
 monastery of the Grande Trappe, situated in the 
 vicinity of Perche, France : " A religious of this house 
 being at the point of death, two of the brothers were 
 charged to attend him. It happened that both were 
 called away at the same time from the room in which 
 he lay, and left him alone for a few moments. At 
 that moment, two imps of darkness entered, and 
 standing up in a corner of the room, they clapped 
 their hands, laughed with satanic joy, and said, one 
 to the other, ' To-morrow early we will have the plea- 
 sure of dragging this soul to our infernal abode.' The 
 patient hearing such dreadful words, trembled in all 
 his limbs, and frightful remorse suddenly seized his 
 conscience. Before his conversion, he had had the mis- 
 fortune of committing some heinous sins, which he 
 never had resolution enough to confess, neither whilst 
 he was a secular priest, nor whilst a novice, nor since 
 his profession ; false shame had always deterred him. 
 In his fright he directed his wild glances in every
 
 LIFE OP FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 247 
 
 direction, when, in the opposite corner of the room, 
 he saw the figure of a beautiful ladj, who addressed 
 the demons in these words, 'Be not so hasty in pro- 
 claiming your victory ; for I myself shall find a method 
 of saving him from your cruel hands.' Scarcely had 
 these words been uttered when the two attendants 
 returned, and the vision disappeared. The sick monk 
 had no doubt that this lady, who had thus appeared 
 to him, was the blessed Virgin herself, and that the 
 method of saving him from the fangs of the demons, 
 was the supplying him with courage to confess his 
 sins. Animated, at the same time, by powerful grace, 
 he sent for the prior of the monastery, made a 
 general confession to him of all his sins, with great 
 sorrow and repentance, and begged, as a favor, that 
 all that had happened, should be related to the 
 Reverned Abbot, who was then absent. He then 
 received the sacrament of Extreme Unction, and 
 afterwards, the Holy Viaticum ; and at the very hour 
 designated by the demons, he expired, full of peace 
 and of confidence in the mercies of the Lord." 
 
 All these facts are of a remote date : it would be 
 easy to relate others that passed in our own days, 
 which, if not so extraordinary, have yet not failed to 
 produce abundant consolation for those who were the 
 subjects of them. We are personal witnesses to many 
 that transpired at Aiguebelle, that evidently prove 
 protection from on High, and were we not afraid of 
 alarming the modesty of the good religious of that 
 monastery, we would relate many that would cause 
 edification to pious souls ; these would see that Mary 
 is always a mother, full of tenderness and compassion
 
 248 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 
 
 for those Avho devote themselves to her service. Not- 
 withstanding our reserve, we cannot forbear from re- 
 lating one which we make choice of among a thousand. 
 V K certain young man of Vivarais, — whose name we 
 shall conceal, because his family is still in existence, 
 — the child of Calvinistic parents, having had the 
 happiness of learning the true faith, became a Catho- 
 lic. Soon after, he became a lay-brother Trappist in 
 the monastery of Aiguebelle, and during many years 
 edified his brother monks by his regular and exem- 
 plary life. Attacked at last by the sickness of which 
 he died, he prepared himself for his last act by addi- 
 tional fervor. His malady grew worse ; he received 
 the last sacraments with a tranquillity quite remark 
 able, and was then placed upon the ashes. The 
 religious surrounding him were edified at the tran- 
 quillity that marked his last moments. But behold ! 
 all on a sudden the scene changes : to this calm suc- 
 ceeds a frightful tempest, the dying man starts up, 
 raises a harsh cry, and terrible agitation seizes upon 
 all his senses. In vain do the attendants make use 
 of words of encouragement and confidence ; he is deaf 
 to all that can be urged, and his cries are redoubled, 
 whilst the assistants know not what to do, or what to 
 recur to on such an emergency. They are still more 
 terrified when the attending priest, holding a crucifix, 
 presents it to the embraces of the patient, and the 
 latter gives it a rude repulse, and distinctly afiirms 
 that he does not want to look upon it ; adding to this 
 formal refusal words of the greatest blasphemy. All 
 this passed in the midst of midnight darkness ; this 
 circumstance added to the spectacle of death, and of
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 249 
 
 a death, too, so little consoling to the spectators. 
 They seemed to hear frightful noises ; they believed at 
 one time — it is their own expression — that all the 
 devils of hell had taken possession of the monastery. 
 
 All the community had already gone to repose ; all 
 except those who were watching at the couch of the 
 unfortunate, who was thus painfully contending with 
 the last assaults of death. These deemed it expedient 
 to send for the Father Abbot. At that very moment, 
 the Reverend Father was roused by a voice distinctly 
 saying: Quick, go to the assistance of the dying 
 brother. He immediately rises from bed, firmly 
 beliovino- that some one of the brothers that had been 
 left in attendance on the sick person had called him, 
 and is surprised to find no one in the dormitory. At 
 a little distance from the infirmary, he meets the 
 messenger that was sent to call him, and without re- 
 flecting farther on the subject, proceeds to the room 
 of the miserable patient. He is astonished at the 
 desperate state in which he finds him, and vainly en- 
 deavors to bring back his former confidence. Every- 
 thing seems to increase the horror of the circumstance, 
 and he cannot help believing that something super- 
 natural had occurred: he reflects for an instant ; . . 
 . . an idea comes to him. The unhappy man had 
 lived a long time a Protestant, and had not been con- 
 verted until long after arriving at the age of maturity : 
 perhaps he had never been baptised ; at least, validly. 
 He puts the question, and behold ! the sick man is 
 already at peace; the secret enemies that had so 
 cruelly tormented him, seeing themselves unmasked, 
 remain silent, when the string which they used so
 
 250 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 advantageously to torture their victim was touched 
 upon. In the mean time, the sick person answered 
 without any coherency ; it is then remembered, that 
 there was in the monastery a religious who was wit- 
 ness of his conversion and of his reception into the 
 Catholic church ; they hasten to inform themselves 
 through him, whether the patient had been baptised 
 after his conversion. His answer is in the negative. 
 After this there was no longer any doubt ; this good 
 brother had never received Holy Baptism ; God, in 
 his mercy, had permitted him to be thus afflicted, in 
 order that he might not be deprived of that gracious 
 Sacrament. In fine, the Reverend Father baptised 
 him conditionally : very soon a holy joy sheds itself 
 upon the new Christian ; calm takes possession of him, 
 and he expresses his happiness of living and dying a 
 Catholic, and a Trappist religious. He soon after, full 
 of peace and confidence in the mercy of God, fell 
 asleep in eternity. 
 
 We give this fact, such as it has transpired ; we 
 guarantee the circumstances, such as they have been 
 related to us by many witnesses who were present on 
 the occasion. Whether the Reverend Abbot had been 
 awaked by the guardian angel of the sufferer, or by 
 his holy Protectress, the ever Blessed Virgin, or by 
 natural causes, it is not for us to decide ; but that the 
 thought of administering the Holy Sacrament of 
 Baptism to the good brother, had been suggested 
 from on high, none except those skeptical in regard 
 to all religious truths, will, we trust, go to deny. 
 That his dying moments were watched by the com- 
 mon enemy of all souls, is certainly indisputable, and
 
 LIFE OP FATHER MAllIA EPIIRAIM. 251 
 
 that he made a happy end is equally so : his death at 
 one moment presented the most alarming symptoms, 
 and God permitted that it should be one of the most 
 happy. May we not in this discover an instance of 
 the fulfilment of the promises made to Saint Benedict, 
 and Saint Bernard : "None of those who persevere 
 in your order, shall perish !" 
 
 The calm, the holy confidence, the pleasing joy 
 •which attend the last moments of those who die at La 
 Trappe, have been themes of constant admiration. 
 Among people of the world, death very often presents 
 itself in a most painful, and not unfrequently, in a 
 most terrific shape ; the last efforts made by nature 
 before final dissolution are of the most horrid kind. 
 At La Trappe, quite a different scene is presented. 
 There, everything consoles the dying religious, who 
 had long before provided for this inevitable end of 
 all ; long since he belonged no longer to this life, and 
 having disarmed by penance and mortifications the 
 enemy of his soul, he fears no longer his attacks, be- 
 cause to him death is a happy deliverance, a fortunate 
 passage to a better life. 3Iori lucrum est; to him 
 death is gain. Now, for this immense favor at a 
 moment so critical, so decisive, the religious of La 
 Trappe hold themselves indebted to the August Patro- 
 ness of their order ; to that good Mother who had pro- 
 tected them during their lives, who consoles them at 
 the hour of death, as they so often besought her to do, 
 whilst reciting the Ave Maria ; and through whom 
 they hope to be presented to the just Remunerator of 
 all the monastic labors they had undergone for His 
 love.
 
 252 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 In gcnenal, the Trappist does not die by any well- 
 defined malady ; lie dies, because such is the lot of 
 all — of the poor Trappist as well as of the rich world- 
 ling. Life in him is extinguished without any great 
 agony ; he even feels the gradual approach of the very 
 moment of death, and begs to be strengthened by all 
 the consolations of religion. His brethren assemble 
 around him ; he receives his Lord for the last time in 
 this world, and breathes his last in the presence of 
 the assembled community, and ere they had finished 
 the usual prayers for the recommendation of a depart- 
 ing soul, to which prayers he had himself uttered re- 
 sponses at the commencement. Another remarkable 
 fact attending the death of Trappists, is, that by a 
 special privilege, for which they believe themselves 
 indebted to the great Queen of Heaven, almost all die 
 on a Saturday, the day consecrated to her by the 
 Church ; or on some of her remarkable festivals : on 
 such days do the penitential Trappists quit this world 
 of banishment, to fly in the bosom of their Mother, 
 to their true country — the home prepared for them 
 forever in Heaven.
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 BKOTHEU MARIA EPHRAIM IS EXPOSED TO OTHER TRIALS. HIS FE- 
 MALE COUSIN DECIDES UPON EMBRACING A RELIGIOUS LIFE. SOME 
 FARTHER REMARKS UPON LA TRAPPE ELICITED BY THE NEW 
 DIFFICULTIES THAT ARE THROWN IN THE WAY OP HIS PERSEVE- 
 RANCE. 
 
 The more our brother Ephraim was initiated in the 
 knowledge and privileges of his order, the greater 
 became his religious fervor, and the more closely did he 
 participate in the happiness of his religious brethren. 
 But the demon of evil became jealous, and attacked 
 him anew ; directing his assults this time against that 
 part of the citadel of his heart, that was the least 
 fortified. 
 
 Since his return to Aiguebelle, brother Maria 
 Ephraim had addressed various letters to his family, 
 without receiving any in answer ; indeed, notwith- 
 standing his repeated solicitations, his relations seemed 
 determined to break oif all correspondence with him. 
 All this afiected him the more, as he had left them in 
 a rather painful condition. In this state of anxiety 
 he remained some considerable time, until a letter at 
 last reached him, which, far from giving consolation, 
 was the cause of plunging him into deeper grief. By 
 it he learned that his father, whom domestic troubles, 
 and especially the cruel desertion of his son, had so 
 sensibly affected, was fallen into a most languid state ; 
 that his health was becoming worse every day, and 
 that he was apparently sinking into a premature grave ; 
 22 (253)
 
 254 LIFE OF FATHER MAllIA EPIIllAIM. 
 
 moreover, that it was the decided opinion of the 
 physicians, that nothing but the speedy return of the 
 son to his paternal roof, could bring any mitigation 
 to his disorder. 
 
 The effect of such melancholy news upon the tender 
 heart of brother Ephraim, may be easily imagined ; 
 upon the heart of so tender a son, who had no other 
 earthly affection than for his father and sister, and 
 who had no other regret in following his Saviour 
 through the path of Calvary, than the affliction he 
 was about to bring upon those whom he loved only 
 less than he loved God, and for whose happiness he 
 would willingly sacrifice himself. But in the moments 
 the most desperate, the saints despair not. After 
 reading so afflicting a letter, brother Ephraim yielded 
 a few tears to his natural affection, and then turning 
 himself towards his God, he exclaimed in accents of 
 grief: " my God, my sins are the cause of all this, 
 but I ardently desire to make satisfaction for them : 
 for this purpose am I come hither to this house of 
 penance, and you, my God, know that I have left all 
 to follow you, and that, notwithstanding the affection 
 I had towards those bound to me by the ties of natu- 
 ral relationship, I have not hesitated to make the 
 sacrifice you demanded from me ; do not permit, then, 
 O most merciful God, that my obedience be at the ex- 
 pense of the life of him, whom you order me to honor 
 and obey as my earthly father." . . . Scarcely had he 
 pronounced these words, than he felt his heart full of 
 confidence, and possessed of sufficient strength to offer 
 to God this sacrifice also, continuing his supplication 
 in the words of the Saviour agonizing in the garden
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHIIAIM. 255 
 
 of Olives : " If it be possible, my God, take from 
 me this cup; but thy will be done, not mine." From 
 that moment, the Demon acknowledged himself con- 
 quered, and departed from him forever. God Him- 
 self, satisfied with the noble contest of his servant, 
 ceased all further trial, and added a greater amount 
 of consolations ; it is thus that, in his goodness, he 
 practises towards all who love Ilim. Soon after, our 
 brother Ephraim received a letter from his aunt, that 
 announced to him, though without the knowledge of 
 the rest of the family, that all that had been written 
 concerning the illness of his father, was all a fiction, 
 fabricated expressly to recall him to Perpignan, and 
 to oppose his religious vocation. This letter, in all 
 respects tender and loving, contained also some ex- 
 cellent advice as to the prudent conduct that the 
 young novice shall pursue before engaging himself 
 irrevocably to his order, but one paragraph in par- 
 ticular filled him with joy ; it was that in which his 
 aunt acquainted him with the resolution adopted by 
 her own daughter, and his cousin, of consecrating her- 
 self to God in the monastic state. 
 
 God is admirable in his designs. When the brother 
 Ephraim quitted his noviciate to re-enter the world, 
 one would imagine that it was all over with his voca- 
 tion, and that he departed from his solitude, never 
 more to return. Such was really the fixed project of 
 his relations, and we have seen, that he himself con- 
 sidered it a culpnble act of weakness to yield to their 
 wishes. Well, God Himself was the author of this 
 event; Ho Himself made this very removal a means 
 of accomplishing His own designs ; He sent the young
 
 256 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 
 
 novice as His visible agent. Independently of the 
 other objects of edification that He Avished to draw 
 from the spectacle which his chosen vessel, the young 
 man Ferrer, exhibited to the world, in putting before 
 the eyes of all an example of the mighty power of 
 virtue assisted by grace ; He sent him in particular to 
 gain over to the ranks of the faithful in the monastic 
 army, his cousin first, and his sister, afterwards. We 
 should not forget, that the pious examples of these 
 two young ladies had been the chief means of res- 
 cuing himself from the life of dissipation he was 
 leading, and of drawing him, as if by force, to the 
 feet of the pious director, who implanted in his mind 
 the happy dispositions that remained indelibly fixed 
 thereon. He had contracted a debt towards them, 
 which he was about to repay ; and as God made use 
 of the faithful young women to serve for the conver- 
 sion of their friend and brother, so He made use of 
 the latter for the confirming of theii; own religious 
 vocation. Brother Maria Ephraim, when writing to 
 the good Abbe G. . .. some time after his return to 
 Aiguebelle, thus expresses himself: "I beseech you 
 not to lose sight of. the future Trappist nun ; I am 
 deeply interested in her vocation ; I have remarked in 
 her a fund of piety seldom to be met with now-a-days, 
 and am convinced that she is called to a religious life, 
 and that she will make a good nun; how happy would 
 I be to hear, that she had taken the habit ! As to 
 my sister, I have not been able to judge of her so 
 attentively, but I believe that she is not made for this 
 world any more than her cousin ; send both of them 
 soon to their true homes in the ranks of a religious
 
 LIFE OP FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 257 
 
 sisterhood." It ^ill be seen in the sequel, how this 
 double prophecy has been fulfilled. 
 
 Brother Ephraim blessed the Lord for the more 
 cheerful news be received from his family, and al- 
 though his heart was sensibly affected by the false 
 alarm, this did not occasion any diminution of his af- 
 fection towards those who were the cause of it. He 
 excused their intention, and considered their proceed- 
 ings, though blameworthy in themselves, as excesses 
 to which a too great affection for him had carried 
 them ; and continued to write to them with the same 
 affability as formerly. The more they endeavored to 
 thwart him in his religious vocation, the more he 
 avenged himself by new demonstrations of love and 
 affection. He ceased not to endeavor to do away 
 with their preventions 'against La Trappe, and their 
 prejudices against. the kind of life he had embraced. 
 We shall here insert some of his arguments, which 
 may serve as a continuation of the justificatory 
 sketches that have been drawn in a former chapter. 
 
 It is not rare to meet with persons now, as well as 
 then, whose only idea of Trappists is " an assemblage 
 of individuals sadly vegetating in the shades of clois- 
 ters, dragging out a miserable existence at the will of 
 a deplorable fatality." This so ridiculous and so 
 erroneous notion of the religious life can proceed from 
 nothing else than from ignorance, either real or af- 
 fected, of the real state of things in that condition of 
 life. 
 
 And, in fact, the congregation of La Trappe realizes 
 within itself all those fine chimeras that our political 
 systematisers so long have dreamed of, and the reali- 
 22*
 
 258 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRATM. 
 
 zation of which they have never been able to find 
 out. It is a finished form of government, and is 
 essentially monarchical ; in it, the -will of every one, 
 as well as his heart, is concentrated in the will of one, 
 namely, of the Superior. The latter has this title 
 only on account of his being the first in penance, the 
 fiirst at the divine office, the first at all exercises, and 
 the model of all his brethren ; he has, however, an 
 absolute authority over all the members of the com- 
 munity, but this power is never exercised despotically : 
 it is rather an authority purely paternal, which is 
 exercised with all the charity that the rules of the 
 most tender love prescribe ; nor is it arbitrary, since 
 it is regulated and limited by the most wise constitu- 
 tions. A code of laws determines and fixes all the 
 duties of it ; namely, the rule of the blessed patriarch 
 Benedict, which is literally and in all its tenor ob- 
 served by the congregation. As all laws, more or 
 less, need interpretation, so this rule is interpreted by 
 a commentary now consisting of thirteen hundred and 
 ten articles ; and these same comments are examined, 
 corrected and augmented every year, by competent 
 authority; that is, by the general chapter, which is 
 annually held, and at which all the abbots, and the 
 subordinate superiors of each congregation, are obliged 
 to be present. Although the abbot governs his own 
 abbey according to his own pleasure, he is yet ac- 
 countable for his administration to the general supe- 
 riors of the whole order, and it is at the general 
 chapter, more especially, that his administration is 
 examined, and inquired into. Besides, the most 
 Reverend Vicar-General visits every year each house
 
 LIFE OF FATnEll MARIA EPIIRAIM. 259 
 
 of the order, and after having examined everything 
 \siih the greatest solicitude, he then has a private 
 conversation with each individual religious, hears the 
 remarks of each one, his observations on the govern- 
 ment of the house, his complaints, if he has any to 
 make ; and takes notes of everything, which he after- 
 wards uses for the glory of God, and for the advance- 
 ment of the congregation. 
 
