Immaculata Academy - Lilium Convallium Yearbook (Portland, OR)

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LILIUM CONVALLIUM The Birthplace of the Dominican Sisters Far away, amidst the smiling plains of Southern France, lies the hallowed spot where, according to the best authenticated traditions, our Lady revealed to St. Domlnlc the devotien 0f the Rosary a devotion whose sweet and powerful influence over souls it would be d1f- ficult to exaggerate. . Rising somewhat abruptly from the sunny plain, in the very heart of Languedoc, is a steep hill crowned by the small town of Fanjeaux, which now belongs to the diocese of Carcasonne. Just outside the town, a solitary Spot on another rocky eminence, marked by a large, white cross, is called the ttSeignadonf, which, in the dialect of the country, means itthe sign of God. In the thirteenth century, the ttSeignadon,t was an isolated bit of land and here, at night, when the labors 0f the day were over, St. Dominic used to come and pray. Our readers know that during many years of the future founder of the Friars Preachers evangelized the south of France, where the heresy 0f the Albigenses spread destruction among souls. From the steep summit of the ttSeignadonii the kneeling missionary beheld stretched out before him the vast plain, studded with towns, castles and Villages; broken here and there by hills and rocks and his apostle,s heart, so full of human sympathy, yearned towards the souls that were enslaved in the bonds of heresy and sin. Between Fanjeaux and its nearest neighbor Montreal, lay in the heart of the plain a tiny Village called Prouille, where a chapel dedicated to Our Lady had from very ancient times attracted many pilgrims. In his pleadings for the souls whom heresy had led astray, Dominicis thoughts con- stantly reverted to this humble sanctuary. It seemed to his anxious mind a sign of salvation, a beacon of hope, set up in the midst of the land where the spirits of truth and error were at war and it was to Mary,s powerful hands and motherly heart that he confided the result of his apostolic labors. . During the night between the twenty-first and twenty-second of July, 1206, the Saints prayers were unusually long and fervent. He knelt, as was his wont, on the lonely hillock above Fanjeaux; the soft summer sky above him; at his feet, the wide plain, wrapped in dusk and silence. Suddenly a strange sight attracted his attention; a globe of fire seemed to descend from heaven and to rest close to the pilgrimage chapel of Prouille; during the two following nights the same prodigy took place and Dominic at last understood its mean- lng. For some time past he had formed the project of founding a convent for women in Languedoc. He had noticed, in the course of his missionary career, that the heresy 0f the Albigenses made more recruits among the women and young girls of the country even than among the men; in his thoughts the convent he dreamt of was to be an asylum and a safe refuge for his converts and, at the same time, a spot whence the incense of perpetual prayer should rise to heaven on behalf of sinners. The apparition of the fiery glove seemed to be an answer to his petitions and a sign that the future convent was to be built at Prouille, close to Our Lady,s favorite sanctuary. Seme months later, the new building was commenced; the splendid monastery that, in later tlmes, was to be one of the glories of Southern France was, in the first instance, only a poor and roughly built house, where nine noble ladies, whom Dominic had converted, were the first to take the veil. St. Dominic gave them a rule; they Were strictly enclosed 20

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quire in t md tompel them to 00me H -, n ' h . 1y hope and QXDQCtaHm t5 are by learnin l. , g, willb - mm to know, as St Dru: Jesus i I E Lhnst. I am gralet state that when Iaskfor my prosper and increasett lat you may preachandtgs a are ready to receiveitbezs lid when he wrotetothei e all almost saints'tt -Cum JV: LILIUM CONVALLIUM Seventh Centennial of'Dominican Order Celebrated in Immaculate Heart Parish During three days, December 29, 30, 31, a solemn triduum, in honor of the Seventh Cen- tennial 0f the Dominican Order was conducted in Immaculate Heart Church by our pastor Reverend W. A. Daly. The triduum opened with a High Mass at which the Dominican Sisters and their pupils assisted in a body. Father Daly delivered an eloquent sermon de- scribing and praising the work of the Dominican Order in the Church, during the past seven hundred years. December 30, Saturday, the services were held in the convent chapel which was taste- fully and beautifully decorated in honor of the occasion, Father Daly officiating. On Sundav the triduum closed with a Solemn High Mass at which Father George Fallu was celebrant, assisted by Father De Lorimier, Deacon and Rev. W. A. Daly, sub-deacon. The most Rev. Archbishop Christie honored the occasion by his presence in the sanctuary and was assisted at the throne by the very Rev. E. S. Olsen, 0. P., Prior 0f the Holy Rosary Church and the Rev. F. K. Miller, C. SS. R. The Church, fittingly decorated for the celebration, was filled to its utmost capacity. The Dominican Sisters, occupied the side chapel of Saint Rose of Lima. Father Olsen, 0. P., delivered an eloquent sermon outlining in glowing terms the work of St. Dominic and his sons and daughters during the past seven centuries. At the close of the Mass the Archbishop addressed the Sisters and congratulated them on the happy occasion and complimented them on their work in the archdiocese during the past quarter of a century. eCLARA JACQUES, t1 7. CONVEXT LiIIAItIiIn

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inican Sisters rance, lies the hal revealed to St. Do if luence over soul lOWed 5;, minis lhe S it W n the very heart of Lang- ieh now belongs to the; nother rocky eminenceh the dialect of the count iolated bit of land andhe; to come and pray. Ourre; riars Preachers evangelizcd estruction among souls. ling missionary beheldsl: and villages: broken her: man sympathy, yearnedt I. Between Fanjeauxand. w village called Protlillt ines attracted many pilgrii ed astray, Dontinic's'thf his anxious mind aslgn'v - ' ' f truthand: e the spirits 0 t: rly heart that he COHf'W . o ' ty-Second 0f Juh, 1.00 Iii; s was his wont, an ill; s feet, the Wide What i ' ' a is attention. ll Image chapel of Prgeurlst: Dominic at last UH LILIUM CONVALLIUM and their time was divided between prayer and work. Their chief object, together with their own salvation, was that of their brethren, and especially of the Albigenses, and their prayers and penances tended to this end. Thus, while the Friars Preachers labored for souls by their active apostolate, the daughters of the Order, from the depths of their Cloister, served the same cause by their prayers and sacrifices. It was the night between the 21st and 22nd of July, 1206, that St. Dominic, far away t from all living creatures, knelt on his rocky eminence, his arms uplifted in earnest prayer for poor souls. Looking toward Prouille he saw a globe of fire descend from heaven and alight on the prilgrimts chapel. For two successive nights he had the same vision. Then and there St. Dominic received the inspiration from God that he should build a Convent on that holy spot and people it; not with men, mighty in working and preaching, but with holy women, who should, by means of prayer and penance, bring down God,s blessings upon his and his followers apostolic labors. St. Dominic knew that the Catholic religion would be practiced if only future mothers were well instructed. Hence at a very early date, Dominican nuns undertook the education of girls. At Prouille, then, a rude house was converted into a temporary convent. You know, dear readers, that all great works have had poor, humble beginnings. At first only nine ladies joined the community, but, little by little, this first spiritual family of St. Dominic grew and spread. The 27th of December, 1206, is the birthday of the first Dominican Convent of Nuns. aCLARA JACQUES, ,1 7.