Opening of St. Paul's Retreat, Dublin.
Beside the spot where the first colony of Passionists found a home in Ireland there stands now a magnificent building. The new Retreat was solemnly blessed and opened on the 8th September of this year. One of the newspapers of the day thus describes the edifice:
"We consider it the noblest religious house erected in these countries since the Reformation. It is delightfully situated and suited to the mixed spirit of the Order; for whilst the retirement of the situation secures monastic solitude, its contiguity to the populous suburbs of Harold's Cross and Rathmines affords ample scope for the missionary labours of the Fathers.
It was built from the designs of J.J. McCarthy, Esq., and consists of three sides of a quadrangle, two of which are already completed and the Church will form the third. The south or front wing is 205 feet in length and the west 140 feet. From the porch the cloister is entered through an inner vestibule. The cloister runs through the entire building and its tessalated pavement is a contrast to its finely groined roof.
The upper floors are approached by staircases of chiselled granite.
The entire of the exterior is built of granite and altho' the greatest plainess of character and simplicity of design are required by the spirit of the Order; yet its height, massiveness and boldness of outline makes it appear a very elegant monastic structure. The only ornaments to be seen on the exterior are simple crosses surmounting the gables and statues of Saint Patrick and St. Paul of the Cross in niches.
A campanile, surmounted by a floriated gilt cross, and containing the bells which give the signals for the various monastic duties, is raised above the roof of the west wing.
The monastery is situated on an elevated platform which affords ample scope for the development and display of its majestic proportions. When, by the addition of the Church, the entire building is completed, it will form the principal feature in a scene of unrivalled beauty. Its towers and belfry,its slanting roofs and pointed gables will harmonise with the natural grandeur around. It overlooks the city and environs on one side; whilst, on the other side, the chain: of the Dublin and Wicklow mountains which bound the horizon, gives it an idea of coziness by being nestled in their arms.
The opening of this building was a most impressive proceeding. His Grace, Archbishop (afterwards Cardinal) Cullen, assisted by a number of clergymen officiated and the ceremony was witnessed by a very numerous and respectable congregation.
The solemn proceedings of the day commenced at 11 o'clock, when High Mass was celebrated by the Most Rev. Dr. Whelan, Fathers Bernardine and Sebastian being deacon and subdeacon. The deacons at the throne of Grace were the Very Rev. Mgr. Meagher, PP, Rathmines and the Very Rev. Ignatius Paoli, Provincial of the Passionists. The masters of the ceremonies were Frs. Osmund, Bernard and Raphael. Amongst the clergy present were the Honorable and Rev. Fr. Ignatius Spencer, Rev. J. Clarke, Rev. Matthew Collier, Rev. Mr. Brock, Rev. Thos McCormack, Rev. Titus Bently, Rev. Bernard Denneen, Rev. Mr. Breen, etc.
The solemn High Mass having terminated the Very Rev. Fr. Alphonsus, Rector of the Passionist house in Highgate, London, preached a forcible and eloquent sermon. At the close of the sermon a procession was formed. First came the processional cross borne by a member of the Community attended by acolytes, then the clergy and lastly the Archbishop. The procession proceeded from the Chapel, across the grounds, to the new monastery, all the corridors and cloisters of which were traversed and blessed. His Grace then blessed the domestic Chapel or Choir of the Religious and the building was then formally opened.
The public were allowed three weeks in which all could inspect the cells, etc., previous to the placing of enclosure when ladies would be for ever excluded. Many persons availed themselves of the opportunity and gratified their devotion or curiosity during the time appointed."
So far the newspaper, "Morning News". The position of the monastery is well described by the writer we have quoted. It may be added that there are 22 acres of land attached to the house, that nearly the whole of that space is thrown into a pleasure ground, that a beautiful grove of choice trees runs around the whole, sheltering a fine walk on which the brethren may recreate themselves without fear of intrusion. The saplings, which were planted in 1857 have grown now to be noble trees. A small river runs around two sides of the property and the house is approached by two comely avenues. Indeed the natural features of the place, as they have been beautified by art, are indescribably grand.
Some, even friendly to ourselves, have remarked that the building seems too costly. This grand outline of chiselled granite which cost so much per stroke of the mallet must be a waste. There are two ways of looking at this question. If we will revert to the monastic huts of the Egyptian monks or the conical refuges of the Irish Culdees, we shall find simplicity of architecture in its most primitive and least attractive appearance. After ages modified the crude notions of the older solitaries and it was considered even a virtue that houses dedicated to the service of cod should be as beautiful as those dedicated to the services of sin and folly or amusement. Saints had no scruple in beautifying the houses of Cod and sinners felt honoured in helping them. This spirit built up Clendalough, Clonmacnoise, Lismore and others with their seven churches altogether and their elaborate crosses ornamenting each.
Mount Argus seems an expensive thing, but inside its beautiful walls there is not a single article of luxury to be found. Its walls are indeed well chiselled and well built. Many a poor family were nurtured by the labours
which raised that edifice. No one was robbed or injured by the money spent in its erection and the alms of the faithful which were spent on the structure gave double satisfaction to the donors. Let the monasteries show heaven upon earth as much as they can. It is the instinct of the faithful, consecrated by the experience of ages. Withall the external beauties of that edifice, the internal arrangements are anything but comfortable. There is scarcely an inhabitable room in the whole house. Your table comes too near your bed, or your chair is out of place when not used by yourself. It is a raw dry, cold, weird sort of building and those who live in it seem as if their lodging was in the cold ground.
The good Fathers who were charged with the completion of this building ran further into debt than was prudent, or consistent with the peace of mind of their successors. The thing was started and Rome wished it accomplished. It might not have been done for some time longer; but done it was, and when the troubles consequent on its completion have passed away, when its debts shall have been paid - all shall rejoice that so fine a monument of Irish zeal and charity studs the ground where once its presence would not have been a wonder.