Chronicles of Notre Dame du Lac
Edward Sorin, CSC -- Translated by John M. Toohey, CSC, 1895

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1844

pg 63                                2.  The Novitiate

This was the      The first, we might almost say, the only aim of the Brothers 
first object of St. Joseph in coming to the United States was to establish a 
of the       novitiate, and thereby to assure to religion in this country some 
Brothers.    good religious teachers.  The sphere of their movements became 
Difficulties enlarged at least in prospect almost as soon as they arrived.  
Poverty. The The important object of their mission was not on that account 
language.    lost sight of.  It must be confessed here, however, that the 
Fewness and  needs of a college just starting into existence, as well as 
inconstancy  poverty and the necessity to procure a living, long prevented all 
of           that was required for success from being done for the novitiate.
candidates.  Want of time, of a locality, of a Master of novices, of rules in 
             England, and likewise of fit subjects, turn by turn or 
             simultaneously rendered impossible the development of this 
             precious branch, and even the keeping of the postulants that 
             entered, and who would probably have remained had they been 
             solidly formed to the religious life.
                  I will not here repeat what I said formerly in Ch. 1 in 
             regard to vocations in this country, but I will add that, by
             means of the inexhaustible resources of a good novitiate in