B S
ITALIAN SCENERY, MANNERS , A N D CUSTOMS. 65
F L A T K X X V I I I .
THE CATECHISM.
T h i s plate represents the exterior of a convent of monks, whose church is parochial, which
is now very common, though, according to the original institutions of the Roman church,
every parish should be governed by a secular priest. The catechism for the religious and moral
instruction of youth is never neglected; and in this manner they are prepared, according to
their age and capacity, to receive confirmation, penance, and the Lord's Supper, and even for
matrimony; the girls who are on the eve of being married being instructed in all the duties
of a wife and a mother.
The young men are seldom catechised after their first communion, but generally become
members of some fraternity, which answers the same purpose. The young women, in particular
those who belong to a well governed family, attend the catechism till they are married,
or till they attain the age of about twenty-two. It is not so much for want of piety that they
refrain even then, as because they are ashamed to act the part of a single woman at that age,
which exposes them frequently to the sarcastic observations of the youth of both sexes. The
young women, on their way to the church, call at the neighbouring houses for other girls, and
then proceed all together. It may readily be supposed, that the young men do not omit such
an opportunity of watching them; though the beadle contrives to keep them apart while they
are catechising. In large parishes, where there is a great number, they separate the two sexes
entirely; and the youths are directed to go and hear the instructions among those of their
own sex, or to leave the church, if they were led thither by curiosit\' alone.
The time for saying the catechism is generally an hour before vespers; and when over, the
5-oung women rejoin their parents, who are assembled in the church to hear the service. This,
however, is practised only in the villages, as in the large towns it is not customary to attend
vespers, as in France.
In the annexed plate the young men and women are mixed together at the catechism, as is
usual in small parishes, where one priest is thought sufficient to keep them all in good order.
They are likewise in the open air, because the heat of the season is such as to render the interior
of the church imcomfortable, and for the same reason the monk has laid aside his mantle
and cowl. The little girl apparently has not been able to answer the question put to her by
the priest, who is telling her the answer she should have given. She is not seated like the rest
upon the bench, for as soon as the priest directs his interrogations to any one of them, they respectfully
rise. The othere are attentive, and endeavouring to remember what question will
follow, in order to avoid mistakes when it comes to their turn.
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