THE TAKING OF THE HABIT

On the following morning the Clothing ceremony took place. The city was still asleep under a veil of mist; the air was cold, but on the road to Porta alla Croce more than one handsome equipage had already wended its way towards the convent. The little church, generally rather empty, except on Sundays and feast days, was unusually animated. Here and there were seen groups of elderly matrons and young girls richly attired, some of them wearing fine jewels ... it was the flower of Florentine society who had gone to see the last of one of their companions.

Her father, her relations and friends were all present. Several secular priests and the Carmelite Fathers, with their Father Provincial, also attended.

On the right of the high altar was a large window with heavy bars, and behind it, like a night without stars, was a heavy black curtain.

All at once, the heavy curtain was quietly and invisibly drawn aside ... every whisper ceased ... every eye was directed towards the barred window; beyond it was a kind of choir with stalls; it was the chapter room.

The ceremony began. From far away the melody of a chant was heard, and it grew louder as the singers approached. The Sisters, with their black veils lowered over their faces and with their feast day habits, that is to say, the white cloak over the coarse brown habit, slowly entered the choir, two by two. They were preceded by a Novice in a white veil, who carried a large crucifix. The rest of the Novices followed the Professed Nuns, and last, accompanied by the Mother Prioress, came the new Carmelite Nun, attired as a bride, in white satin with a long flowing train.

At the end of the hymn, "O gloriosa Domina, Excelsa supersidera --- Qui to creavit provide lactasti sacro ubere", after which the Father Provincial recited the Oremus, the Sisters left processionally. The choir was again empty; only the young postulant remained. She knelt in the center on a black pall, with a tall candlestick and a lighted candle by her side. Mass was begun. In the silence of the chapel the words of the celebrant were clearly heard ... a barely repressed sob on the part of her father ... lashes wet with tears ... furtive looks toward the grille. The picture framed by the grille presented a scene of singular beauty in the sombre austerity of its lines.

In the semi-light of the choir, Anna Mary knelt erect, without any support, her hands joined in an attitude of prayer; her great eyes gazing into space as if seeing a vision of Paradise. She resembled one of those effigies of Christian art depicted in the catacombs.

When Mass was over, the Sisters re-entered the choir in the same formation as before, and took their places in the stalls. The Father Provincial removed his chasuble and put on the cope; then sitting just inside the grille, facing the candidate, he addressed her saying: "What do you seek?"

"The mercy of God, the poverty of the Order and the companionship of the Sisters," was the prompt reply.

"Will you faithfully persevere in the Order till death?"

"Yes."

After several other questions and answers, Anna Mary left the chapel to discard her worldly attire and came back clothed in the simple white habit and wimple of the Novice, with sandals on her bare feet. They then girded her with the cord and further clothed her with the scapular and mantle.

The most solemn and impressive moment of the whole ceremony was about to begin. The congregation swayed under a wave of emotion. The Novice prostrated herself on the floor, with her arms extended in the form of a cross ... the white cloak enveloped and hid her completely. She resembled a white dove, with wings extended, just before taking flight to the nest.

The Provincial intoned the "Veni Creator", which was followed by other invocations and prayers, in which Divine protection was implored for the one who, of her own will, had undertaken to shun the world for the span of her life, joining the Church Militant under the banner of Christ, in the shadow of His Tabernacles.

"Deus ... to supplices deprecamur, ut huic famulae saecularibus renuncianti, largam tuae miserationis gratiam benignus infundere digneris, quatenus, castris tuis inserta, ita tibi militando stadium vitae praesentis percurrere valeat ad aeternae remunerationis bravium, to donante, percipiat".

The Novice rose from her prostrate position, positively radiant with happiness. She was crowned with a wreath of flowers and a crucifix was placed in her hands. She then received her new name in religion and was embraced fraternally by all the Sisters.

The words of the Psalm filled the air: "Ecce quam bonum et quam jucundum abitare fraters in unum ..." then the Nuns retired down the long undecorated corridors of Carmel singing hymns.

The new name assigned to Anna Mary by the Father Provincial was Sister Theresa Margaret of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It was a name she had much desired to possess because she had chosen St. Margaret Mary Alacoque as her spiritual guide and patroness; and with humility had begged that the Sacred Heart of Jesus be added to her name. It is this Name that explains the secret of all the magnificent things with which this young and admirable life is interwoven, and which are better sung in Heaven than here below.

It was the intimacy of her heart with the Divine One, it was that magnificent foundation of devotion to the Sacred Heart, that sustained her when she was assailed by difficulties, great ones, that perhaps today might be dubbed absurd, but in those times were none the less real, born of the frozen zeal of a certain sect named Jansenists, who understood nothing of the love of God, while insisting entirely on His greatness and majesty. Like a flash of divine illumination, the young Novice saw in that Name the whole program of her sublime vocation --- "LOVE"; and from that day, more than ever, did she live by tenderness and sacrifice for the Sacred wounded Heart satiated with opprobrium --- for the Adorable Heart of Jesus.

She wished, in assuming that Name in the solemn moment of her dedication to Christ, to remind souls that the devotion to the Sacred Heart is a font and an abyss of every grace and virtue, and beyond all others, a means of sanctification.

From the day of her Clothing, her biographers tell us, she had but one idea --- that of resembling her Crucified Love with a life of penance and mortification, with ever ready obedience and abnegation, and continuous prayer. She offered herself as a victim of expiation and love for the sins of others.

How pleasing this offer was to her Divine Spouse can be clearly deduced from the admirable gifts that were showered on St. Theresa Margaret. Her soul was filled with exultation and holy joy at wearing the Carmelite habit. She wrote to Canon Joseph Mary Tonci, who had examined her and approved her vocation: "I have reached the summit of my desires in being clothed with this holy habit, and, as you well know, it was a call that I received from Our Lord. I know that He has shown me great mercy and I acknowledge my unworthiness, but now He has given me a sign that I am obliged not only to change my whole life, but also to become a saint, because in this place where I dwell it is easier to be one than not. Now you see how much I owe my dearest Jesus, therefore kindly pray that I may correspond to so many favors, so that His desires may be accomplished in me".

According to a custom in the Carmelite Order, Sister Theresa Margaret was queen of the convent for that day.

Sister Theresa Margaret was placed next to the Mother Prioress in the refectory adorned with flowers; songs and verses written for the occasion gladdened her heart. The Lord had chosen a new Spouse on the mountain of Carmel, and until sunset the whole community rejoiced with the chosen and fortunate one.

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