St. Scholastica, February 10.
I have been a month in the monastery. Yesterday my first probation was over, and I was invested with the white garments of the novitiate.
The whole of the brotherhood were assembled in the church, when, kneeling before the prior, he asked me solemnly whether I thought my strength sufficient for the burden I purposed to take on myself.
In a low, grave voice, he reminded me what those burdens are—the rough plain clothing; the abstemious living; the broken rest and long vigils; the toils in the service of the order; the reproach and poverty; the humiliations of the mendicant; and, above all, the renunciation of self-will and individual glory, to be a member of the order, bound to do whatever the superiors command, and to go whithersoever they direct.
"With God for my help," I could venture to say, "of this will I make trial."
Then the prior replied,—
"We receive thee, therefore, on probation for one year; and may God, who has begun a good work in thee, carry it on unto perfection."
The whole brotherhood responded in a deep amen, and then all the voices joined in the hymn,—
"Magna Pater Augustine, preces nostras suscipe,
Et per eas conditori nos placare satage.
Atque rege gregem tuum, summum decus præsulum.
Amatorem paupertatis, te collaudant pauperes;
Assertorem veritatis amant veri judices;
Frangis nobis favos mellis de Scripturis disserens.