Page 71 - March On! God will Provide by Brother Aubert

A START IS MADE 5I
some time to the Redemptorists at St. Trond. That
w'ould be, he feels, better than with the Brothers of
Charity because in that way you would receive more
instruction, as their way of life is more in keeping with
the plan you have in mind."
_ _Shgrtly after Easrer, which that year fell on March Bl,
Mr. Rlken arrived at the Redemptorist noviriate in St.
Tr9nd, twe_nty miles beyond Li6ge. Here the newly-
ulrirgd Redemptorists had in 1833 opened their novi-
tiate in an old convenr that Saint ColGtte had built for
her Poor Clares in the fifteenth century. The convent
faced out on a narrow $treet characteristic of the quaint
old tow-n. Adjoining it was a church open to the public.
Around it was a garden of three or fo-ur acres.
For seven weeks, Father Geller, who had been assigned
to confer with Ryken, conducted him on a sort of pro-
longed rereat aimed at deciding on one's vocation. two
other Redemptorists, Father Opdebeek and peeters,
lent their advice and counsel. All three agreed that as
far as they were able to determine this min seemed to
have a special call from the Almighty
On May 19, the Friday after penlecosr Sunday, Father
^
Geller reported to Bishop Boussen. In conclusion he
wrote. "Persuading myself that the time of trial of this
man of God will soon be finished, I beg your Excellency
to allow him to come and throw hiriself at your feel
and as his room will be needed after pentecost, we wish
eagerly for a favorable answer.',
This_ rep_ort ended the Bishop's hesitancy. He senr
word that Ryken could begin thi foundation.
. In the old days, that dip into days of legends, peasants
from the farms to the nbrthwest-of Bru-qes wlio came
into the tou/n on their donkey-drawn caits made it a
practice of-tethering their beasts of burden in the open
space that lay between the rampart and the bridge over