 In the community, there is a great number of 
 officers, whose especial duty it is to make known and 
 cause to be executed the will of the abbot, whose 
 administration, bearing as it does the stamp of divine 
 direction, would seem to have its source in divine in- 
 spiration ; so great is the regularity and fervor main- 
 tained by it, and so much is it always attended by 
 peace and happiness. The diiferent officers do not 
 remain for any length of time in the same office ; on 
 the contrary, they are frequently changed, and by 
 this means a remedy is applied against the natural 
 attachment to a particular business that habit begets 
 in the human mind; and which, if suffered to grow, 
 would be injurious to that spirit of disinterestedness 
 and self-abnegation so essential to the religious state. 
 Each one thus, at one time in an inferior capacity, at 
 another time in a superior one, now giving orders, 
 and by and by receiving orders from others, passes 
 throudi the various offices of the order, and finds oc- 
 casion to practise the suitable virtues. 
 
 Whilst in church, the Trappists may be compared 
 to a numerous choir of canons ; they celebrate all the 
 offices, and go through, without interruption, all the 
 ceremonies that are usually practised in cathedral
 
 2C0 LIFE OF FATUEIl MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 churches, and this, too, with all the attendant pomp 
 and solemnity. Scarcely, however, have these canons 
 of the desert quitted their stalls, than they are trans- 
 formed into diligent mechanics, or into laborious cul- 
 tivators of the soil, and each one, according to the 
 gift he has received from nature, or according as he 
 is directed by obedience, goes to earn his bread by 
 the sweat of his brow. Justly then did Brother Maria 
 Ephraim answer the taunts of some of his friends, who 
 thought fit to designate the Trappists by the name of 
 " idle drones," when he replied, " Let those who thus 
 designate us, only come and submit themselves to our 
 kind of life during eight days only, — I ask for no 
 longer time, — and then they can judge whether the 
 life we lead is idle and dronish." 
 
 Let it not be supposed that a man, however enlight- 
 ened and instructed he may be, is degraded because 
 he puts his hands to servile employments. The noble 
 pride of ancient Rome was never offended because her 
 most illustrious senators cultivated their own fields 
 with the same hands they had held the reins of govern- 
 ment. If this had been accounted a degradation, the 
 names of those famous dictators, whom they sought 
 for at the plough, in order to obtain their assistance 
 for the safety of the republic, would never have been 
 handed down to posterity. But the worldly-minded 
 cannot understand this noble conduct of the Trap- 
 pist. " How I pity that poor young man," he will 
 exclaim, upon viewing the laborious life and peniten- 
 tial deportment of the Trappist, "how I pity him! 
 What can have ever induced him to embrace such a 
 mode of life !" But the Trappist will answer him :
 
 LIFE OP FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 2G1 
 
 " Worldlj-minded man ! you can understand neither 
 me, nor my motives; and I pity you with all my 
 soul, for you are really a greater object of pity than 
 I appear to be; — but let us discuss the matter calmly, 
 and perhaps you may be convinced of the truth of my 
 assertion." The Trappist will then perhaps continue, 
 as follows : 
 
 " I have come to this desert to study true wisdom, 
 and to seek that happiness I was unable to find in 
 the world. For this, I have embraced a manner of 
 life somewhat painful to nature, I grant, especially at 
 the commencement, but I have, after a very short 
 time, found consolations therein, that I would not 
 now exchange for all the pleasures of the world. My 
 occupation is to make my body subject to my spirit, 
 to remodel my heart, and to permit that none but 
 holy and lawful affections should have a place therein ; 
 and the holy exercises of La Trappe are the most 
 powerful means for obtaining such results. The reli- 
 gious of La Trappe are in the school of Paradise, 
 wherein they are instructed in the virtues essential to 
 the inhabitants of Heaven ; and although we have no 
 certain revelation concerning the occupations of the 
 Blessed, vet we endeavor to accustom ourselves to 
 the practice of such things as may be reasonably 
 supposed to be continually practised by them. The 
 life of the saints in heaven is purely intellectual, 
 purely spiritual ; the Trappists in their monasteries 
 wase a continual war with all sensualities, and en- 
 deavor to spiritualize all their woi'ks. The saints in 
 heaven are continually singing the praises of the 
 Most-High, and the chief occupation of the Trappists
 
 262 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 
 
 is to imitate them, regulating themselves as to the 
 time bj the Royal Prophet that rose by night to 
 fulfil his duty towards his Creator, and gave praises 
 to him also seven times during the day. In fine, the 
 glorious inhabitants of Heaven are all absorbed in 
 God, and think no more of earthly things; the 
 monks, in the same manner, live separated from 
 the world, and purify themselves every day from 
 the attachment which they may have had for its 
 creatures. 
 
 We have already spoken of the constitutions by 
 which monasteries are governed, and as every body of 
 laws has its penal code, that of La Trappe has its penal 
 code also. The world, in its peculiar manner of judg- 
 ing things, and more especially of judging things it 
 cannot understand, would probably find it trifling and 
 ridiculous ; but the prudent and sensible man will be of a 
 different opinion, for he will be forced to admire it, when 
 he finds it so well adapted to the end in view ; namely, 
 the mortification of self-love, and the establishing in its 
 place of the opposite virtue. According to it, it is not 
 always necessary to be theologically culpable ; it suffi- 
 ces to appear so, to incur punishment. An accident, 
 an error, even an inadvertence, does not go unpun- 
 ished, because such things always imply excess or 
 nef^Hsence. For this reason, whenever a brother 
 hurts or wounds himself at labor, an article of the 
 penal code obliges him to be his own accuser, to show 
 his wound and receive penance. Penances of this 
 kind tend to establish in the soul the domination 
 of that admirable and holy humility which is the 
 essential basis of the whole spiritual edifice. They
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 2C3 
 
 consist principally in humble prostrations before the 
 whole community; in praying for a stated time with 
 extended arms, as if asking forgiveness; in Icissing 
 the feet of the brothers, and begging from each one 
 in the refectory a portion of bread, or a spoonful 
 of soup, with which to satisfy the calls of nature. 
 Penalties of this kind are by no means onerous, and 
 as it is the law of love and charity that imposes them, 
 they are accordingly performed with the greatest will- 
 ingness. The good religious finds his advantage and 
 happiness in this sort of humiliations ; he even some- 
 times feels the need of them, and consequently is 
 solicitous that they be imposed upon him as frequently 
 as possible. 
 
 But the most severe penalty is the one enacted 
 against the infringement of silence ; simple humi- 
 liation is not sufficient in this case ; the law requires 
 exemplary chastisement, and this apparent rigor is 
 an evidence of its wise provisions. Who can be igno- 
 rant of the beneficial effects accruing from the strict 
 observance of this virtue ? — for virtue it is I What 
 a certain safeguard it aiFords in a large community, 
 against the hatreds, enmities, and divisions so pre- 
 valent in society ! We have already spoken of the 
 cordial charity reigning in the monasteries of La 
 Trappe ; but how would it be possible to maintain so 
 essential a principle, if each individual were at liberty 
 to express his own sentiments, to give his advice, to 
 communicate his ideas ! What confusion, and what 
 disorder would there be in a short time ! — whereas it is 
 a received truth, that '' there are as many different man- 
 ners of thinking as there arc persons that think."
 
 264 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 How many words, innocent perhaps in the intention 
 of him who utters them, are badly taken and badly 
 interpreted by one who feels, or believes himself 
 offended by them ; and of how great disturbance are 
 not such words frequently the cause ! Besides, the 
 practice of silence, which would be painful and im- 
 practicable in the world, is by no means so at La 
 Trappe. In this world, everything is relative, or as 
 circumstances make it, and that which would be in- 
 tolerable in any other condition of life, appears sweet 
 and pleasing to the religious, to whom contemplation 
 becomes soon a necessity ; like his brothers who give 
 him the example, he soon prefers to make his happi- 
 ness consist in conversing with God and His saints, 
 rather than in losing his time in idle conversation. 
 
 The precept of silence is not, however, so absolute 
 that it cannot in certain cases be dispensed with. 
 The Superior, and those employed in the necessary 
 business of the monastery, are not obliged to observe 
 it, and any pressing necessity is in itself sufficient to 
 dispense all from it. There is, besides, a small dic- 
 tionary of conventional signs, by the aid of which 
 the religious can, without speaking, understand one 
 another, and communicate their ideas, whenever there 
 is occasion.
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 THE FEMALE COrSIN OF BROTHER EPHRAIM ENTERS THE CONVENT OF LA 
 TRAPPE. A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE FEMALE TRAPPISTS OF LTONS AND 
 HAUBEC. 
 
 The example of Brother Ephraim had developed in 
 the heart of one of his female cousins the seeds of 
 a vocation to a religious life that had long been dor- 
 mant. Indeed, the existence of M'lle Eliza — she was 
 so named — had been bound up with that of her 
 cousins. She had passed in their society the greater 
 part of the years of childhood, and had been con- 
 stantly united to them by friendship and reciprocal 
 esteem. Our Brother Ephraim was the first to 
 advance on the path of religious heroism, to be fol- 
 lowed soon after by his sister and cousin. The lat- 
 ter first followed his example, by becoming a sister in 
 the austere order of the female Trappists. As soon 
 as he became aware of her determination, he wrote to 
 her as follows, in order to bid her " God speed," and 
 encourage her in her undertaking. " The divine good- 
 ness has done you, my dear cousin, a great favor in 
 calling you to the happy state, that it has pleased 
 Him to call me also, though unworthy of such a bless- 
 ing. You cannot fully appreciate the amount of 
 the happiness in store for you, until you are initiated 
 into the secret of the holy pleasures and enjoyments 
 hidden under the rough and penitential life of the 
 cloister. Envy not the lot of your other cousins — 
 (meaning some of them about to enter into the state 
 23 (265)
 
 266 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 of Marriage) — for you also, as well as they, will wear 
 a crown, and be clothed in white ; with this difference, 
 that they must lay down their crowns the day after 
 their nuptials, whilst you shall retain yours until your 
 heavenly spouse substitute a crown of immortality in 
 its place. They must quit their white robes almost 
 immediately, whilst you, on the contrary, will per- 
 ceive your robes becoming more splendid every day, 
 until, admitted at last to the company of the faithful 
 virgins, you enter into the marriage-feast of the Lamb 
 without blemish." 
 
 There are in France divers communities of Trappist 
 nuns living under the jurisdiction of that bishop in 
 whose diocese their convent is located, and having for 
 spiritual directors one or more priests of the Congre- 
 gation belonging to the nearest Cistercian monastery. 
 This sisterhood follow the rule of Saint Benedict, and 
 their constitutions are nearly the same as those of the 
 Trappists. There are two such communities in the 
 vicinity of Aiguebelle ; one of them in the suburbs of 
 the city of Lyons, and the other at Maubec, midway 
 between Montelimart and Aiguebelle. At the time 
 that the revolutionary storm was raging in France, 
 and destroying by its malign influence the fine insti- 
 tutions that had so long added splendor to the Gal- 
 lican Church, the members of the various religious 
 communities were obliged to seek in foreign lands 
 safety from the oppressive tyranny of the sanguinary 
 enemies to law, order, and Christianity. Divine Pro- 
 vidence never loses sight of those who are faithful to 
 the end ! The Reverend Father Augustin, known in 
 the world by the name of M. de Lestrange, had
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 267 
 
 establishctl, a short time after the first French revo- 
 lution, the venerable brothers of La Trappe, at a place 
 in Switzerland called Val-Sainte ; and had thus pro- 
 videntially prepared a place of refuge for a number of 
 holy virgins, who were driven from their different nun- 
 neries on the French soil. He afterwards purchased 
 for their accommodation a house in the neighborhood 
 of Saint Maurice, in the Swiss canton of Valais. The 
 poor exiles flocked to it in great numbers, desirous of 
 recovering the peace of the cloister, and indifferent to 
 •what rule they should be obliged to conform, provided 
 that it enabled them to remain faithful to their mon- 
 astic vows. Among this assemblage of pious virgins 
 may be found many ladies of exalted rank and great 
 riches, who had left everything to dedicate themselves 
 to the service of God. They rivalled one another 
 in courage and zeal to resume their former life of 
 penance and prayer, and nothing tending to call down 
 the divine mercy upon the miserable condition of ill- 
 fated France, appeared too difficult to be undertaken. 
 The abbot, Father Augustin, proposed for their accept- 
 ance the Cistercian reform that had been already in- 
 troduced among the religious of Val-Sainte, after 
 modifying it to the necessary wants of their sex ; but 
 the good sisters, far from finding this manner of 
 life too austere, were desirous of adding other austeri- 
 ties which it was deemed expedient to prohibit the 
 practice of. This occurred in 179G. 
 
 In the mean time, the destructive principles that 
 had been so fatally developed in France, began by 
 degrees to infest the neighboring nations, and neces- 
 sarily brought with them the same epidemic of destruc-
 
 268 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 tion and scandal. The members of Father Augustln's 
 establishments were obliged to abandon the Swiss terri- 
 tory, and beg an asylum elsewhere. It is not our inten- 
 tion to follow them in their diiferent emigrations ; others 
 have done it, and thereby made it a matter of history. 
 We cannot, however, help ourselves from admiring this 
 double colony, of whom the world was not worthy, 
 destitute and in want, travelling sometimes by land, 
 either on foot or in miserable conveyances, sometimes 
 by sea, and oftentimes not knowing where they would 
 be permitted to cast anchor, and yet living as if they 
 were in their monasteries, observing the same strict- 
 ness of religious observance, and the same ceremonials 
 in the performance of the divine offices. As the bark 
 of Peter, tossed about by the waves, beaten by con- 
 trary winds, the sport of furious hurricanes, and re- 
 pelled from every landing place, yet reposes con- 
 stantly upon the protection of Him whom the winds 
 and tempests obey, without ever once fearing that the 
 gates of hell shall prevail against it, so also the colony 
 of Father Augustin, strong in the protection of the 
 Most High, passes through every danger of land and 
 sea, and saves from final destruction the precious rem- 
 nants of monastic discipline. 
 
 At last, it was the will of God that calm days 
 should again be experienced on the beautiful soil of 
 France. Religious institutions were no longer pro- 
 hibited, and the Trappists again made their appear- 
 ance. The nuns of the same order soon followed, 
 eager to return to their former mode of living. 
 Father De Lestrange distributed them among the dif- 
 ferent communities he had established in the north of
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 269 
 
 France. In 1817, a Trappist nunnery was established 
 at Lyons, the chief city of the Department of the 
 Rhone. The Reverend Mother Maria du Saint- 
 Esprit was at the head of the establishment, which was 
 composed of eleven sisters. We have been permitted 
 to look over the registry of the convent, and we find 
 in it a memorandum made of the piety, the excellent 
 disposition, and generosity of the inhabitants of Lyons. 
 We think it worth while to reproduce it here, as it 
 may serve as a proof, that cloisters are not insuscep- 
 tible of sentiments of gratitude. It is as follows : 
 
 " Our Reverend Mother (Maria du Saint-Esprit) 
 arrived at Lyons on the 13th May, 1817, accompa- 
 nied by eleven sisters. She was received by the in- 
 habitants with every demonstration of respect and of 
 the most affectionate cordiality. All the population 
 of Lyons testified their satisfaction at having a con- 
 vent of our order, and rivalled one another in render- 
 ing us every charitable assistance. The morning 
 after our arrival, the Reverend Father Augustiu 
 came to visit us ; he expressed his joy at having had 
 it in his power to call us to this religious and hospit- 
 able city, he himself having been a witness of the 
 sentiments of respect, not unmixed with veneration, 
 •with which our respectable mother superior had in- 
 spired all the inhabitants. We first established our- 
 selves in a rented house of the suburbs of the city. 
 Providence afterwards blessing our endeavors, we 
 have been able, with the assistance of the generous 
 people of Lyons, to purchase a spot of land and build 
 a monastery, in which, sheltered from the tumult and 
 bustle of the world, we have the power of following 
 23*
 
 270 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 in peace our holy exercises, and delivering ourselves 
 up without hindrance to the cares of our salvation. 
 
 Deeming it necessary not to omit the recital of the 
 honorable reception we have received from the inhabi- 
 tants of Lyons, it has been resolved to consign it to 
 the official registry of our monastery, in order to per- 
 petuate the memory of it in our community, and that 
 the sisters who shall inhabit this place after us, may 
 be aware of the piety, charity and good feelings of 
 the good people of the city." 
 
 The monastery was built in a suburb of Lyons, 
 called " Vaise," and was dedicated to the worship of 
 God under the name of Our Lady of All Consolation. 
 The nuns took possession of it on the 18th of May, 
 1820, under the spiritual guidance of the Reverend 
 Father Augustin, and under the immediate direction 
 of the Reverend Mother Theresa, who was elected 
 Prioress. This establishment continued to prosper 
 until the revolution of 1880, by which the city of 
 Lyons, in common with the rest of France, was again 
 thrown into a state of anarchy and confusion. The 
 poor Trappist sisters had their own share of the 
 general consternation caused by that event, and, 
 although buried in the solitude of the cloister, they 
 were as much troubled as if they were taking an 
 active part in the aifairs of the world. 
 
 About this period, there happened to be exposed 
 for sale a ffirm in the environs of Montelimart, in the 
 department of La Drome, which was said to be well- 
 adapted for a religious establishment. The Reverend 
 Mother Victima, at that time Prioress of the nunnery 
 at Lyons, went to see it, and was immediately struck
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 271 
 
 with its suitableness, so that it was at once resolved 
 to sell the monastic property at Lyons, and to trans- 
 fer the whole community to Maubec ; the name by 
 which the new purchase was known. But the inhabi- 
 tants of Lyons, who had hailed with so much joy the 
 arrival of the nuns, and had been so long accustomed 
 to see among them persons given up to prayer and 
 mortification, could not patiently suffer the departure 
 of a community to which they acknowledged them- 
 selves so much indebted for many blessings. Repre- 
 sentations were made to the general superiors of the 
 order, and other methods were made use of, until it 
 was at last decided that only a limited number of the 
 sisters should remove to the new establishment at 
 Maubec, whilst the greater part should still continue 
 at Lyons. The Mother Victima, accordingly, with a 
 few sisters, removed to the new establishment, whilst 
 the Reverend Mother Pacifica was elected Prioress of 
 the convent of Lyons, in her place. 
 
