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

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1859

pg 348       world, more attention that ever was devoted to religious 
             solumnitis.  Christmas, New Year's Day, and the Epiphany were 
             celebrated at Notre Dame with all the magnificence possible.  On 
             the latter festival there was a grand representation of the 
             mystery of the day.  More than fifteen hundred candles reminded 
             the spectators of the Star and of the coming of the gentiles to 
             the uncreated Light.
                  Yet three days afterwards there was an uprising or mutiny of 
             about forty young men of the college such as had never before been 
             witnessed at Notre Dame.  And had not the spirit of religion, 
             which had its weight with the greater number, been brought to 
             bear, nothing more would have been required to ruin the prospects 
             of the whole scholastic year.  And all this came from a want of 
             tact and from overzeal in the punishment of certain faults whose 
             gravity had not been sufficiently explained and which it is hard 
             to make non-Catholic students understand: we speak of particular 
             friendships. 
                  Two boarders were dismissed on the spot, and the departure of 
             several others was resolved upon, although deferred for prudential 
             reasons.
                  This year the Christmas vacation which some of the pupils 
             were accustomed to take, deranged more than usual the order of 
             classes and the discipline of the institution, and it was resolved 
             not to permit them any more.
                  The statistics and the budget were delayed on account of 
             sickness, which lasted more than a month, of Bro. Vincent, who had 
             charge of the great and important work.  Regular statistics had 
budget never been sent for a number of years to the Mother House, but a budget 
demanded     had never been demanded.  The work was finished and signed in 
             Chapter on February 3rd.  The amount of the expenses calculated 
             for 1859 could not be reduced, notwithstanding the general desire 
             of all the members to pay off the debts of the establishment; and 
             it was necessary to petition his Reverence to authorize an expense 
             of $64,000.
                  This matter of the budget was long but very useful, because 
             it gave the administration new light.  All possible economy had 
             been practised everywhere, but details were not so well known.  
             When signing this budget, every member felt that he had acquired 
             certainty which he did not before possess.  Each felt more 
             thoroughly the need of renewed attention, of new devotedness, of 
             new efforts to draw down the blessings of heaven.