Life of a Novice at Mt. St. Clare
Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa
The following is an extract from an article on the life of a postulant and novice at Mount St. Clare Motherhouse in Clinton, Iowa. The article appeared originally in the August 26, 1954 issue of The Catholic Messenger in the “Persons, Places, and Things” department
The Novitiate at Mt. St. Clare lasts two-and-a-half years. Postulants, who enter the Order on Sept. 8 for a six month’s period, are usually girls who have just finished high school. Most of them, while in the postulancy, attend classes in the junior college with the lay students. Ordinarily only candidates who are between the ages of 16 and 30 are accepted. Postulants must have completed high school and have good health, good character and average intelligence.
After six months the postulants receive the habit and white veil and enter their canonical year. Here they concentrate on spiritual reading and study, and conferences on the religious life in general and on the community’s rule in particular.
In a typical canonical day, novices rise at 5 a.m., say their morning prayers in community, do their spiritual reading and make a meditation before the 6:30 Mass. Then they eat breakfast and perform ‘obediences’ or household duties, until 8 a.m. From 8 until 11:30 the canonicals have classes. A few priests teach theology and give conferences. The novice mistress, Sister Mary Magdala, is the only other instructor the novices have.
At 11:30 they go to chapel to pray the Franciscan Crown in unison. (The Franciscan Crown is a seven-decade rosary of the Seven Joys of the Blessed Virgin.)
The canonicals have more classes in the afternoon and a recreation period at 4 p.m. each day. Another recreation period is held from 7 to 8 o’clock in the evening. ‘Play’ activities include tobogganing in the winter, and baseball and tennis in warmer weather. After evening prayers they retire.
The second Sunday of each month is visiting day, when relatives and friends of the novices may spend an afternoon with them.
Every year an eight-day retreat is given for all novices and professed Sisters. Postulants to be received make a ten-day retreat before their reception and novices who will make first vows make a ten-day retreat before profession.
When the Sisters make first profession, that is, when they vow poverty, chastity and obedience for three years, they receive the black veil. After three years, they make life vows and receive a gold band ring with Deus Meus Et Omnia (My God and My All) inscribed inside.
Once a month, a Franciscan priest comes from Chicago to teach religion to the novices and to give them conferences on the spiritual life. Once a week, a Dominican priest comes from St. Rose priory in Dubuque and holds a class in theology for both the novices and the college and academy girls.
Some of the novices and postulants attend sociology and ethics courses given by Fathers Edward and William O’Connor of St. Ambrose college, Davenport. Novitiate members are also trained in liturgical music. The Sisters chant the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin daily.
First home visit for professed Sisters is two years after first profession. Sisters may visit their homes one week every five years. If their parents are old or ill they may visit them more frequently.