 It would take up too much time and space to enter 
 into a circumstantial account of these two monasteries. 
 We cannot, however, forbear remarking upon the 
 powerful influence of religion, which can make that 
 sex, the chief characteristic of which is delicacy, so 
 tolerant of fatigue and austerities. To how great a 
 number of would-be philosophers could not these 
 penitential sisters give noble lessons of strength of 
 character and greatness of soul ! It is well known 
 that they observe the fasts, support the long hours of 
 nightly attendance in choir, chaunt the divine office 
 in the same manner as their co-religious of the other 
 sex ; and they also perform all the laborious duties of
 
 272 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 cultivating the soil, together with the other services 
 of the monastery. But what will be acknowledged 
 more painful still, if we judge from those of their sex 
 living in the world, is, that they observe a rigorous 
 sile7iee. On this subject, we may perhaps be permitted 
 to relate an anecdote in point. At a certain assem- 
 blage, great praise was given to the Reverend Father 
 Augustin, on account of his exemplary life, and his 
 being the true restorer of the monasteries of the Cis- 
 tercian order. Some one present asked, " Has he ever 
 wrought any miracles ?" " Yes," replied another ; 
 "/or if he has not really given speech to the dumb, he 
 has at least had the power of mahing women and 
 assemblages of women hold their tongues ;'^ thus al- 
 luding to the monasteries of the nuns of La Trappe. 
 The proximity of Aiguebelle had at first made 
 M'lle Alday desire to enter the nunnery of Maubec, 
 in order to be in reach of her cousin, Brother Maria 
 Ephraim. The latter desired it also, and had made 
 overtures on that subject to the Reverend Mother 
 Superior. The greatest diflficulty consisted in the 
 want of room for the reception of novices, as the 
 monastery was not built at that time^ and the number 
 of sisters was already too large. He, however, ob- 
 tained the admission of his cousin. Madame Alday 
 arrived soon after, accompanied by her two daughters, 
 on a visit to her nephew at Aiguebelle. Brother 
 Ephraim laid open to his aunt the difficulty of being 
 received at Maubec, and the reasons thereof; adding, 
 at the same time, that he had obtained the admission 
 of his cousin through special favor. But here arose 
 other difficulties ; for though M'lle Eliza was the only
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 273 
 
 one that offered at present, she expected to be soon 
 followed by many of her friends, and especially by 
 her own sister, and they desired to live in the same 
 monastery. The idea of becoming nuns in separate 
 nunneries appeared to the sisters insupportable ; and 
 this would probably be the case, if one of them became 
 a resident at Maubec, whilst the monastery was in its 
 present crowded condition. Upon these considera- 
 tions, and perhaps through the inherent curiosity of 
 women, they resolved to visit the nunnery of Lyons 
 also. This house, in itself spacious, was not then 
 overcrowded, and the young aspirant was received 
 almost immediately. With her mother's consent, she 
 took the religious habit, under the name of Sister 
 Louisa ; made a solemn profession the year after, 
 and is now (1844) Mistress of Novices in the above- 
 mentioned nunnery.
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 BEOTHER MARIA EPHRAIM MAKES HIS VOWS. RELIGIOUS PROFESSION IS 
 A SECOND BAPTISM. THE TOWS OF TRAPPISTS ARE SOLEMN VOWS. 
 
 In the mean time, the year of Brother Maria 
 Ephraim's probation was now drawing to an end. 
 His regularity, fervor and devotion were conspicuous, 
 so that at the expiration of that time, he was admitted 
 without opposition to pronounce his vows. This 
 ceremony, in itself so interesting, was on the present 
 occasion rendered still more so, by the touching cir- 
 cumstance of seven others of his fellow-novices pro- 
 nouncing their vows on the same day ; four of which 
 were choir-religious, and the remaining three, lay- 
 brothers. Among the former was to be found that 
 worthy young gentleman of Toulouse, who arrived at 
 the monastery whilst Brother Ephraim was yet unde- 
 cided in his religious calling, and whose vocation, as 
 extraordinary as his own, but more matured, had 
 aiforded him so much satisfaction, and given him the 
 example of so much courage. 
 
 This was the happiest day of Brother Ephraim's 
 life. Long since, but more especially since his arrival 
 at Aiguebellc, had he deplored his former manner of 
 living ; he incessantly reproached himself for having 
 spent so many years a stranger to God, estranged 
 from the practices of religion, and wholly given up to 
 the dissipations of youth. What follies, wrote he in 
 his letters, have I not been guilty of at those unhappy 
 (274)
 
 LIFE OP FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 275 
 
 times ! What cares and what vain solicitude have I 
 not undergone, in order to gratify the sensual passions, 
 and to sacrifice at the shrine of impure pleasures ! 
 How thankful ought I be to the great Giver of all 
 Good, for having at length opened the eyes of my 
 soul, and made me see the nothingness of such pur- 
 suits ! And it was as much to testify to Him his 
 gratitude, as to expiate his faults, that he sighed for 
 the moment when he would have it in his power to 
 offer himself as a victim of expiation, and to devote 
 himself to His service. In return, he received from 
 God an increase of that peace which passeth all un- 
 derstanding, and which is never denied to men of good 
 will. Pax Iwminihus honae voluntatis. 
 
 We shall not be surprised at the holy joy of Brother 
 Ephraim, and of all those having the privilege of 
 making a solemn profession, if we consider with at- 
 tention the great advantages derived from it. One 
 of the most precious of these advantages is, that the 
 consecration to God in a solemn profession, by the 
 emission of the three vows of religion, namely, poverty, 
 chastity, and obedience, is in itself a second baptism, 
 and produces the same effects as martyrdom ; so that 
 a religious who has the happiness of pronouncing his 
 vows, receives by that very act full and entire re- 
 mission of all sins committed prior to that period, or, 
 in other words, the Trappist who dies immediately 
 after his profession, goes immediately to heaven, with- 
 out undergoing any purgatorial cleansing. 
 
 What we have just now advanced is not, to be sure, 
 an article of faith, since nothing has been definitely 
 resolved upon that subject, nor has it over been a
 
 276 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 question before any general council ; but how many 
 similar truths may be found, upon which the Church 
 has been silent, and which, nevertheless, are most 
 worthy of belief! We do not hesitate to pronounce 
 the foregoing as one of those truths, and the reader 
 will be, we are confident, of the same opinion, after 
 having duly weighed the sentiments of the Fathers of 
 the Church upon this subject. It would take us too 
 long to cite all the authorities, and shall therefore 
 content ourselves with citing a few only. 
 
 We read in the great Saint Thomas : " It may be 
 said with reason, that a remission of all sins is ob- 
 tained by entering into a religious order." '■'■ Ration- 
 aliter did potest quod per ingressum religionis ali- 
 quis consequatur remissionem omnium peecatorum.'^ 
 On this subject, he cites the very words of othex 
 Fathers, holding the same opinion, and concludes by 
 saying " that those who enter a religious society, re- 
 ceive the same grace as those who are just baptised." 
 " Quod eamdem gratiam consequuntur intrantes reli- 
 gionem, quam consequuntur haptisati^ 
 
 If it be the effect of good works, says Saint Jerome, 
 to make us obtain mercy and forgiveness, how power- 
 ful an agent must be to obtain such a result, the ex- 
 cellent work of renouncing everything, in order to 
 follow Jesus Christ ! " If you wish to be perfect," says 
 our blessed Saviour, " go, and sell all you possess, give 
 it to the poor, and then follow me, and you will have 
 a treasure in heaven." Et Jiabebis thesaurum in 
 coelo. 
 
 The same holy Doctor, in his letter to Saint Paula, 
 written to console her for the death of her daughter
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 277 
 
 Blesilla, says ; " If a sudden or improvided death had 
 surprised her -with the heart occupied with secular 
 desires, and fixed upon the pleasures of the present 
 life, then we \yould have cause for deploring her loss, 
 and of shedding tears ; but the vow she had just taken 
 of consecrating herself to God, and of renouncing all 
 worldly vanities, has been for her a second baptism. 
 ... Be comforted, therefore, by reflecting, that your 
 daughter has only quit a life full of misery, to pass to 
 one of happiness." 
 
 To these respectable testimonies may be added 
 many others. Saint Cyprian, in his work " Exhor- 
 tations to Martyrdom," says; "Every Christian that 
 shall abandon all he possesses to follow Jesus Christ, 
 will find a place among the army of martyrs." " The 
 martyrdom of our passions," says Saint Bernard, " is 
 somewhat less horrible than that of our bodies, when 
 they are given up to torture, but the former is more 
 painful than the latter, on account of its duration." 
 The same Saint Bernard, in his tract " De preceptis 
 et dispensationibus," says : " The entrance into re- 
 ligion has deserved the privilege of being called a 
 second baptism, both on account of the absolute re- 
 signation the religious makes of the world, and of the 
 excellence of the spiritual life he engages himself to 
 adhere to." Saint Antoninus and Saint Anselmus 
 hold the same doctrine, as well as Saint Athanasius, 
 who quotes on this subject the maxims of Saint An- 
 thony. Saint Liguori does not hesitate to afiirm, in 
 his work entitled " The Sanctified Nun," that "The 
 entrance into the religious state is in itself a baptism 
 which does away with the punishment as well as the 
 24
 
 278 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 sins, and has the effect of leaving the soul as spotless 
 as when it came from the hands of its Maker." For 
 this reason, it has been asserted, by some pious and 
 eminent men, that, " A new book is opened in heaven, 
 to write down the actions of the religious from the 
 moment they had made a solemn profession ; and that 
 the book in which the account of their former trans- 
 gressions was kept, is annihilated, and their former 
 sins never remembered." 
 
 It is easy, then, for whoever believes in the promises 
 of a future life, to explain to himself the reason of the 
 joy of a novice about to pronounce his vows. The 
 sins of his past life, or what he calls " his worldly 
 follies," no longer alarm him, for he feels they are 
 blotted out forever, and he finds in the shelter of the 
 cloister, and in the exercise of the virtues peculiar to 
 his state, a sure support against temptation. Happy ! 
 thrice happy are they, who preserve to the end of 
 their mortal career the inestimable boon of baptismal 
 innocence granted them by their religious profession, 
 and who have obtained from the great Dispenser of 
 favors the ineffable one of perseverance ! " Qui jje?'- 
 severaverit usque ad finem, hie salvus erit." 
 
 But here arises another question. Do the vows 
 made by the congregation of La Trappe enjoy the 
 privileges we have been speaking about ? Are they 
 solemn vows ? Yes, the vows of the Trappists are 
 solemn vows ; and we do not hesitate to maintain their 
 solemnity, although we are not ignorant that some 
 professors of theology have endeavored to establish 
 the contrary. What is a solemn vow ? It is that 
 which is sanctioned by the authority of the Church;
 
 LIFE OP FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 279 
 
 votum solemne illud est quod ut tale aceeptatur ah 
 Ecdesia. The order of Trappists is sanctioned by the 
 Church, the election of its abbots is approved by the 
 Sovereign Pontiffs ; therefore, the vows of those pro- 
 fessed in it must be solemn vows. The court of Rome 
 has always recognised them as the true religious of 
 the Cistercian order, and as the legitimate children 
 of Saint Bernard, and of the celebrated Abbe Ranee. 
 Since 1791, (before that period there can be no ques- 
 tion,) when they were expelled from their monasteries 
 in France, they retired to Yal-Sainte, in Switzerland, 
 and have never since ceased to live in community, and 
 to observe their religious exercises, sometimes in one 
 place, sometimes in another. Pius VI., Pius VII., and 
 Leo XII., Popes of cherished memory, have addressed 
 to them words of felicitation and encouragement, 
 whilst the first-named holy Pontiff raised the monastery 
 of Val-Sainte to the dignity of an abbey of the Cis- 
 tercian order. A letter addressed to Mgr., the Bishop 
 of Angers, in the name and by the express order of 
 His Holiness Leo XIL, contains flattering testimony 
 of the interest taken by this great Pope in the pros- 
 perity of the Trappists. " The good odor of Jesus 
 Christ," he says, " that our well-beloved congregation 
 of La Trappe sheds in so great abundance upon the 
 kingdom of France, makes it our duty to encourage 
 them by every means in our power. Religfon itself 
 would sustain a severe loss, were it to be deprived of 
 the splendid example of piety and fervor so con- 
 spicuous in their lives." ^^ Bonus odor Qhristi quern 
 spargit ahunde, in florentissimo Galliarum regno, re- 
 formata familia Trap'pensium ordinis Cisterciunij
 
 280 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 continuo fovendus est flagranti nutrimento, ne desint 
 exempla virtutum, magno religionis detrimento." 
 
 Another objection may be made by alleging the 
 impossibility of observing the vow of poverty in France 
 and in other countries, where the secular government 
 does not recognise the validity of vows. But such an 
 objection is more specious than solid. It is of little 
 consequence whether a secular government recognises 
 or not the validity of vows, whereas it has no right 
 to decide in matters of ecclesiastical discipline ; the 
 Church alone being the absolute guide in that respect. 
 If religious vows are to be deemed solemn only when 
 they are acknowledged as such by secular governments, 
 the vow of chastity emitted by the recipients of holy 
 orders in countries not blessed with being wholly 
 Catholic, would be invalid also; — a consequence to 
 which such logic must necessarily lead. 
 
 But, it is insisted, how can the vow of poverty be 
 observed under governments that claim from their 
 subjects a manner of living diametrically opposed to 
 it ? The answer is easy ; indeed, it can appear difficult 
 only to those persons who are unwilling to embrace 
 such a condition of life. It is simply this. Let the 
 novice arrange his temporal concerns before his pro- 
 fession ; let him declare his intentions to the superior, 
 "who should permit to himself the full and entire dis- 
 posal of everything, and only demanding that the 
 voluntary deprivation be absolute, so that he should 
 not have it in his power, were he so inclined, to 
 resume the smallest particle of any property that 
 belonged to him. By this means, it is evident that 
 the new professed possesses no property, and conse-
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 281 
 
 quently that all the deeds which he may be afterwards 
 called upon to execute in favor of those to whom he 
 may have given his property, must be considered as 
 so many testamentary acts. It -is, therefore, possible 
 to find the means of observing the vow of poverty, 
 and of living in strict accordance with it. This 
 method has been long practised by the Fathers of the 
 Society of Jesus in England, Germany, and other 
 countries where they were not recognised by law ; and 
 that, too, with the full knowledge and consent of the 
 Church. It may then be lawfully concluded, that the 
 action of secular governments does not annul the 
 validity of religious vows, and that the vows of the 
 Trappists, being considered as solemn vows by the 
 Church, remain so under whatever government, and 
 among whatever people they are living. This con- 
 clusion is, moreover, strengthened by a decree of the 
 Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regulars, bear- 
 ing date the 5th of September, 1834, and undersigned 
 by the Prefect, Cardinal Odescalchi, in which the so- 
 lemnity of the vows of the Trappists is unanimously 
 proclaimed. 
 24*
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 CONCEENING SOME TIET0ES OP BROTHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 To speak worthily of the virtues practised by this 
 fervent religious, whether during his year of probation, 
 or after his solemn profession, it would be necessary 
 to enumerate all the monastic virtues, and to say that 
 he excelled in each and every one of them. But the 
 life of a monk is emphatically a life of privacy, and 
 the greater his virtues are in number, the greater is 
 his care to keep them from observation. We shall, 
 however, mention a few peculiar to this worthy brother, 
 and which, in spite of his modesty, attracted general 
 observation. 
 
 We have already seen with what courage he sup- 
 ported his first trials ; this ardor never diminished. 
 Diversity of employments is, it is truly said, the 
 surest means of testing the virtue of any one, but in 
 a more especial manner of the religious. Saint 
 Francis of Sales, a grand master of spiritual life, was 
 accustomed to say : " If you wish to know the quali- 
 ties of any religious, confide to his care some particu- 
 lar ofiice, and you will soon discover what opinion you 
 ought to have of him." And, in fact, by that means 
 he will have relations with more or fewer persons, 
 will be occupied with the cares of his office, and will 
 be in the way of meeting with more or less difficulties ; 
 his character will be seen undisguised, his virtues, if 
 (282)
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 283 
 
 he have any, will be called forth. Our Brother 
 Ephraim was not found wanting in trials of this sort. 
 By turns, crozier-hearer, keeper of the cemetery, aco- 
 lyte, preparer of the lamps, secretary of the abbot, 
 librarian, shepherd, .... in all offices, he showed 
 himself constantly the same, and always a brilliant 
 example of regularity, obedience, and charity, of zeal 
 for the divine office and the service of the altar, of 
 love of labor, and of courage to bear mortifications. 
 
 Regularity is a virtue most essential to form a good 
 religious, the one which supposes and maintains all 
 other virtues. " To canonize a religious, it is not 
 necessary to inquire whether he has performeif mira- 
 cles ; it is sufficient to know that he has exactly ob- 
 served the rules of his order." Brother Ephraim, who 
 had not abandoned all secular advantages to make 
 himself a religious by halves, labored to be most exact 
 in the observance of the manners and customs of the 
 monastery. He followed to the letter what Cassianus 
 relates of the exactness of certain solitaries, who, 
 when summoned to choir by the sound of the bell, 
 w^ould leave unfinished whatever they were at that 
 moment occupied in doing. There was not, however, 
 any singularity in his manner of acting, unless, in- 
 deed, his being more exact than the other brothers, 
 may be called by that name : he only performed 
 common things, things prescribed by his rule, but his 
 manner of performing them rendered them uncom- 
 mon. 
 
 According to a monastic regulation, whenever a 
 religious enters upon any office, he must make an 
 exact inventory of the furniture or utensils apper-
 
 284 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 taining to that office, so as to render an exact account 
 of them, whenever he quits it. Brother Ephraim 
 executed this part of his duty, in all the offices he 
 passed through, "vvith the greatest exactness. In the 
 closet appropriated to the keeper of the lamps, there 
 are many httle things of use to him who is charged 
 with that office : he omitted none of those things in 
 his inventory, and finding there also a few nails des- 
 tined for some service, of which he was ignorant, he 
 added at the end, — and some nails. This little cir- 
 cumstance, which will appear trifling to those unac- 
 quainted with the monastic life, must have due weight 
 with those aware that perfection consists in fidelity in 
 small things, and will be edified by it, as all the 
 brothers had been edified, when it occurred. 
 
 This regularity of Brother Ephraim had its founda- 
 tion in the profound humility Avhich led him to look 
 upon himself as unworthy to be received in a religious 
 community, after having passed so much of his life 
 amid worldly pleasures. His obedience towards his 
 superiors was unlimited; he regarded the abbot as 
 the representative of God in the monastery, who was 
 specially charged to transmit His will to the other 
 members of the community, and he showed himself 
 equally submissive to the least desires of the very 
 lowest of his brothers. He had constantly, not only 
 the will, but also his thoughts and opinions conform- 
 able to the desires of him that commanded him on 
 the part of God. He obeyed with simplicity the lay 
 brothers, with whom he was associated in the per- 
 formance of some work of industry ; that of minding 
 sheep, for instance. Oh, how much the self-love of
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 285 
 
 M. Ferrer, rich and well-educated, must have been 
 mortified, seeing liimself, staff in hand, obliged to run 
 through the mountains in attendance on flocks of 
 sheep not his own ! But the humble Brother Ephraim, 
 a Trappist, is happy in the exercise of this act of vir- 
 tue ; persuaded that he is greater, whilst keeping 
 sheep through religious obedience, than if he actually 
 held a royal sceptre, and commanded a nation. We 
 are by this reminded of a passage in one of his letters 
 to his father : " Yesterday," he writes, " we had a 
 visit of ceremony from one of the magistrates of ex- 
 alted station, who, accompanied by his secretary, and 
 other attendants, honored our monastery with his 
 august presence. He inspected closely every part 
 of the house, and expressed a wish to see the Avhole 
 community assembled in one place. We accordingly 
 assembled in the large room used as a chapter-room. 
 Whilst he was addressing to us a few words, your son, 
 the Brother Ephraim, clothed in his coarse and worn 
 habit, was saying in his own mind : I prefer the being 
 of what I am, a poor despised monk, to any other 
 condition of life; I would not, in truth, exchange 
 places with that worthy magistrate." 
 
 On , another occasion, one of the brothers with 
 whom he was at work, made a sign to him to mix to- 
 gether lime and sand, in order to prepare mortar for 
 the work at which they were occupied. There was at 
 a little distance an instrument of iron in common use 
 on such occasions, but he, not understanding the sign 
 made by his companion, began to prepare the mortar 
 with his naked hands ; painful and troublesome as such 
 an operation must be. He feared to infringe on his
 
 286 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 obedience, were he, without express permission, to 
 make use of the usual instrument. 
 
 Charity and love towards all men is a virtue char- 
 acteristic of the predestined, and Brother Ephraim 
 was remarkable from his infancy for the love of his 
 neighbor. We have already related, how desirous, 
 whilst yet a child, he was to assemble around him 
 those of his own age, and especially, the poor children 
 of the village, to instruct them as far as he was able, 
 and to obtain favors for them from his parents. 
 When he first felt himself called to a more perfect 
 state of life, he ardently desired to become a mission- 
 ary among the savage inhabitants of the New World, 
 to seek out idolaters, to live among them in their 
 wigwams, and to endeavor, by the sacrifice of him- 
 self, to gain them over to the kingdom of Christ. 
 Many passages of his letters make it manifest, that 
 his journey to Paris had for its chief object the execu- 
 tion of this very plan, and a desire to consult the 
 reverend Fathers of the society of Saint Lazarus 
 upon that subject. The Lord, whilst accepting his 
 sacrifice, did not demand that he should leave his own 
 country, to offer it ; he gave his mind another direc- 
 tion, as has been seen, and placed him in a situation 
 in which he could obtain many merits, as great and 
 as glorious as those he had in contemplation. His 
 ardent soul, touched with the love of God, sighed for 
 martyrdom ; it burned, according to his own spiritual 
 language, " to go and gather one of those palms which 
 his own country did not produce." 
 
 This ardent charity accompanied him to the monas- 
 tery, and gained there additional strength. lie felt
 
 LIFE OF FATlIEll MARIA EPllKAIM. 287 
 
 towards his reverend abbot an affection only to be 
 equalled by that which affectionate children feel to- 
 wards their earthly parents ; and he looked upon the 
 whole religious community as a family of well-beloved 
 brothers, for whom he had a most lively and ardent 
 attachment. 
 
 We have spoken elsewhere of a certain article of 
 the Benedictine rule, which makes it a duty on the 
 religious to mutually proclaim one another's faults in 
 public chapter ; a thing in itself very much tending 
 to the maintenance of good order and discipline. 
 Father Ephraim was not lacking in this obligation, 
 but he chose so well his expressions, and put so much 
 sweetness and love in the tone of his voice, that it was 
 evident to every one, that charity alone was the cause 
 of his speaking. 
 
 At manual labor, he was watchful in assistins: his 
 brothers. lie knew how to take to himself, without 
 their being aware of it, the most painful offices, and 
 leave the less difficult ones to others. lie had his eye 
 constantly upon them, whether to assist in some fa- 
 tiguing duty, or to run to the help of those who were 
 weighed down wuth something above their strength. 
 
 There happened to be in the monastery a brother 
 afflicted with paralysis, but who was sometimes en- 
 abled to drag himself to the church with the assistance 
 of some of his co-religious. Father Ephraim had 
 solicited as a special favor the permission of aiding 
 this poor brother, and performed it for some time with 
 such zeal as God will surely recompense. . When his 
 own health began to give way, another offered to take 
 his place, but Brother Ephraim feared to lose so pre-
 
 288 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 cious an occasion of exercising his favorite virtue : he 
 accordingly signified his thanks to the one that oflFered, 
 and gave him to understand that it was the will of the 
 Reverend Abbot, that he should still continue his 
 assistance to the poor afflicted. He did not, however, 
 lose sight of the brother that offered to supply his 
 place, and when his own weakness compelled him to 
 resign it, he begged the Superior to permit that same 
 brother to take it. The Reverend Father Abbot con- 
 sented, and gave him a note to be given to him who 
 had so desired the oflSce ; leaving him at the same 
 time in admiration of the ardent love and charity so 
 conspicuous in all his actions. 
 
 But our Brother Ephraim was chiefly remarkable 
 for the zeal he exhibited in the celebration of the 
 divine mysteries, and in everything appertaining to 
 the service of the altar. Saint Bernard, in his advice 
 to his novices to hasten that they might be among the 
 first in the Church at each spiritual exercise, tells 
 them " that it is a special grace to have the first share 
 of the blessings distributed by the Lord on his faithful 
 servants;" Brother Ephraim was never forgetful of 
 this recommendation. Scarcely did he hear the first 
 toll of the bell, summoning the community to matins, 
 than he rose from his couch, and hastened, without at 
 the same time losing any of his religious deportment, 
 to be among the first in the sanctuary, and to pros- 
 trate himself before the Son of the Most High ; de- 
 voting himself anew to His pleasure, and receiving in 
 exchange those sweet and abundant benedictions 
 which so powerfully aid in the fulfilment of the .duties 
 of the day. His voice, at first weak, soon acquired a
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 289 
 
 loud pitch by continual exercise, so that it at last was 
 distinctly heard above the voices of others. In this, 
 also, he followed the exhortation of Saint Bernard ; 
 for he spared neither his lungs nor his chest, but 
 deemed himself happy in being able to offer night and 
 day the sacrifice of praise to his Creator. 
 
 It not seldom happens, that young persons not 
 educated from infancy for the clerical state, feel a 
 certain repugnance to the functions of the church 
 ceremonies. Brother Ephraim was, by no means, of 
 this character. He was thoroughly conscious that a 
 religious is by his very condition consecrated to the 
 glory of religion, and to the service of the altar. It 
 was accordingly one of his greatest pleasures to fill 
 any of the offices that drew him into proximity with 
 the Holy of Holies, and that gave him the privilege 
 of mixing with the legions of Blessed Spirits, who are 
 incessantly before the throne of the living God, and 
 assist invisibly at the celebration of our holy mys- 
 teries. Little differing in the purity of his sentiments 
 from those holy Intelligences, he filled by turns the 
 offices of Cross-bearer, of Acolothist, and of Incense- 
 bearer, with such an air of zeal and devotion, that, 
 according to the words of the religious who saw him, 
 " no other one before or after him has been able to 
 assume." He knew that there were special graces 
 attached to the serving of Mass, and that the angels 
 themselves arc ambitious of this honor. He was so 
 desirous of it, that he envied those whose special duty 
 it was, and would frequently say, that two brothers 
 ought always serve every mass celebrated in the mon- 
 astery for the greater honor of the Holy Sacrifice. 
 25
 
 290 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 
 
 He frequently visited the most Holy Sacrament ; his 
 visits were not at all times of the same length ; but if 
 he could only spare from his necessary occupations 
 two minutes to adore his Saviour, to renew the offer- 
 ing of his heart to Him, he was content. He never 
 returned from his labors outside the monastery with- 
 out going to salute a few moments the God of his 
 heart. 
 
 But what mostly surprised, and at the same time 
 edified his co-religious, was the ardor he manifested 
 in the performance of manual labor, although, on ac- 
 count of his former position in society, he had been 
 educated in different habits. His skill and intelligence 
 rendered him soon an adept in the most difficult work, 
 and his virtue made him bear all the laborious parts 
 of it with a degree of patience that put out of counte- 
 nance the most determined of his companions. In 
 general, the young novices who are not accustomed 
 to manual labor, apply themselves to it at first with- 
 out making any allowance for their natural strength. 
 The consequence is, that they soon become fatigued, 
 and are unable to endure the labor for any length of 
 time. Such was not the system put into practice by 
 Brother Ephraim. He commenced his labor with 
 moderation, and went on increasing it little by little, 
 until his natural strength was developed. He was 
 thus enabled to continue longer at work, and, at the 
 same time, escape the notice of the other brothers ; 
 for his humility induced him to avoid attracting their 
 observations, cither through too much zeal, or too little 
 industry. At this time, they were employed at Aigue- 
 bclle in freeing the land from a prodigious quantity
 
 LIFE OP FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 2'.>1 
 
 of stones that covered it. These stones ucre trans- 
 ported to one place in panniers, which the brothers 
 carried on their shouklers. It was remarked, that 
 Brother Ephraim did not at first fill his basket, and 
 that he walked off with it in a slow, tottering gait, 
 whilst the others almost ran under their full bas- 
 kets. Very soon, however, the exercise increased his 
 strength, and he was enabled to carry a heavy load, 
 and advance as quickly as any of the others. In the 
 harvest field, he followed all the labors of the season 
 with incredible energy. Having once wounded him- 
 self by the unskilful management of his instrument, 
 he went immediately to accuse himself to his Superior, 
 showing his wound, and proclaiming that it was caused 
 by his own awkwardness. A penance was imposed 
 upon him, as the constitutions require, which was by 
 him received with more gladness than he could ex- 
 hibit upon receiving an efficacious balsam for his 
 wound. 
 
 After becoming skilled in mowing, he relished this 
 kind of labor better than any other ; nevertheless, 
 upon a certain occasion, the brother who had the 
 direction of the labor, made a sign that the number 
 of the mowers was too great for the comparatively 
 small number of the binders. Although he was not 
 designated, he immediately abandoned his scythe, and 
 went to join those of the brothers who had the less 
 pleasing work of binding ; and this, too, after having 
 busied himself that very morning in preparing a 
 scythe for his own use. It was also remarked, that, 
 through the desire of assisting his brothers, he always 
 took the most laborious posts. Thus, one evening.
 
 292 LIFE or FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 
 
 during the intense lieat of summer, he was observed, 
 after having worked all day in the meadow, to take 
 the place of the brother whose duty it was to remove 
 the hay from, the wagons, and stow it on the hay 
 lofts : this was an office ordinarily reserved for the 
 most robust of the community. Even whilst an in- 
 mate of the infirmary, and seriously sick, he never 
 felt himself disposed to live without labor. The 
 superintendent proportions the occupations of each to 
 his strength, and when that entirely fails, he gives 
 him the charge of scraping lint for future occasions: 
 Brother Ephraim was employed in making matches. 
 At the distribution of the labor, he was accustomed 
 to open the door of his cell, and if the superintendent 
 passed on without giving him anything to do, as 
 sometimes happened, whether through design or acci- 
 dent, he immediately rang his little bell to recall him, 
 and begged him to rectify his forgetfulness. 
 
 We have yet said nothing of the mortifications of 
 Brother Ephraim; indeed, it might seem almost super- 
 fluous to say that a Trappist is mortified, for the 
 name itself implies mortification. There is, however, a 
 manner of being austere in austerity itself; of bring- 
 ing to practices of the austerity a mind more or less 
 devoted. Noav, it can be said, that the religious 
 whose life we are tracing, was one of those that knew 
 how to enliven all the exercises of the rule with a spirit 
 eminently conformable to their holy state. The fol- 
 lower of a God, all whose morality is contained in 
 these words : '■''Do penance, take up your cross, and 
 follow me;" he endeavored to imitate by his conduct 
 the penitent life of his Divine Master, and was never
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 293 
 
 forgetful that his Divine model had not arrived at glory 
 before passing through the road of Calvary, and that 
 He had not received in heaven a crown of glory and 
 immortality before he had carried here below a crown 
 of thorns. Accordingly, he practised other means 
 of mortification, in addition to those prescribed by the 
 rule, but without making himself remarkable for 
 singularity. When his superiors recommended dis- 
 cretion on this score, he was accustomed to answer : 
 I have to do with an intractable tp-ant, (by that 
 name he designated his body,) who would soon carry 
 me to perdition, if I did not oppose his impitiable ex- 
 actions. He was consequently faithful to his system 
 of coercion, and came off victorious in every struggle. 
 He slept barely through necessity, and before sleep- 
 ing, he always went over the prayers imposed by him- 
 self or his confessor. During tlie heats of summer, 
 when the nights are so short, the regulations of La 
 Trappe permit the religious to repose a few hours 
 after dinner, but Brother Ephraim employed that 
 time either in writing to his correspondents, or in 
 reading the books of the order. The dinner of La 
 Trappe is composed, as we have already stated, of two 
 portions sufficiently abundant; he ate but one of 
 these portions for a considerable length of time. 
 When this austerity came to the knowledge of his 
 superior, he was commanded to eat both portions: 
 obedience was more precious in his eyes than morti- 
 fication, and thenceforward he ate all that was served 
 up to him. 
 
 During the winter season, there is a room set apart 
 for the use of the religious, in which a fire is con- 
 25*
 
 294 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 stantly kept up. The rules of the house permit them 
 to go there, whenever they feel excessively cold; they 
 are, however, obliged to warm themselves standing, 
 remain but a short time, and then retire, after si- 
 lently inclining towards those who might happen to 
 be present. No person can remember ever to have 
 seen Brother Ephraim make use of this privilege, 
 though he must have had frequent necessity to do so ; 
 it being the most rigorous part of the winter, that he 
 filled the office of lamp-preparer. This is one of the 
 most troublesome, not to say disgusting, offices of the 
 monastery, for the person who is charged with it, is 
 obliged to clean and replenish with oil all the lamps, 
 which, in so large an establishment as that of Aigue- 
 belle, must be necessarily very numerous, and are 
 kept lighting all night. The room of this functionary 
 is located in a place exposed to the open air, in order 
 to prevent the deleterious effects of putrid oil, and 
 must consequently be very cold in winter. Brother 
 Ephraim was accustomed to labor four hours everyday 
 at this painful employment, exposed to the rigors of a 
 severe winter. One of the brothers, throu'i^h com- 
 passion, once brought him a pan of ignited coals ; 
 but, after expressing his thanks, he gave his kind 
 brother to understand that he could not profit by his 
 kindness. Not that he was insensible to cold; quite 
 the contrary ; he felt it so sensibly, that his hands 
 were frost-bitten and covered over with sores in con- 
 sequence of exposure. Such a condition, so afflict- 
 ing to nature, was for the virtue of this good religious 
 a subject of heartfelt joy. He could not refrain 
 from mentioning it in his letters to his relations as a
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 295 
 
 piece of important ne^vs, adding that " I have the 
 honor of being lamp-preparer ; that is, the office of 
 watching over all the lamps of the monastery, from 
 the lamp of the Sanctuary to that of the stable, has 
 been confided to my care." When another succeeded 
 him in this office, he ^yas permitted to speak to him 
 in order that he might inform him of the manner in 
 which it should be performed. He then expressed 
 his regret at quitting an office that supplied him with 
 so many occasions of exercising the virtue of self- 
 denial, and confessed that nothing but the obedience 
 due to the expressed orders of the superior, could pre- 
 vail upon him to resign it. 
 
 The oldest looks, the most worn breviaries,' were 
 those he most desired. It was a happiness, in his esti- 
 mation, to be clothed in the meanest garb. Whilst 
 he had the care of the lamps, he accidentally spilt 
 some oil upon his habit, another was given to him, 
 whilst his own was washing, but he begged his superior 
 as a special favor that he might be permitted to 
 resume it, as soon as it was washed : it was threadbare, 
 and covered over with patches. 
 
 The following fact is, in our opinion, an heroic act 
 of mortification — as well for the suffering caused by 
 it, as for its duration. In reading over the counsels 
 of exalted spirituality that St. Dorothea gives to those 
 wishing to advance in monastic perfection, Ave were 
 struck with these words, "Never uncover yourselves 
 for the sake of being less warm." Father Ephraim 
 had doubtlessly read this advice, and had also the 
 courage to put it in practice. Until the eve of his 
 death, he had the constancy to keep his head envel-
 
 296 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM., 
 
 oped in a double cowl during the intense heats of 
 summer, both by day and night ; although the rule 
 permits the contrary use on various occasions. This 
 self-infliction is enough to frighten even the imagina- 
 tion, and it seems to us that no other than a Trappist 
 could possibly have the moral strength to endure it. 
 To give some idea to those -who do not know what a 
 double cowl is, let them imagine to themselves a per- 
 son having his head enveloped in a thick woollen cap, 
 that comes down over the eyes, and that another cap 
 of the same material and thickness be placed over the 
 first ; let this imaginary person remain thus covered, 
 not during an hour, or a day, but during a long 
 perio(f. If they can bring to their mind's eye the 
 sufferings of such a person, they then can probably 
 form some notion of this painful mortification of Fa- 
 ther Ephraim. This stifling head-dress kept him al- 
 most continually in a state of profuse perspiration. 
 One of his co-religious, whose excessive turn of good 
 humor could not be restrained even in cases of grave 
 importance, having seen him in this state, told the 
 Reverend Father Abbot, that "his dear Brother 
 Ephraim was boiling in his own gravy.'' This ex- 
 pression, however trivial, gives a good description of 
 the new kind of martyrdom inflicted on himself with 
 so much patience and constancy by this fervid reli- 
 gious. The physician was obliged to inform the 
 abbot of bis excessive austerities ; " in his j^resent 
 condition," said the physician, "it would be well to 
 induce him to forego some of his mortifications." At 
 that time, he had not a day to live. 
 
 We have said nothing in reference to the strict
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 297 
 
 silence of Father Ephraim ; after what we have al- 
 I'cady related, it will be easily believed that he was as 
 strict in the observance of this point of the rule, as 
 of any other we have mentioned. We shall give only 
 two examples : 
 
 It has been already observed that he found in the 
 monastery one of his old college friends. They had 
 permission to speak to one another, because this very 
 friend was the physician. Never, however, did he 
 call up in conversation any remembrance of his former 
 life, or of their common associates in the world. The 
 rule dispenses from silence only, in order to speak of 
 things indispensable ; and with the physician he could 
 only speak of the state of his health. But how easy 
 would the transition be to irrelevant things, had not 
 his scrupulous observance restrained him ! 
 
 On another occasion, a brother who had obtained 
 permission to speak to him on account of some duty 
 with which they were charged, and which rendered 
 speaking necessary, having spoken to him about some 
 irrelevant matter, and at an unsuitable time, he im- 
 mediately feared to be an accomplice of the sin, (if 
 sin there could be,) and ran forthwith to accuse him- 
 self to his superior ; leaving his poor companion com- 
 pletely astounded, and, at the same time, very much 
 edified by such exemplary observance.
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 DEVOTION OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM TOWARDS THE BLESSED VIRGIN. 
 
 We have already spoken of the tender and filial 
 piety entertained by Father Ephraim towards the 
 Blessed Virgin, whom many of those devoted to her 
 service, call the "Dispenser of religious vocations." 
 Whilst yet a child, he had devoted himself to her, and 
 enrolled his name among her zealous servants at Aix, 
 when the silver heart was presented at her altar by 
 the scholars of the college, as has been related in the 
 first part of this little volume. This devotion towards 
 his good Mother was redoubled after fixing his residence 
 at Aiguebelle ; for he firmly believed that he was in- 
 debted to her motherly protection for the grace of 
 being able to withdraw himself from the world, and 
 of dedicating himself to the service of God. 
 
 It is related of St. Robert, the holy founder of the 
 Cistercian order, that he attributed to the protection 
 of the Blessed Mary all the good he ever did ; Brother 
 Ephraim followed his example. In the hands of Mary 
 he deposited all his works, praying her to offer them 
 herself to her divine Son. He began all his letters 
 with these words : All for 3Iary, and through Mary, 
 and ended them by devoting himself to the Holy 
 Hearts of Jesus and Mary, the centre and aim of all 
 his affections. Since we have mentioned his letters, 
 it may be remarked, that their most prominent feature 
 (298)
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 299 
 
 is, a rare and heartfelt confidence in the protection 
 of this Holy Queen of devout souls. 
 
 His sister having experienced some disappointments, 
 he endeavored to console her thus : " I pity your 
 affliction with all my heart, and the more so, as you 
 have not now at your side her who could calm all our 
 inquietudes, and dry all our tears, (he means his mo- 
 ther,) but Heaven has taken her from us ! She is in 
 the bosom of God, where we may hope to refind her ! 
 Be consoled, however, for she still watches over us. 
 We have also another Mother, who has not less love 
 and tenderness for us, and who is more powerful to 
 protect us; I mean, we have our kind Mother, the 
 blessed Virgin Mary. She has never refused any- 
 thing to me ; go and lay at her feet all your troubles; 
 she is a sure refuge, and is she not the Consoler of the 
 afflicted ? You address yourself to our father when 
 you need clothes or anything of luxury or fancy, 
 which he has it in his power to procure for you, and 
 you never go away from him unsatisfied, so great is his 
 affection for you ; well then, my dearest sister, be as- 
 sured, that Mary is still more eager of assisting you, 
 and all who implore her help, than any earthly parent 
 can possibly be. Make the trial, and you will be 
 obliged to acknowledo;e her munificence." 
 
 In honor of Mary, Brother Ephraim transferred to 
 Saturday the reading of all the letters he received, 
 unless they required an immediate answer, of which 
 he was informed by the Reverend Abbot, whose duty 
 it is to read all the letters addressed to his religious 
 before permitting them to be read by those for whom 
 they are intended. He actually became excited with
 
 300 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 
 
 a holy joy at the name of Mary. Every night before 
 going to bed, he recommended himself to her pro- 
 tection, and always recited before sleeping a part of 
 the rosary. He was often heard to sigh out during 
 the night the sweet names of Jesus and Mary, and 
 received the holy communion every Saturday in honor 
 of that tender mother. Finally, he had always, during 
 his sickness, so much confidence in her motherly pro- 
 tection, that he expressed his certainty of being de- 
 livered from the trammels of this life on one of the 
 days specially set apart by the church to her honor. 
 Writing to his cousin at Lyons, he says, "■ Another 
 great festival in honor of my great patroness, the 
 most Holy Virgin, is near at hand. Oh ! if it were 
 permitted me to cast off this mortal coil on that day, 
 I would not fear the fires of Purgatory." We shall 
 soon see that he was not deceived in his hope and 
 confidence of dying on such a day ; for it was on the 
 festival of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, that he 
 finished his exile in this world, and went to present 
 his homages to his illustrious Protectress, the Queen 
 of Heaven.
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 SICKNESS OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. HIS DEATH. 
 
 This life is but the apprenticeship of eternity, and 
 all the time that man passes on earth, has been 
 allowed to him only to prepare himself by virtue for 
 participation in the joys of eternal happiness. Many 
 of the most illustrious saints — among others, St. 
 Theresa — have not hesitated to affirm, that when a 
 soul has arrived at that degree of perfection to which 
 it is called by God, He then takes it from this world 
 to put it in possession of the destined rewards, unless, 
 indeed, He should think fit to leave it yet awhile on 
 earth for his own glory, and for the edification of his 
 creatures. We do not hesitate to bring the worthy 
 subject w^hose life we are writing, under this maxim, 
 and although he had to deplore many years passed 
 in forgetfulness of religious duties, the sincerity of 
 his return to virtue, the generosity of his sacrifice, his 
 religious profession, and, above all other things, his 
 persevering observance of all the monastic virtues, 
 have been sufiicient to make his expiation acceptable 
 in the sight of Him who is emphatically the God of 
 Mercy. The following passage from the Book of Wis- 
 dom may with justice be applied to him : " In the 
 short time he had passed in the exercise of penance, 
 he had passed through the course of a long life." 
 " Consummatus in brevi explevit tempora multa." 
 26 (301)
 
 302 LIFE OF FATIIEK MARIA EPIIRAIM. 
 
 Father Ephraim was by no means of a robust con- 
 stitution. "When he arrived at Aiguebelle after his 
 journey to Paris, he seemed in delicate health : this 
 made the reverend Father Abbot fear that he would 
 be soon frightened by the life of a Trappist. The 
 ardor he afterwards used in putting into practice all 
 the religious observances, and in singing to the ut- 
 most extent of his voice, brought him to a state of 
 feebleness that was the subject of alarm to his supe- 
 riors. He became evidently sick ; every one could 
 see that he was sick, and yet he was the last person 
 himself to make any mention of it. He redoubled 
 his regularity every day, and his disposition, never- 
 theless, suffered no diminution of its usual holy calm. 
 About the end of Lent, he appeared worn out, and 
 coughed a great deal, so as to attract the attention, 
 unwillingly on his part, of the community. The 
 Father that acted as physician, thought it necessary 
 to summon him to the infirmary, in order to apply 
 some timely remedies to the insidious disease with 
 which he was attacked, but Brother Ephraim, con- 
 sulting only his own fervor, said that su(5h at- 
 tentions were needless, and that he really wanted 
 nothing. The physician was obliged to invoke the 
 authority of the Reverend Abbot, and then obedience 
 had that efiect over the mind of the good Ephraim, 
 which no other consideration could obtain. He sub- 
 mitted to everything, became an inmate of the in- 
 firmary, and took with simplicity all the medicines 
 that were presented him, never testifying any repug- 
 nance, however bitter and disagreeable they might 
 be. His state, far from growing better, became daily
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 303 
 
 worse, and he was soon after declared to be in a set- 
 tled consumption. 
 
 Brother Ephraim was well aware of the character 
 of the maladv with which he was attacked, but this 
 had no terrors for him: he had often sighed for the 
 happiness of dying a Trappist, and he was rather 
 rejoiced that this happiness was about to be speedily 
 accomplished. It was formerly the custom to adorn 
 with flowers and evergreens the graves of the vener- 
 ated dead of La Trappe. This custom has now fallen 
 into disuse, in consequence of its being deemed incom- 
 patible with monastic poverty and simplicity. Brother 
 Ephraim had written to his friends at Perpignan for 
 a quantity of flower-seeds and of evergreens, in order 
 to adorn the cemetery of Aiguebelle, with the care 
 of which he was charged about this period. In a letter 
 of thanks to his aunt for her kindness in sending him 
 the above articles, occur the following words : " Oh ! 
 my dearest aunt, how happy would I deem myself, if 
 your present should be used to adorn the grave that 
 is destined for me !" On another occasion, writing to 
 his cousin at Lyons, he says, " I am perfectly con- 
 scious, that I am destined for an early grave ; it is, 
 therefore, in vain that you endeavor to deceive me 
 on the score of my complaint : I may, however, be 
 yet in life until after the approaching feast of the 
 Visitation. If I could only obtain the favor of dying 
 on the day of the Assumption, I would have no fear 
 of the fires of purgatory; — but the will of God be 
 done." 
 
 Whilst in the infirmary. Father Ephraim was no 
 less regular in observance than when partaking of the
 
 304 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 common life of his brethren. He commenced by 
 studying the regulations binding on the sick, and con- 
 formed himself to them in every respect. He was 
 punctual in quitting his long, heavy cloak at the pre- 
 scribed hours, and consecrate to the manual labor he 
 was capable of performing all the hours he was exempt 
 from pain. One day, one of the brothers obtained 
 permission to visit him ; entering his cell, he saluted 
 him, and was going to begin some conversation, when 
 the invalid, interrupting him as politely as possible, 
 begged him to remember that the regulations com- 
 manded, that a visit to the infirmary should be always 
 commenced with prayer. At the same time, he raised 
 himself from the bed with much trouble, and kneeling 
 down, spent a few moments in prayer, after which he 
 replied, with cheerfulness, to all the questions that 
 were put to him. 
 
 The regulations prescribe it as an obligation on the 
 sick to attend chapter and the conventual mass as 
 often as possible. This injunction he obeyed as long 
 as he could ; and even when rendered by excess of sick- 
 ness incapable of free motion, he set out for the 
 church and chapter-room before the appointed time, 
 in order by creeping on slowly he might arrive before 
 the commencement of mass, and of the other exercises. 
 One day, the physician found him extended on the 
 ground, a few paces from his cell. What are you 
 doing there ? said he to him. — I was trying to reach 
 the church in time for mass, replied he, but my 
 strength has failed. — The good brother raised him up, 
 and helped him back to bed. From that time forward, 
 he was unable to go to the church, unassisted : he was,
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 305 
 
 however, carried tliitlier in a cliair, wliich made him 
 one day exclaim in a tone of gayetj, "Why ! I have 
 become a great lord on a sudden ; I no longer travel 
 but in a palanquin." 
 
 Every day he became weaker and weaker ; he was 
 often a prey to frightful shortness of breath, and at 
 such times, it was often thought expedient to admin- 
 ister to him the last sacraments, lest it should happen 
 that he might be called away without having pre- 
 viously received them. This ceremony could now be 
 no longer deferred. According to the established 
 custom of the order, he was carried in a chair to the 
 church. All the community was in attendance. The 
 Reverend Father Abbot, surrounded by the usual 
 officers, and dressed in his robes of ceremony, ap- 
 proached the invalid, and thus addressed him, whilst 
 presenting a crucifix : " My dear Brother, Jesus Christ 
 sends me to you as the messenger of joyful news ; 
 after a few days, you will be summoned to depart, in 
 order to take possession of the place prepared for you 
 in His great monastery of Heaven. It is, however, 
 customary to make provisions for that great journey, 
 and I am come therefore to strengthen you with the 
 holy consolations of religion, and to administer to you 
 the Holy Viaticum, to enable you to reach your 
 destined place of rest. You have had constant confi- 
 dence in our good mother, the Star of the Sea ; it is 
 now that you will experience the effects of her power- 
 ful protection ; repose yourself on her tenderness, and 
 abandon yourself wholly to the mercy of the Lord." 
 Extreme Unction and the Holy Viaticum were then 
 administered with all the ceremonies prescribed by the 
 26*
 
 306 LIFE OP FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 
 
 ritual of the Cistercian order, and amid the prayers 
 of the assembled communitj. 
 
 He had always for his Reverend Abbot particular 
 attachment, and more than once openly acknowledged, 
 that his kindness had powerfully sustained his voca- 
 tion, whilst his example encouraged him in the most 
 painful labors. His visits were the cause of great 
 consolation to him during his sickness, for every time 
 he saw him and received his benediction, he made a 
 provision of patience and courage to sustain himself 
 in his physical sufferings. The abbot, on his part, 
 dearly loved Brother Ephraim, for he was one of his 
 good and fervent religious, whose loss would painfully 
 afflict him, were he not convinced that he only lost 
 him because his presence was required in heaven ; and 
 the thoughts of the happiness he was going to enjoy 
 among the blessed worshippers before the throne of 
 the Almighty, mitigated the sacrifice he was obliged 
 to make. He went to see him every day, and every 
 day he parted from him more edified by his happy 
 disposition. 
 
 When a religious is obliged to absent himself from 
 his monastery, he obtains from his superior a certi- 
 ficate manifesting the permission for doing so, in order 
 not to incur ecclesiastical censure, or not to be exposed 
 to the danger of being looked upon as an apostate and 
 fugitive. In this certificate, which is technically 
 termed "an obedience," it is specified, how long he 
 can remain absent, and also the place or places he is 
 to remain at during his absence, are set down. 
 Brother Ephraim was hourly expecting to change his 
 residence ; he, therefore, expressed a desire of carry-
 
 LIFE OP FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 307 
 
 ing with him an obedience from his beloved superior. 
 We give below a copy of this curious piece, which may- 
 serve as an illustration of the confiding affection of 
 the disciple, and of the tender solicitude of the 
 master : 
 " We, Brother Orsisius, Abbot of Our Lady of La 
 
 Trappe of Aiguebelle, 
 
 To our well-beloved son, Maria Ephraim, Religious 
 of said monastery : Health and peace in Our Lord 
 Jesus Christ. It is the will of the Good Shepherd to 
 call you to himself into his kingdom. We supplicate 
 Him, by his own Sacred Heart, and by all that he 
 has done for us, to remit all your sins, even the most 
 venial, and to permit you to enjoy His blessed pre- 
 sence from the moment you leave this valley of tears. 
 We recommend you to the maternal goodness of 
 Mary, our zealous Protectress, that she may be 
 pleased not to forsake you in your agony, that she 
 may console you in your troubles, and present, by 
 her own hands, your soul to her Divine Son, who will 
 not refuse her anything. When you shall have 
 arrived at our country in heaven, we command you, 
 through the merit of holy obedience, to pray without 
 ceasing for all the travelling brothers you have left 
 at Aiguebelle, until they also shall have happily 
 arrived. You shall also present the spiritual and 
 temporal wants of this monastery to our holy Father, 
 St, Bernard, who will be our advocate with Mary. 
 May the peace, joy, and Grace, of our Xord Jesus 
 Christ, be always with you. Amen. Jesus. Mary. 
 
 \_,Sig7ied] F. ORSISE, 
 x::^^==^^ Abbot of Aiguebelle. 
 
 Cj^y F. G., Secretary:'
 
 808 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 Father Ephraim preserved this docuroent with the 
 greatest care ; he had it next to his heart when he 
 died, and requested that it might he buried with him. 
 
 One sad thought came to trouble the holy calm he 
 enjoyed on his bed of suffering: he grieved that his 
 father persisted in denying him the consolation of 
 writing to him. This was a new opportunity of ac- 
 quiring merit; every time that this thought crossed his 
 mind, he offered the affliction it caused him, to the 
 God of his heart, saying with the holy prophet : My 
 parents have deserted me, but the Lord has taken me 
 in charge, — Pater mens et mater mea dereliquerurit 
 me, Deus auteni assumpsit me. Though he earnestly 
 solicited in all his letters a few lines from the hands 
 of his father, and a word of pardon, he never felt 
 towards him any other sentiment than one of affection. 
 A little before death, being himself unable to hold the 
 pen, he dictated a letter for his father to the attend- 
 ant of the infirmary, by which he hoped to move him. 
 He says, " You know, my dear father, that, since I 
 have made my solemn profession, I have the happi- 
 ness of belonging wholly to God. I now feel myself 
 called upon to assure you, that, had I established my- 
 self in the world according to your wishes, all the 
 pleasures that could be obtained there, would be to 
 me insipid, in comparison with the content and repose 
 of soul I experience in my present state. Oh ! if you 
 could only comprehend the happiness of belonging only 
 to God, to God without reserve, you would not long hesi- 
 tate to fly from the world, which offers only troubles, 
 pains, and miseries of all kinds. I am as happy as it 
 is permitted to be on this earth. I ask from God one
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 309 
 
 thing only, and I conjure you to ask it also for me 
 from the Divine Mercy — it is the grace of persevering 
 in my holy calling. I would desire nothing hotter 
 than to he instantly summoned to the Throne of the 
 Most High ; one must be so happy in the presence of 
 Jesus and Mary. The will of God be done in all 
 things. I wish my dear sister to be assured of the 
 interest I take in her happiness : as to yourself, you 
 know my sentiments towards your honored person ; 
 they are and always will be the same." 
 
 Some days before his death, Brother Ephraim wag 
 anxiously inquiring of the physician, whenever he was 
 visited by him, whether his sojournment here below 
 was likely to extend to a long period ; for that, in- 
 deed, he was desirous of dying and being Avith God. 
 At last, one day that the abbot happened to accom- 
 pany him in his visits, the physician thought himself 
 authorized to announce to him his approaching end. 
 Everywhere else, it is usual to hide, as much as possi- 
 ble, this terrible and decisive moment from the sick ; 
 at La Trappe, it is needless to use such precautions. 
 The fervent Trappist is not frightened by the approach 
 of death ; for he knows that death is for him a happy 
 transition to a better Hfe. Though he is not ignorant 
 that the judgments of God are always doubtful, he is 
 yet well aware that the judge who is about to decide 
 on his lot, is a God of goodness ; he is full of confi- 
 dence in the merits of his Saviour, whom he had en- 
 deavored to follow, and whose cross he had attempted 
 to carry. " If it is hard to live a Trappist, it is also 
 sweet to die one," has even passed into a proverb. 
 
 From a conviction of the happiness in store for the
 
 310 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 true Trapplst, the agonizing are the first to inquire 
 concerning the moment of their own departure. The 
 Reverend Abbot, whilst announcing to Brother Eph- 
 raim his approaching dissolution, sought to fortify him 
 bj his counsels against any dread of the increase of 
 physical sufferings. "I know well," replied Brother 
 Ephraim, " I know well, that the assaults which nature 
 has to sustain against death, frequently overpower 
 the body, but I reckon upon the powerful protection 
 of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whom I have so often 
 prayed to assist me at this last hour, and to present 
 my soul to her Son, after its parting from the body." 
 
 After some moments of 
 
 silence, he added, " It is then on this very night, that 
 the world will end for me, the world with all its 
 illusions !" 
 
 That evening, after complins, the Reverend Father 
 again visited him, and spoke to him a few moments 
 in private. The physician also came to see him, not 
 that he imagined that the sick, or rather the dying 
 man, could be assisted by his art. He came simply 
 for the sake of being edified by his example, and to 
 witness the calmness with which a Christian can die. 
 Upon perceiving him. Brother Ephraim made the 
 usual inquiry as to the probability of his dying that 
 night ; yes, my good brother, replied he, you shall, 
 perhaps, before morning be in the bosom of your God, 
 but take courage ! — But there was no necessity for 
 such exhortation ; the patient was calm, his face al- 
 most beaming with joy, and seemed to be peacefully 
 meditating upon the eternal happiness of a future life. 
 
 According to the custom of the house, whenever
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. oil 
 
 the sick are in danger of death, an attendant and one 
 of the priests remain constantly at his side. Seeing 
 this just man so tranquil, on such an occasion, they 
 felt themselves penetrated with awe, and assisted with 
 holy recollections at so sublime a scene. It seemed 
 to them, that angels were about to descend into the 
 poor cell ; and the consolations that inundated that 
 predestined soul, had already burst forth in their own 
 hearts. 
 
 During the night, his physical sufferings redoubled. 
 They addressed to hira many questions, in order to 
 find out something that might serve to mitigate them ; 
 he made signs that he was unwilling to speak. They 
 were consequently obliged to respect his love of 
 silence, although dispensed from it on such occasions 
 by the very rules. At ten O'clock, a profuse, cold 
 sweat covered his whole body, and he experienced a 
 devouring thirst, but abstained, nevertheless, from 
 drinking ; he would not even permit them to wipe the 
 sweat from his face. The attendant held his burning 
 and emaciated hand, whilst the priest was suggesting 
 to him some thoughts suitable to his present condition. 
 All at once there came on an alarming crisis, either 
 caused by the violence of the disease,* or the effects of 
 the imagination, so ordinary at the approach of death. 
 He cried out violently, and it was believed by his 
 attendants, that his cries were the harbingers of the 
 death-agony just now commencing. The community 
 was summoned, and among the first that entered the 
 cell was the Reverend Abbot, who threw himself upon 
 the neck of his beloved son, and anxiously inquired 
 whether his mind was at peace. He then made him
 
 312 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 
 
 kiss a miraculous image belonging to the monastery, 
 and gave him his benediction. Nothing more was 
 necessary to quiet him ; the sight of his Reverend 
 Father was of itself sufficient to make him forget his 
 sufferings, or, at least, to make him bear them with 
 angelic patience. He even forced himself to give 
 utterance to some words, by which he might express 
 his thanks and gratitude for the care and attention 
 bestowed upon him, not only at that particular mo- 
 ment, but during the whole time he had the happiness 
 of living in the community. After a while, he re- 
 sumed his ordinary serenity. It was now deemed 
 necessary to give him the absolution of the order, in 
 articulo mortis. It is the custom, that whenever the 
 sick person is evidently at the point of death, he be 
 extended on the ground upon a cloth of black serge, 
 under which is placed a quantity of ashes blessed by 
 the abbot. The utter prostration of strength into 
 which Brother Ephraim had fallen, precluded the 
 possibility of complying with this custom in his case. 
 They therefore commenced the prayers for the re- 
 commendation of a soul ; the Father Abbot on his 
 knees at the side of the dying, reciting them in a loud 
 voice, and the brothers in the same position on each 
 side of the bed, answering. Brother Ephraim seemed 
 to accompany this pious exercise with the same tran- 
 quillity that he would have had, were any other person 
 the one immediately concerned. The prayers were not 
 yet ended, when the good religious was seen to raise 
 his head, and pronounce in a distinct tone of voice the 
 sweet names of Jesus and Mary, and then let it fall 
 by degrees upon the pillow; it was now perceived
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 313 
 
 that he had ceased to live : his soul had disengaged 
 itself without an effort, and had floAvn to the bosom 
 of God. The physician approached, to be assured of 
 his death, for nothing in the exterior as yet an- 
 nounced it. His countenance, on the contrary, ap- 
 peared radiant with an angelic and supernatural 
 beauty ; his eyes, still open, appeared as if fixed upon 
 the Reverend Abbot. He died on the 16th of July, 
 the Festival of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. 
 
 The prayers now gave place to the beautiful and 
 affecting response Suhvenite Saneti. " Ye Saints of 
 Heaven, Ye Angels of the Lord, hasten to come and 
 receive this soul, to present it before the Throne of 
 the Most High." At the same time, the Father Abbot 
 incenses the dead body and sprinkles it with holy 
 water. After this, whilst it is washing and in the 
 act of being clothed in the religious habit, all the 
 community are singing appropriate psalms in a 
 neighboring chamber, until, all being ready, it is 
 borne processionally to the church, extended on the 
 bier ; and remains thus exposed, with the face un- 
 covered, till the moment of burial ; the religious, at 
 the same time, two by two, in turns, reciting the 
 office of the dead around it. 
 
 The death of this saintly Father created a painful 
 sensation through the whole monastery ; he was 
 beloved by every one, and looked upon as a saint. 
 On this account, whilst his remains were exposed in 
 the church, many ardently desired to have something 
 belonging to him as a relic ; and it is positively ascer- 
 tained that part of his hair was privately cut off for 
 that purpose, and one of his nails wholly taken away : 
 27
 
 314 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA ErHRAIM. 
 
 some even now invoke his intercession, as if they 
 were assured of his beatification, and of his influence 
 at the throne of God. 
 
 Thus people live and die at La Trappe ; for be it 
 remembered that Father Ephraim is only one of many. 
 In the necrology of Aiguebelle, it would be easy to 
 find many other religious, whose lives might present 
 details, not perhaps so varied as those of Father 
 Ephraim's, but yet admirable for regularity and edi- 
 fication. 
 
 It is needless to mention in detail the ceremonies 
 usual at the burial. Nothing particular was added 
 to them on the present occasion. All the exercises 
 of the community, all the masses were, as is customary, 
 applied from the moment of his death until the de- 
 positing of his body in the grave, for the repose of 
 the soul of the defunct. Each priest of the monastery 
 applied, immediately after, three masses for the same 
 intention; each choir-religious recited the whole 
 psalter, and each lay-brother, one hundred and fifty 
 times the Miserere. At the first chapter that follow- 
 ed, all rendered an account of having performed the 
 required supplications to the throne of Grace for his 
 eternal repose. Circulars were sent to the different 
 houses of the male and female Trappists in France, 
 announcing his demise, and claiming the prescribed 
 suffrages. Finally, his place in the refectory was 
 left unoccupied during thirty days ; the usual dishes 
 were placed near it, and afterwards distributed to the 
 poor, for the repose of his soul. 
 
 When the hour appointed for the interment came, 
 the Superior, attended by the Acolothists and Incense-
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 315 
 
 bearers, advanced to recite the usual prayers around 
 the corpse. After the last absolution, the procession, 
 composed of the whole community, filed off towards 
 the cemetery, singing the psalm. In exitu Israel de 
 ^g7/pto. The body, borne by four professed monks, 
 occupied a space left between the rows of the choir- 
 religious, and of the lay-brothers. Upon arriving at 
 the cemetery, the four who bore it, divested them- 
 selves of their cowls, and lowered it down into the 
 grave previously prepared. One of the brothers also 
 descended, and arranged it in a becoming posture, 
 covering the face w^ith the hood of the habit ; for the 
 religious of La Trappe, having made a vow of poverty, 
 practise this virtue even after death ; being interred 
 without a coffin, and enveloped in the religious habit 
 only. The first portion of earth having been thrown 
 on the body by the Abbot, the same four religious pro- 
 ceed to cover it up entirely. The grave having been 
 filled up, then all the community prostrate themselves 
 on the ground, whilst the choir-leader chaunts forth, in 
 a loud and gradually increasing tone of voice, the words, 
 '■'■Bomine, miserere," — "Lord, have mercy;" they an- 
 swering in the same tone, ^^ Super peccatoi'e," — " Upon 
 the sinner." This piercing cry, and on so awful an occa- 
 sion, is sufficient to go through the very heart. The 
 religious now return back to the monastery in the 
 same order, and singing the Seven Penitential Psalms. 
 In the world, splendid monuments and gaudy tombs 
 may designate the place of rest of those distinguished 
 either for riches or honors; but such works cannot 
 protect their remains from putrefaction and worms; 
 at La Trappe, a simple wooden cross, on which are
 
 316 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 inscribed the name in religion — (not the secular name) 
 — the age, and the date of his demise, is raised over 
 what remains of the poor Trappist. Thus, after, as 
 well as before death, he is always the same, busied 
 in hiding himself from the world, and satisfied with 
 being seen and known by God alone.
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 REFLECTIONS IN CONCLUSION. 
 
 We ^vill be permitted to conclude the edifying 
 recital of this life by a few reflections that may be of 
 advantage to some of our readers. 
 
 1st. you, whoever you be, who have an oppor- 
 tunity of visiting one of the monasteries of the Con- 
 gregation of La Trappe, do not neglect to make use 
 of the privilege. Make there, if possible, a retreat 
 of a few days, and you shall certainly profit by it. 
 If, however, you cannot bring yourself to submit to 
 the spiritual exercises, spend there at least some time 
 even through curiosity, and you cannot fail to reap 
 some advantage. It is not that you will hear in this 
 abode of recollection and silence pathetic sermons; no; 
 but that very recollection, that very silence will speak to 
 your heart, and make you hear an eloquent language, 
 for everything preaches at La Trappe, even the very 
 walls, that are covered with sentences, Avhose pro- 
 found meaning penetrates the most insensible hearts. 
 "Flee from the world, Arsenius, and you shall be 
 saved," is the first salute given in writing to every 
 stranger arriving at the gate of the cloisters of Aigue- 
 belle. And, in fact, this inscription on the gate eon- 
 tains in little all that is practised in this sanctuary, 
 where everything breathes of a contempt for the 
 vanities of the world, and of a love for the precious 
 advantages of solitude. Everything there excites 
 27* (317)
 
 318 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIIIAIM. 
 
 emotion, and the Impressions received are salutary 
 and durable. At the sight of those austere visages, of 
 exteriors so abstracted from worldly feelings, of those 
 men, in a word, whom the fervor of a penitential life 
 voluntarily deprives of the use of their senses, and 
 renders, so to speak, blind, deaf and dumb, through 
 choice, one can scarcely get the better of surprise and 
 admiration ; the strange contrast with everything so 
 esteemed in the world strikes the mind with astonish- 
 ment. One is almost tempted to doubt, whether such 
 mortified beings belong to a living generation, and to 
 inquire, whether the trumpet of the day of judgment 
 has already sounded for them. It is, indeed, almost 
 impossible to make a passing visit to La Trappe without 
 returning in a better spirit. The idea of everything 
 seen there, sustains the tottering in the diflScult cir- 
 cumstances of life, prompts to the avoiding of evil 
 deeds, and most frequently determines the mind to 
 the practice of virtue. 
 
 Besides, this visit not unfrequently becomes the 
 prelude to noble resolutions. The fashionable young 
 man whose mind experienced so sudden a change, 
 may serve for an example. Whilst making an ex- 
 cursion of pleasure through France, he one day found 
 himself accidentally at Montelimart, sitting at the 
 door of a coffee-house, and smoking a cigar to kill 
 time. Suddenly he is struck with the sight of a 
 personage more extraordinary than he had ever met 
 before in his travels : it was the Father who had the 
 supervision of the temporal concerns of the monastery 
 of Aiguebelle, and who, at that time, had left his 
 beloved solitude for some necessary business of the
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPURAIM. 319 
 
 community. He anxiously inquires who that strange 
 being is, and what was the meaning of such a dress, 
 and of such a manner of life. Being informed, and 
 also, that there were many others of the same class, 
 and of the same manner of life, living in the neigh- 
 boring monastery, he hastens thither without any 
 other design than that of gratifying his curiosity. 
 Arrived at the convent, he is astonished at what 
 he sees, cannot drag himself away, and at length de- 
 termines to fix himself there permanently. He was 
 absolutely, at this time, ignorant of the first princi- 
 ples of religion : instructions are given and greedily 
 swallowed, he is admitted to his first communion, 
 takes the habit, and dies many years afterwards in 
 the odor of sanctity. 
 
 Another example. A young gentleman of Provence 
 having lost his way in a hunting excursion, accidentally 
 came across a Trappist, in a lonely part of the wood, 
 dragging after him the immense trunk of a tree that 
 he had just felled. Fatigue and the rays of the sun 
 had nearly exhausted his strength, the sweat flowed 
 profusely from his brow, yet upon that same brow 
 there shone the rays of contentment and happiness. 
 Our sportsman passed on Avithout much delay, but he 
 had seen too much for his peace of conscience. That 
 religious, perhaps, said he to himself, has been some- 
 thing great in the world ; perhaps he also has run 
 
 after false pleasures, he has now, however, 
 
 renounced such pursuits, and is apparently happy. — 
 Such were the ideas that came across his mind, and 
 constantly pursued him, even in the midst of joys and 
 amusements ; it seemed to him that he had continually
 
 320 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 
 
 at his heels the good Trappist, and his painful burden. 
 Finally, he could regain his tranquillity by no other 
 means than by enrolling himself under the standard 
 of St. Bernard, and becoming a soldier in the holy 
 ranks of penitents. He is at this moment (1843) one 
 of the most devoted religious of his monastery. 
 
 2nd. All men, doubtlessly, are not obliged to quit the 
 world, and live the life of an anchoret in the cloister ; 
 but there are many souls whom God calls to this state, 
 and who will have great facility to sanctify themselves 
 if they hear his voice, whilst they incur great risk of 
 being utterly undone by resisting Him. It is then a 
 matter of vital importance to those who feel them- 
 selves drawn towards the desert, to examine carefully, 
 what kind of a spirit they are influenced by. If this 
 spirit be truly of God, their vocation is too sublime 
 to admit a doubt of their being enlightened from above 
 on the road they are prompted to take. Perhaps they 
 may not be able to see clearly before them, at first 
 setting out, but if they continue faithful, God will 
 lead them out of the dark passages, and put them 
 on the fair, open path : there are thousands of ways 
 of doing so, known only to His all-seeing eye. Be ye, 
 therefore, whoever ye are who feel yourselves thus 
 called, be ye prudent and cautious ; consult with your 
 friends and near relations, and submit everything to 
 the decision of a wise and experienced confessor. If 
 ye meet with lawful and reasonable opposition, have 
 patience for the time, and without renouncing your 
 designs, wait till the Lord take away such obstacles : 
 put your confidence in Him, for He, at the proper 
 season, will know how to bend the will of those upon
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 321 
 
 whom ye depend. By patience, and fidelity to the 
 grace bestowed upon you, things •will be arranged 
 sooner or later according to your wishes. 
 
 But when the moment shall arrive that ye feel your- 
 selves inwardly touched by the visit of the Lord, and 
 instigated by some hidden agency to sacrifice the 
 victim of self, that He asks of you, beware of long 
 hesitation, for it is most dangerous : arm yourselves 
 with courage, and consummate the sacrifice. If ye be 
 faithful in corresponding to the first portion of grace 
 received, ye will habituate yourselves to virtue ; and 
 God, satisfied with the noble efforts ye have made, 
 will bestow a plentiful increase of his divine favors, 
 which must necessarily conduce to ultimate perfection. 
 If, on the other hand, ye should be so unhappy as to 
 resist, and make light of the divine promptings, God, 
 who is jealous of his gifts, will leave you to yourselves, 
 and consequently ye are exposed to the danger of 
 falling into a loose and indifferent manner of life, and 
 of dying, perhaps, in a doubtful, if not a worse than 
 doubtful, state of mind. For let us not deceive our- 
 selves by the hope that what we have refused to-day, 
 will be again presented for our acceptance to-morrow. 
 According to the opinions of divers masters of the 
 spiritual life, there are seasons and moments that God 
 has reserved for his mercy, and which he has fixed for 
 each of us to accomplish the designs he has upon us, 
 and which his grace suggests. How unfortunate then 
 for us, if we are found wanting at such a time ! What 
 has caused all the misfortunes and the reprobation of 
 the Jewish people ? Is it not the ignorance of the 
 time that the Lord would deign to visit them ? There
 
 322 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 was for each Jew indivlduallj one of those critical 
 moments, wherein he Avas at liberty to recognize, or 
 not, Jesus for the Messiah. Those that were found 
 wanting at this moment, afterwards resisted the 
 greatest miracles, and finished their want of corres- 
 ponding to the moment of grace bj crucifying Him 
 as a blasphemer. This is indeed a terrible example. 
 We unhappily meet with too many of the same kind ; 
 for do we not ourselves resemble more or less the Jews 
 in this respect ? God always continues in the same 
 way to impart His graces, but more especially, to im- 
 part the grace of vocation, so decisive of our future 
 lot. 
 
 If such considerations are in themselves so frightful 
 to those who hesitate in following the divine impulse, 
 or put it ofi" to some future period, how much more 
 terrible must they become for those that, having com- 
 menced to walk in the way of the Lord, and in the 
 path by Him marked out for them, have the temerity 
 to turn back, and despise his warning voice ! Oh ! 
 if they would only remember what has been said by 
 the holy fathers, and by Christ himself, concerning 
 such unworthy conduct ! The great St. Gregory posi- 
 tively asserts that " the resolution formed to under- 
 take a higher degree of perfection cannot be abandoned 
 without crime." How many examples of persons 
 dying miserably, for having quit their monasteries, 
 could be cited ! Let such also remember and meditate 
 upon the thundering words of the Gospel, " Whoever 
 puts his hands to the plough, and looks backwards, is 
 unfit for the Kingdom of God." Nemo mittens 
 manum suam ad aratrum et respiciens retro, aptus
 
 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPIIRAIM. 323 
 
 est 7'egno Dei. Luc ix. 62. " There is but one 
 way," says Cornelius a Lapide, "there is but one 
 way for each individual that leads to heaven. God 
 Himself has marked it out ; it is plain and direct ; but 
 the laborer that guides the plough, can never advance 
 in a straight line, if he have his face in a contrary 
 direction : through necessity, such a one must trace a 
 line more or less oblique, and can never arrive at his 
 proposed mark." 
 
 3d. Finally, a word to those who have authority 
 over persons who think themselves called to a religious 
 life. Prove these growing vocations by lawful means ; 
 in this you have the right, and it is even expedient for 
 the interest of those most concerned. Perhaps their 
 vocations may be really nothing more than simple 
 caprices. If, however, they still persist after not a 
 few trials, so as to convince you that their vocations 
 must come from God, it would be most unreasonable 
 and most unjust in you to oppose yourselves any 
 longer: your right does not extend so far. Permit 
 them to try their own strength. By so doing, you 
 will act wisely for many reasons, and at the same time 
 you risk nothing. 
 
 Reflect, 
 
 1st. That it would be a grievous sin to be the cause 
 of any one's losing so sublime a vocation as that of 
 dedicating himself wholly to the worship of God. 
 
 2dly. That in spite of all opposition that the powers 
 of darkness may throw in their way, God will finally 
 declare Himself for them, if they persist and be faith- 
 ful ; and that he will arrange all things, and conduct
 
 324 LIFE OF FATHER MARIA EPHRAIM. 
 
 them insensibly to the destined end : means of doing 
 so can never be wanting to Him. 
 
 3dly. That an actual residence in a monastery is 
 the surest way of proving whether their vocations 
 come of God. If any other motive than that inspired 
 by God should conduct those, for whom you feel in- 
 terested, to an abode of Penance ; to La Trappe, for 
 example ; rest assured that they will not long per- 
 severe, and will be themselves the first to sound a 
 retreat, freed, it is very probable, for the remainder 
 of their lives, from their extraordinary ideas. If, 
 however, they should chance to persevere in their 
 undertaking, they will by that very act exhibit the 
 best certificate of the purity of their intentions. God 
 alone is able to give sufficient strength and courage 
 to sustain the rigid life of the anchorets of La Trappe. 
 
 4thly. And lastly, reflect, that a residence of some 
 months in a cloister, and an attendance upon the 
 pious exercises practised there, can be of no injury, 
 whatever be the state of life, and whatever the career 
 a person may be destined by divine Providence to 
 fulfil.
 
 AN ABRIDGMENT OF THE 
 
 LIFE or MOTHER MAM EPimATM, 
 
 IN THE. WORLD 
 
 MISS CATHARINE FERRER, 
 
 RELIGIOUS IN THE MONASTERY OF OUR LADY OF ALL CONSOLATION 
 OF LA TRAPPE, SISTER OF THE PRECEDING. 
 
 It is not a detailed account of the life of Mother Mary 
 Ephraim, which we here propose giving, bnt rather a 
 supplement to that which we have read. The life of 
 Mother Mary Ephraim is so essentially united to that 
 of her brother, that before commencing this Notice, the 
 reader already knows all we are going to say. 
 
 Born under the same roof, nearly the same age, objects 
 alike of the tender solicitude of their parents, the same 
 principles instilled into their minds, destined to occupy a 
 certain position in society, to which their education and 
 fortune entitled them, disabused of the vanities of the 
 world, and led by a divine vocation into the cloister, where 
 they led pure lives, and both died the death of the just ; 
 the brother and the sister were worthy, in every respect, 
 to occupy a place side by side, in this work. 
 
 The good sense which had induced Mr. Ferrer to con- 
 fide the education of his son to the excellent institution 
 of the Jesuits, inspired him also to plnce his daughter in 
 the hands of the venerable ladies of the Sacred Heart. 
 Every body is aware of the talent of these worthy in- 
 structresses of youth, iu forming their young pupils, and 
 28 (325)
 
 y26 LIFE OF MOTHER MARY EPHRAIM. 
 
 a peculiar tact to develope in each of them the true prin- 
 ciples of an enlightened piety and a true devotion, which 
 conciliates to them universal admiration and esteem, in 
 their various positions in society. We are happy to have 
 tins occasion of paying them a public tribute of well 
 merited applause. 
 
 In so good and so holy a school, Miss Ferrer, other- 
 wise endowed with the most happy dispositions, could not 
 fail making great progress. In fact, she improved rapidly 
 in piety, science ; acquired skill in every kind of needle- 
 work, music, and painting ; but what distinguished her 
 above all others, was the goodness of her heart. She was 
 universally called the good Catharine. Mistresses and 
 pupils all loved her, and sought her friendship. Having 
 finished her education, she once more returned to the 
 bosom of her family. 
 
 Her parents then resided in the city, and were obliged 
 by their standing to see much of the world. Catharine 
 must also appear ; young, amiable, possessing a fine form, 
 and well raised, she was a gem, flattered, caressed, sought 
 for by all, and could not avoid enjoying it, and at length 
 could not exist without this universal admiration. In 
 this, she too much resembled the most of young persons, 
 who cannot at first discover the venom, concealed beneath 
 deceitful love. In a short time, she was at all the balls 
 and soirees. Mr. and Madam Ferrer wondered at the 
 success their daughter had obtained in the world, and had 
 besides much to congratulate themselves by reason of her 
 tender and earnest sentiments in their regard. They 
 were far from constraining her, but, on the contrary, pro- 
 cured her all the enjoyment she desired. 
 
 Nothing, then, was wanting to happiness, when God, 
 jealous of possessing alone this heart, which was appa- 
 rently escaping him, sent her a most sensible affliction, 
 by depriving her of the deurcbt object of her affection,
 
 LIFE OF MOTHER MARY EPHRAIM. 327 
 
 her good mother ; tliough young and full of liealtli, 
 Madam Ferrer all at once fell sick, and died after a month 
 and a half of sufferings. This misfortune, which plunged 
 all the family in desolation, was deeply felt by Miss 
 Catharine ; she lost a devoted friend, and a model of all 
 virtues. She could find no consolation but at the foot of 
 the altar. 
 
 Being returned to the country, where she passed eight 
 months, she made serious reflections on the vanity of the 
 world's pleasures, resolved to renounce balls, and was 
 determined to live as retired as her rank in society would 
 admit. 
 
 Heaven had reserved another trial for this soul, already 
 so much affected, when her dear brother, with whom her 
 heart was so closely bound, took the determination of 
 going to La Trappe. Meanwhile, she with her father per- 
 formed the trip to Aiguebelle, to try to recover him whom 
 they could not determine to lose without extreme grief. 
 All that she saw, so much generosity, of which her brother 
 gave so brilliant an example, made an impression which, 
 sooner or later, was to bear its fruit. 
 
 Her sensitive heart was now occupied only in consoling 
 her father. Those reiterated and terrible shocks had re- 
 duced him to a deplorable state. At length, to amuse 
 this unfortunate father somewhat, she determined to re- 
 turn to the city, and again to enter into society. 
 
 Miss Ferrer was become, by the death of her brother, 
 heiress of a large estate, was often sought iu marriage by 
 the most distinguished in society, yet she never was anxious ; 
 she always found some reason to refuse those who pre- 
 sented themselves. Nevertheless, her father greatly de- 
 sired this event; it seemed, perhaps, necessary in her 
 position. An establishment was imperiously demanded, 
 to assuage his grief. These considerations determined her. 
 Many proposals were made, many alliances projected ; but
 
 328 LIFE OF MOTHER MART EPHRAIM. 
 
 at the moment vrhcn everything appeared to be coneludecl, 
 all at once some difficulty would arise to derange the entire 
 plan. At length, a person presented himself, suitable in 
 every respect. They were perfectly suitable on both sides. 
 The arrangements were soon made, and in a little time all 
 was concluded. The two families were in jubilation. 
 Miss Ferrer was occupied only at her toilet. She re- 
 ceived presents from all her friends. Her father forgot 
 instantly all his troubles, to add to her content, and was 
 charmed with the anticipated happiness of his daughter. 
 He spared nothing for his beloved Catharine. Toulouse, 
 Lyons, Paris, had nothing beautiful enough for his child. 
 The young betrothed exhibited to her friends, with great 
 complacency, her beautiful dresses, rich diamonds, her 
 magnificent apparel. 
 
 In the life of Father Ephraim, we have spoken of the 
 friendship existing among the children of Mr. Ferrer, and 
 their cousin, Miss Eliza Alday, who had been as a third 
 child in the house, on account of the fraternal affection 
 which they mutually entertained, having always lived to- 
 gether in the greatest intimacy. On so solemn an oc- 
 casion, Miss Catharine did not fail writing to her best 
 friend, then a professed religious at La Trappe, in Lyons, 
 and communicating her approaching nuptials. Mother 
 Louise, who preservd for her all her ancient friendship, 
 had made the most sincere vows for her happiness, replied, 
 felicitating her on the event, and with so much the more 
 reason, as she well knew her future husband, and highly 
 esteemed him for his many good qualities. lu her turn, 
 she entertained her with the happiness she enjoyed in her 
 position, told her of the joy and the peace of soul with 
 which she was inebriated, since released from the trouble, 
 noise, and bustle of the world ; she had consecrated her- 
 self to God, in one of those privileged houses, where she 
 had to occupy herself but with her salvation, and singing
 
 LIFE OP' MOTHER MARY EPHRAIM. 329 
 
 the praises of the Lord. She added, " You know tliat 
 all is common among us, our joys, as well as our troubles ; 
 I have spoken of you to my Reverend Mother ; do not 
 hasten to blame my indiscretion ; you have not lost much ; 
 all that I have said has deeply interested her in your favor ; 
 she wishes you the enjoyment of great happiness, and has 
 had the kindness to recommend you to the prayers of 
 the community. We have commenced for you a Xovena, 
 in honor of Mary, our good Mother and yours, for I re- 
 member that you have always had to her a particular and 
 tender devotion. Every day during the Novena, we will 
 sing especially for you the Salve Regiua, our favorite 
 prayer ; endeavor to unite with us. With what fervor 
 will I not pray for my good Catharine ! Can she, in a way 
 so opposite, find herself as happy as her cousin ?" 
 
 This letter produced an extraordinary effect on Miss 
 Ferrer ; she read it, and reread it a thousand times ; she 
 could not take her eyes from it, nor divert her mind 
 from the ideas to which it gave rise. There is thy cousin, 
 said she, enchanted. She has chosen the better part ; her 
 joy is very pure, and thou — what will become of thee ? 
 Wilt thou find thy happiness in an establishment for which 
 thou art making the most brilliant preparations ? After 
 some days have sweetly glided by, thy cousin will behold 
 her last hour approaching without alarm; on the contrary, 
 she will hail it with confidence, and consider it a happy 
 deliverance. But thou — in the midst of the tumult of the 
 world, in the hurry and dangers of the married state, wilt 
 thou only have the leisure to anticipate this moment ; wUl 
 not death surprise thee, without being at all prepared ? 
 
 Such were the thoughts which agitated the mind and 
 yet more the heart of Miss Catharine ; she became all at 
 once pensive, even serious. Those who approached her, 
 remarked the absence of that gayety, and air of jubilation, 
 which formed the distinguishing marks of her habitual 
 28*
 
 330 LIFE OF MOTHER MARY EPHRAIM. 
 
 character, but they attributed the cause to a preoccupation 
 inseparable from the grave position in wliich slie was 
 placed, for on the eve of an engagement as important as 
 that of marriage, young persons, even the most volatile, 
 cannot prevent the most serious reflections from arising 
 in their minds. 
 
 Meantime, the preparations for the feast went forward 
 without any relaxation ; this day, which many desire so 
 ardently, was soon to arrive : yet one week, and Miss 
 Ferrer was to be bound and tied forever. But God, who 
 sports with the projects of men, and holds their hearts in 
 his hands, looked with pity on all these preparations for a 
 wedding which was to be celebrated. In a moment he 
 changed the heart of the betrothed. To the impressions 
 to which the letter of her cousin had given rise, were 
 joined others, which had formerly deeply affected her. 
 Her cousin, her brother, had entered La Trappe ; all that 
 she had seen and experienced, in her journey to Aigue- 
 belle, so many texts which had furnished her matter for 
 useful and entertaining reflections ; in fine, in a moment of 
 pious recollection, she seemed to hear the voice of her 
 dear brother, from the highest heaven, where she thought 
 she beheld him inviting her to follow his example, and to 
 partake of his crown. This call she could not resist, and 
 felt disposed to make all the sacrifices. But how could 
 she speak to her father of an event which would not fail 
 to affect him deeply, and by which even, at first, his life 
 might be endangered ? How could she have the moral 
 courage to open again those deep wounds which were as 
 yet scarcely cicatrized, and add others to them yet more 
 painful ? On the other hand, how could she retract her 
 word, so freely given, and so graciously accepted? But 
 what would be impossible to the weakness of man, became 
 easy, when joined with the grace of God. 
 
 Three hearts had been so united, that they appeared to
 
 LIFE OF MOTHER MARY EPIIRAIM. 331 
 
 make but one ; the queen of Citeaux had ah-cady ravished 
 two of them, the third must necessarily become her 
 conquest. Besides, had not Father Ephraim written that 
 his cousin and sister were not made for this world, and 
 that successively God would call them to a religious life ? 
 Had he not also written that his entrance into religion 
 would be a blessing for his family, and a sign of predesti- 
 nation for all his relations ; in fine, in his last letter, had 
 he not said, that he occupied himself particularly about 
 the future life of his sister ? This is the time in which a 
 part of this foreknowledge was to be accomplished. 
 
 Miss Catharine armed herself with courage ; she humbly 
 prayed the Lord to give it to her ; she committed this 
 affair to the protection of her who never forsakes the 
 confiding soul, who has recourse to her high protection, 
 to the divine Mary. Provided with these holy precau- 
 tions, she went to her father, declared to him, without 
 any disguise, her resolution to renounce marriage, and 
 have no spouse but Jesus Christ. She added, that an 
 interior voice called her to follow the path marked out by 
 her brother and her cousin, and that it was impossible for 
 her not to do so. 
 
 This tender and unfortunate father was overwhelmed 
 by a declaration so unforeseen ; he remained during some 
 moments confounded, as if annihilated by grief; having 
 recovered a little from his astonishment, he cast a severe 
 look on his daughter, saying : " Dost thou believe I have 
 a face that cannot blush ? I have given my word ; thou 
 hast also engaged thyself; is it possible that thou canst 
 withdraw thy word ? And then, my child !". . . He was 
 silent some time; liis emotion prevented him from con- 
 tinuing. . . "Thou too ! thou wishest to break my heart! 
 Why have I outlived her who was thy mother, but to 
 be unhappy in this world ; and it is my own children, those 
 who naturally ^ought to dry up my tears, who give me the
 
 332 LIFE OF MOTHER MARY EPHRAIM. 
 
 most severe strokes ! My dear Catharine, there only 
 remains to rae, now, you to console me, and thou too 
 wishest to leave me." The good Miss Ferrer could not 
 hold out against so much tenderness, and so much deso- 
 lation ; her own heart was almost bursting ; she left her 
 father for an instant, and went directly to cast herself at 
 the foot of an altar dedicated to the Holy Virgin, where, 
 placing herself in prayer before her image, she entreated 
 her with tears, that if her determination came from God, 
 she would watch over the disposition of every event, and 
 facilitate the means of accomplishing his holy will. It is 
 not in vain that Mary is called the sure refuge of those 
 who invoke her with confidence. Miss Catharine soon 
 felt encouraged and fortified in her vocation ; she returned 
 to her father ; entreaties, tender supplications, prayers, 
 and tears, were all made use of, to move his heart, and 
 obtain the consent for which she asked. 
 
 Mr. Ferrer was soon convinced that his daughter was 
 immovable ; and that all that he could say to deter her 
 from her design, served but to strengthen her the more 
 in it. For some time he gave a free course to his tears, 
 then in a voice interrupted by sighs, he held this language 
 with his dear Catharine. " Thou knowest that I have done 
 everything to contribute to thy happiness. God is my 
 witness, that I have neglected nothing. At present I 
 only expect some consolation from thee. Thou placest 
 thy happiness in leaving me. Well, then ! pursue thy 
 project. If I forced thee to accept a match where every- 
 thing seems arranged to render thee happy, and thou 
 wouldst not find contentment in it, I would die of grief. 
 Thou hast the conviction that God calls thee to La 
 Trappe, and thinkest thou wouldst not be happy else- 
 where. God preserve me from opposing the designs he 
 has over thee. I well know that thy absence will cost me 
 my life. It matters not; I would not retain you; my
 
 LIFE OP MOTHER MARY EPHRAIM. 333 
 
 heart is broken by the sacriHccs I have made, but thia 
 which thon forcest from inc now is the most sensible of 
 all, becanse in thee are concentrated all my affections and 
 all my hopes. Go ! but remember thou leavest thy 
 father in desolation !" Mr. Ferrer has since declared 
 that an irresistible power forced this consent from him, 
 in spite of himself. 
 
 During these painful debates between the father and the 
 daughtei', the day agreed on for the celebration of the 
 marriage was approaching : the next day the civil con- 
 tract was to take place, and on the following night the 
 ceremonies of the church. She must necessarily hasten 
 in the accomplishment of her plan. And, indeed, Miss 
 Ferrer lost no time. Scarcely had she obtained the con- 
 sent of her father, in the manner which we have related 
 above, than she was relieved of all embarrassment, took a 
 few moments to write to her intended, thanked him for 
 having thought on her, asked his pardon for all he would 
 suffer from this her present step, and, accompanied by a 
 lady of confidence, she left Perpignan, to repair to La 
 Trappe, in Lyons. 
 
 Let us verify here, in passing, one of those prodigies 
 which grace operates sometimes in the hearts of those 
 that it wishes to possess without division. Ilere is a 
 young lady, an only child, the idol of her father, sur- 
 rounded by the love of all those who knew her, caressed, 
 welcomed by everybody ; at the most seducing epoch of 
 life, at the moment of contracting an honorable alliance, 
 in which everything seemed to promise a most brilliant 
 and prosperous future ; all at once, forgetting the weak- 
 ness of her sex, she clothed herself with superhuman 
 courage, and by one of those sacrifices which God alone 
 can inspire, she left her parents, friends, fortune, honors, 
 pleasures, to go almost alone, a hundred leagues distaut, 
 to embrace a poor, obscure, and peuitcutial life. . , Who
 
 33i LIFE OF MOTHER MARY EPHRAIM. 
 
 would not exclaim with the great Apostle, " holy folly 
 of the cross, what wonders dost thou not perform 1" 
 
 Catharine ! your sacrifice is great, according to the 
 thoughts of the world, but the recompense that God re- 
 serves for you is yet greater: you abandon perishable 
 goods, and you assure to yourself a reward which will 
 never end : you separate yourself from a father whom you 
 tenderly love, but your sacrifice which you offer for him, 
 as well as for yourself, will obtain heaven for you both, 
 where you will be reunited, never again to be separated. 
 All your goods, and all the advantages which you have 
 renounced, will be restored to you a hundred fold. A 
 heart so sensible in its affections could not be indifferent 
 to the love which creatures lavished upon it, but this love 
 is often deceitful and changeable ; God, who is generous, 
 will indemnify you ; he will inundate your heart with 
 divine charity ; he will infuse into it that peace which sur- 
 passes the imagination, and, already in this world, you 
 will be initiated in the ravishing secrets of pure delights, 
 which will constitute your joy in the holy solitude you 
 have chosen, whilst in expectation of entering into the 
 possession of an eternal felicity. 
 
 Being arrived at Lyons, Miss Ferrer had no curiosity 
 to go through the city, which she beheld for the first 
 time, but as soon as she was informed in what direction 
 lay the faubourg of Vaise, in which her dear La Trappe 
 is situated, without even taking any nourishment, she 
 hastened to repair to that spot in which her soul already 
 dwelled. 
 
 Her heart beat high, when before the door of that 
 asylum after which she sighed. She could not help ex- 
 periencing a sweet emotion, in passing over the threshold 
 of this sanctuary of peace and of happiness. She re- 
 quested to speak to the Mother Superior. She was con- 
 ducted to the parlor. On the arrival of the Mother
 
 LIFE OP MOTUER MARY EPHRAIM. 335 
 
 Superior, Miss Ferrer announced herself in these terms : 
 You see at your feet, the sister of Father Maria Ephraim ; 
 she comes to entreat you earnestly, to do her the favor of 
 admitting her among the number of your daughters. The 
 Reverend Mother, who knew Miss Ferrer already, by the 
 letters which she had written to her cousin, and by all 
 that this cousin had said of her, received her with that 
 kindness for which she has been remarkable by all who 
 have treated with her, for she has the rare gift of gain- 
 ing all hearts, and constitutes the happiness of all the 
 religious who live under her direction. 
 
 From the first entertainment, the Reverend Mother 
 discovered the wonders of grace, and the work of God 
 very manifest in a vocation so sudden and so extraordi- 
 nary ; and from the dispositions which this young neophyte 
 brought, she did not doubt but that the future would be 
 equally happy ; hence she was eager to open for her the 
 door of the monastery. She opened to her, at the same 
 time, her arms and her heart, ller first care, in receiving 
 this sheep that the Divine Shepherd sent into her sheep- 
 fold, was to conduct her to the feet of Mary, to place her 
 under the protection of this good Mother, as she was 
 accustomed in regard of all those whom she admitted. 
 This was to serve Miss Catharine according to her incli- 
 nations ; it is to this glorious Queen that she believed 
 herself indebted for the triumph of her vocation ; she had 
 to acquit herself of a debt of gratitude, and then she had 
 so many graces to ask to fix herself in her new state of 
 life, and afterwards to persevere in it. 
 
 Once in the monastery, she was soon in the land of her 
 acquaintances. She again folded to her bosom her best 
 friend, her good cousin, she who had so powerfully 
 seconded the operations of grace in her soul, and whose 
 pious examples were to assist her greatly in assuming 
 the customs and practices of the house, iii her now state
 
 336 LIFE OF MOTHER MARY EPHRAIM. 
 
 of life. Besides, it required but little time for her excel- 
 lent heart to sympathize with the hearts of the well raised 
 persons with whom she was to live. In a few days she 
 was perfectly at her ease ; she even had some difficulty to 
 restrain her joy. In her entertainments with the Mistress 
 of Xovices, she said to her, " How is it possible for me 
 not to be happy here ? I have lost my mother, whom I so 
 much loved ! and I have had the happiness to find her 
 again in my Reverend Mother, with all the kindness, and 
 all the tenderness of her for whom I have wept so much. 
 I have always desired to have a sister, and God has here 
 given me a great number, who all entertain for me a ten- 
 der charity ; and prevent all my desires. Never have I 
 been, in the world, the object of so much cordiality. I am 
 too happy to be in this blessed abode, notwithstanding I 
 am so unworthy of it. How could I regret the world ? 
 Ah ! if my beloved father were as happy as I, then I 
 should have nothing to regret !" 
 
 And, indeed, she was not long in altogether forgetting 
 the world, and all that she had left ; her whole concern 
 was the acquisition of the monastic virtues, and, in a short 
 time, she made in them wonderful progress. After the 
 time required for her probation, she received the holy 
 habit. Now was witnessed a combat of virtue w^hich 
 plainly told how deeply rooted was the humility of this 
 heart, initiated for so short a time in the ways of evan- 
 gelical perfection. When it was a question of selecting 
 her religious name, the Reverend Mother wished, on 
 account of the tender friendship which she had constantly 
 entertained for her brother, and for the merited venera- 
 tion she bore his memory, that she should take the name 
 of Mary Ephraim. "How!" exclaimed Miss Ferrer, 
 " the name of my brother ! Oh, my Reverend Mother, 
 that cannot be ; I am unworthy of it ; my brother was a 
 saint, and I, 1 am a sinner." It became necessary
 
 LIFE OF MOTHER MARY EPHRAIM. 837 
 
 to use authority, and to invoke holy obedience, to influ- 
 ence her submission. 
 
 When she accepted the sweet name of her venerated 
 brother, Sister Mary Ephraim believed herself strictly 
 obliged to walk in his footsteps, and to make apparent 
 jn her own conduct all that she had learned of his fervor 
 and regularity. When the Reverend Father Dom Orsise, 
 Abbot of Aiguebelle, was going, according to custom, to 
 the General Chapter, he stopped with the dear, holy Sis- 
 ters at Lyons, and there saw the young novice. She pro- 
 posed an innumerable number of questions about her 
 brother, to know how he had arrived so soon at so 
 high a degree of religious perfection, and as she wished to 
 form herself exactly on this model, she asked of him the 
 most minute circumstance. Thus, in practice, it was suf- 
 ficient that she knew Father Maria Ephraim did it in 
 such or such a manner, and for the future, without any 
 hesitation, she immediately conformed. 
 
 We will now say a word of the humility of Sister 
 Mary Ephraim. On this solid foundation she soon 
 erected this spiritual edifice, composed of all the religious 
 virtues, which made her in a very short time a fervent 
 Trappistine, and gave to her, as well as her brother, a 
 maturity precocious for heaven. 
 
 The motive which she constantly proposed to herself, 
 was not to give herself to God by halves, but entirely and 
 unreservedly. Though her sacrifice was not yet perfect, 
 she had the confidence that the Lord would receive it. 
 It was this which established her in a permanent state of 
 amiable serenity, which greatly edified her sisters, who 
 have acknowledged that it was sufiBcient for thom to look 
 at her, to feel encouraged, A smile was always on her 
 lips, and a holy joy was continually painted on her coun- 
 tenance. She did not yield to any other in regularity. 
 Ordinarily, she was the first to repair to every exercise. 
 29
 
 338 LIFE OF MOTHER MARY EPHRAIM. 
 
 Naturally she loved to sing ; she took great delight in the 
 Divine Office, and being a good musician, having a fine 
 ear, and an excellent voice, she was ravished thus to con- 
 secrate to the Lord the talent he had confided to her. 
 
 Attentive to mortify herself in everything, the lowest 
 and the most painful occupations were those which she 
 chose in preference to all others, every time that obedience 
 did not oppose it ; the coarsest clothing and those which 
 were the most mended were the object of her desires. 
 Her Sisters were softened even to tears, when they saw 
 her abase and humble herself on every occasion, remem- 
 bering her present state of abjection and what she had 
 been in the world ; to hear her accuse herself at chapter, and 
 say that she was good for nothing, whereas her Superiors 
 had but one occupation in her regard, which was to 
 moderate her zeal, which would infallibly have carried her 
 too far. 
 
 She appeared entirely dead to herself. In the world 
 she had followed the example of too many young persons, 
 who seemed to make an idol of their bodies ; she had loved 
 her toilet; her hair, above all, had been an object of her 
 vanity, which had caused many a quarrel between her- 
 self and maid, who, in combing, would sometimes pull 
 out some hair. As soon as she was in religion, she 
 applied herself to make her body expiate all her former 
 sensualities. Her hair, in particular, she did not once 
 touch, during the whole time she was a postulant, and 
 which lasted three months, thus wishing to punish herself 
 by the same occasions which she had formerly made use 
 of to offend God, and when she took the holy habit, she 
 wished to Ifftrn this hair herself, which she did with an 
 appearance of extraordinary })leasure. She also desired 
 that those beautiful silk robes which had been destined 
 to adorn her body, be consecrated to the ornament of 
 the altars ; and accordingly wrote to her father of it, who
 
 LIFE OF MOTHER MARY EPHRAIM. 339 
 
 wished to second the pious desires of his daughter, and 
 sent them to her. The magnificent crown which was to 
 answer for her marriage she herself placed on the statue 
 of her good mother, the most blessed Virgin Mary. 
 
 But gold, however pure it may be, has need of passing 
 through the fire to be purified yet more, and virtue can 
 never be perfect until it has passed through the crucible 
 of trials. This general rule in the economy of a spiritual 
 life was not to have an exception in Sister Mary Ephraim. 
 Her uncle, the same who went to Aiguebelle to trouble 
 her brother in his vocation, determined likewise to go to 
 Lyons to obstruct the vocation of the sister. He made 
 use of very nearly the same means, and spared not the 
 epithets of giddiness, of caprice, of hardheartedness, and of 
 ingratitude. After the example of this well beloved 
 brother, whom she in this, as in everything else, took for 
 her constant model, she excused the severe and possibly 
 indiscreet zeal of her uncle, and replied, with much sweet- 
 ness, that she had always borne great affection to all her 
 relations, and especially to her excellent father, but that 
 the voice of God was stronger than that of nature, and 
 that it was impossible for her not to go on with the state 
 of life which she had embraced. 
 
 Her uncle had loudly protested that it was not his in- 
 tention to oppose her designs, if they truly came from 
 God, but that he only wished to take her for three months, 
 to her aunt in Paris, where she could try it at leisure, 
 promising to leave her at full liberty, if she persisted in 
 her present determination. But Sister Mary Ephraim 
 remained unshaken, and her uncle was obliged to depart 
 alone, admiring in his young niece a dcvotcdHess which 
 he had not the courage to approve. 
 
 Mr. Ferrer, who reproached himself with having some- 
 what ill treated his son in this respect, could not withhold 
 himself from visiting his only daughter, and now his only
 
 340 LIFE OF MOTHEll MARY EPHRAIM. 
 
 child. His aiFections were no longer bound to Perpig- 
 nan by any dearer object. Accordingly, he went to pass 
 some days at Lyons, near his beloved daughter; and when 
 he saw her so gay, so well looking and so happy, he was 
 consoled, and wished to fix his permanent dwelling in the 
 environs, to enjoy himself some portion of his dear child's 
 happiness, but his affairs recalled him to Perpignan. But 
 now he would not leave these parts, without going to 
 Aiguebelle, to salute only in passing the venerated re- 
 mains of his blessed son, shed some tears over his grave, 
 and recommend himself to his prayers, for he did not 
 doubt but that he was already enjoying the beatitude of 
 the blessed. He there passed eight or ten days, and 
 wished to bathe himself again in the exercises of a spiritual 
 retreat, which did him much good. If he had ever enter- 
 tained any rancor against La Trappe, he now sincerely 
 disposed of it, and departed so well reconciled, that he 
 promised that this should not be the last trip he would 
 pay to this dwelling, where they so religiously preserved 
 a deposit so precious for him, and for all the inmates of 
 Aiguebelle. 
 
 But Heaven soon changed the face of things, for those 
 the most nearly concerned. Sister Mary Ephraira did 
 not doubt but that it was the prayers of her brother, to 
 which she was indebted for her religious vocation ; had 
 recourse to him by fervent prayer to aid her in the acquisi- 
 tion of the perfection of her state ; in fine, we are per- 
 mitted to believe that it was also to the intercession of 
 the same, which drew, in a short time, this devoted soul 
 into the Holy City. God seemed to hasten this reunion, 
 in the centte of his charity, of two hearts which had been 
 inseparably united ; he wished to recompense such gen- 
 erous sacrifices, and to draw to himself in glory her of 
 whom the earth was not worthy. 
 
 For a long time, Sister Mary Ephraim bore within her-
 
 LIFE OF MOTHER MARY EPIIRAIM. 341 
 
 self the disease which was incessantly conducting her to 
 the tomb, and which she endured without a complaint. 
 To witness her unvarying character, and smiling air, it 
 was difficult to discover any symptom of sickness. All 
 the community were for a long time mistaken. The 
 Reverend Mother, whose eye was ever attentive to the 
 least wants of her sisters, was the first to perceive some 
 alteration in the features of her beloved Sister Mary Eph- 
 raim ; her physiognomy appeared to undergo some change. 
 She requested to know the cause ; Sister Ephraim replied, 
 that she was not sick, that she did not suffer. The Rev- 
 erend Mother did not rely upon this, and called in a 
 physician, who received from her the same reply. The de- 
 termined inclination which she had for her state, prevented 
 her feeling the disease, and she was so much attracted to 
 mortification, that she considered her sufi'erings as a very 
 light affair, which she believed were not worth speaking of. 
 
 Without regarding her repugnances, they sent her to 
 the infirmary, but they soon had the grief to see that the 
 evil had made such progress, that they had but little hope 
 of arresting it. All imaginable remedies were resorted to ; 
 the most assiduous care was useless, and seemed only to 
 augment its violence. 
 
 But it was during this illness that the virtues of Sister 
 Mary Ephraim shone with more brilliant lustre. In the 
 midst of the keenest sufi'erings, she preserved an admirable 
 patience ; her content, even her gayety were ever the same ; 
 she never failed to thank the sisters in the infirmary for 
 the smallest services which they rendered her, and did it 
 with a touching kindness, and always a sweet smile, re- 
 gretting continually that she was an object of so much so- 
 licitude. Even in the world, and in the midst of the 
 greatest dissipation, Sister Mary Ephraim knew not how 
 to protect herself against certain scruples, which had more 
 or less exercised her in many circumstances ; since her 
 29*
 
 342 LIFE OF MOTHER MARY EPIIRAIM. 
 
 entrance into religion, this terrible temptation had given 
 her many an assault, but during her sickness, she had the 
 consolation to see it disappear altogether ; and she enjoyed 
 even to the last moment, great tranquillity of soul, and au 
 unalterable peace. 
 
 Her novitiate was not yet terminated, but by a dispen- 
 sation which the court of Rome was willing to grant in 
 similar cases, the Reverend Mother proposed to her to 
 make her vows, observing that it was difficult to foresee the 
 issue of her illness. Sister Mary Ephraim replied, that 
 she would be at the height of her desires if they would 
 grant her this favor, and that all her ambition was to die 
 a spouse of Jesus Christ. The day fixed for the ceremony 
 being arrived, slie pronounced her vows in the hands of 
 the Reverend Mother, and in presence of the whole com- 
 munity, who surrounded her bed of death ; all were moved, 
 even to tears. She received at the same time the sacra- 
 ments of Extreme Unction and the Holy Viaticum, and a 
 few days after, she slept peacefully in the Lord. 
 
 This generous virgin had already established among her 
 sisters a great reputation for sanctity, and as soon as her 
 soul had passed to a better life, they threw themselves upon 
 her remains, and wished to preserve something which had 
 belonged to her, as relics. Some took her hair, others 
 distributed among themselves her medals ; many cut pieces 
 of her dress ; but her virtues, above all, remained profoundly 
 engraven in the hearts of her companions, and long will 
 her memory be held in benediction by the inmates of her 
 monastery. 
 
 In running over this short abridgment, the reader is 
 convinced of the truth of our announcement in the be- 
 ginning, to wit, that the lives of these two were insepar- 
 able, and if that of the brother has been an accomplished 
 model, that of the sister has been, in every respect, a most 
 perfect copy.
 
 LIFE OF MOTHER MARY EPHRAIM, 343 
 
 We will now finish with a moral reflection. After having 
 corabined all that we have read, who is there who, trans- 
 porting himself to the death of these two generous cham- 
 pions of abnegation and of penance, can help experiencing 
 a portion of envy ? Is it not true, that he himself must 
 arrive at that fatal moment, which we are all so rapidly 
 approaching ? Who would not prefer to give his last 
 sigh on the hard couch of the poor Trappist, if mingled 
 with the consolations which inundate their souls, rather 
 than in superb palaces, and on magnificent beds, but where 
 the past, the present, and the future, seem to be leagued 
 but for the desolation of the poor dying Christian ? 
 
 The Father and the Mother Mary Ephraim bore within 
 themselves the germ of the disease which conducted them 
 prematurely to the grave ; perhaps, with the care which 
 they would have found out of the cloister, they would have 
 prolonged their existence many years in this world. But 
 had they lived a long time, what advantage would they 
 have derived from it ? What is the life of man upon earth ? 
 The wise man replies to this saying, "A, vapor, which 
 appears, and immediately disappears." What is the 
 longest life when it is at its close ? " It is but as yesterday, 
 which is past, and of which we preserve only a vague re- 
 membrance." Is it presumable, that, after having passed 
 their lives in the delights which appeared reserved for 
 them, they would have obtained that superabounding peace 
 which marked their last moments, and that holy joy which 
 had been for them a foretaste of those torrents of pure 
 delights into which they were going to be introduced 
 forever ? 
 
 Oh ! how true are those beautiful words of St. Basil the 
 Great, in his eulogy on a solitary life I " Solitude," says 
 he, "is that happy commerce wherein they exchange earth 
 for heaven, time for eternity, the land of death for the land 
 of the living, goods of no value for those of an inestimable
 
 344 LIFE or MOTHER MARY EPHRAIM. 
 
 price, and passing troubles for happiness without end." 
 blessed solitude ! those only who enjoy the repose and 
 sweetness which thou givest, can comprehend how much 
 thou meritest to be praised. 
 
 One woi'd more for you, oh venerable and most 
 happy head of this predestinated family. Your paternal 
 affections have been rudely torn, your entire existence has 
 experienced the most violent shocks, occasioned by the 
 innumerable and great sacrifices which God required from 
 you in the course of your life ; but, be assured that the 
 Lord has permitted you to outlive them but to assist at 
 their triumph. What need, then, of addressing you words 
 of consolation 1 So like the unfortunate Job, in the subject 
 of your affliction, we know also that you have had the 
 patience of this just man ; and, after the example of this 
 holy Patriarch, you have given all to the holy will of Him 
 who afflicts us but for our good. You have always had 
 a lively faith ; you have been constantly familiarized with 
 the holy practices of the religion of your fathers, and hence 
 you have no difficulty to understand and appreciate that 
 grandeur of soul in the devotedness of your children, since 
 your faith and your virtue have received a new increase, 
 in consequence of their intercession. From this channel 
 flows unto you strength of soul, and that holy resignation 
 which distinguishes you. Continue, then, to bless the 
 Lord ; you have, henceforth, near the throne of the Most 
 High, three hearts united ; we say three, because we 
 have very good reasons to believe that the pious mother, 
 who had so happily formed her children to virtue, pre- 
 ceded them herself into the eternal mansions of bliss, to 
 receive her recompense. These three pure hearts watch 
 over you, and solicit in your favor the heavenly protection ; 
 perhaps one day you will have the happiness to find your- 
 self indebted for a most brilliant crown, to those who have 
 appeared to fly from you, but to find more efficacious
 
 LIFE OF MOTHER MARY EmilAIM. 345 
 
 means of approaching more nearly to you, and who hare 
 consented to live a short time at a distance from you, 
 but to be reunited with you forever, in the immortal 
 dwelling of ineffable delights. 
 
 N. B. — The printing of this work was already com- 
 menced, when we had the grief to learn the loss which 
 the Church of France, and particularly the Diocese of 
 Alby, sustained by the death of its Archbishop. Worthy 
 imitator of St. Francis of Sales, whose name he bore, 
 Monseigneur Francis Mary Edward de Gualy applied 
 himself to retrace, as well in private as in public life, all 
 the virtues of his illustrious model. To the pious regu- 
 larity of a fervent ceuobite, he joined a laborious and well 
 directed administration, which has caused him to be 
 ranked in the class of great prelates. All the priests 
 found in him the tender and enlightened solicitude which 
 is met but in the hearts of devoted and intelligent mothers. 
 Ravished at the affection of his children in their spring- 
 time of life, Monseigneur de Gualy did not long administer 
 the Arch-diocese of Alby ; nevertheless, his short admin- 
 istration was sufficient to enrich his Diocese with useful 
 establishments. He was laboring in the erection of a 
 house of the Jesuits, and laying the foundation of a mon- 
 astery of the Order of Citeaux, when the Lord called him 
 to Himself; but we learn that these works will not remain 
 unfinished. The clergy, anxious to gather together, and 
 perfect the inheritance of a father so fondly cherished, and 
 so deeply lamented, will carry out his designs. The Rev- 
 erend Father Jesuits are already established, and the 
 house for the Trappists is in the course of erection. The 
 venerable Vicar-Generals themselves, have not hesitated 
 to encourage the enterprise, and to favor it with all their
 
 346 LIFE OF MOTHER MARY EPHRAIM. 
 
 authority ; being well convinced that the future Arch- 
 bishop would sanction all that they do to promote the 
 interest of aq establishment whose object is to draw down 
 upon the flock committed to his care, the most abundant 
 benedictions. 
 
 Report has already reached us, the confirmation of which 
 we will receive with unbounded pleasure. The name 
 which has been announced, is that of a great Prelate, and 
 whose innumerable titles call him to be the successor of 
 Monseigneur de Gualy, and whose name alone will guar- 
 antee unto us the foundation of Roque Reine, because we 
 know the esteem which Monseigneur de Jerphanion has 
 for the Order of Citeaux. It is only a short time since 
 that he has endowed in his Diocese of Saint Die, a house 
 of that order. We ought in truth to add, that the Abbe 
 Sere de Rivieres is not the only priest who pursues with 
 activity the foundation of the Trappists at Roque Reine. 
 Providence has given him a worthy assistant in the person 
 of Mr. Devie, Curate of the Parish of Manavers. It was 
 perhaps this worthy ecclesiastic who first gave the hint 
 of this enterprise ; however this may be, they both have 
 acted in concert, with a courage to surmount the greatest 
 difficulties, and with a purity of purpose meriting to be 
 crowned with success. 
 
 We will offer up our most sincere prayers, in order that 
 the General Chapter, before whom this foundation is to be 
 brought, may receive it favorably and give it a unanimous 
 approbation. 
 
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