THE FIRST PERIOD OF TRAINING FOR THE JESUITS IS CALLED
THE "NOVITIATE." THE "FIRST PROBATION" IS HELD DURING THE
FIRST WEEK OF THE NOVITIATE. THE NEW MEN ARE ENTIRELY
EXCLUDED FROM ANY CONTACT WITH THE REGULAR JESUITS. THEY
EAT AT SEPARATE TABLES IN THE DINING ROOM, HAVE SEPARATE
PLACES IN CHAPEL, ETC. ONLY THREE JESUITS (CALLED
"GUARDIAN ANGELS") HAVE ANY CONTACT WITH THEM, ALONG WITH
THE MASTER OF NOVICES. AFTER THIS FIRST WEEK OF INTENSIVE
TRAINING IN THE BACKGROUND OF THE SOCIETY AND THE
PARTICULARS OF LIFE IN THE JESUIT ORDER AND THE HOUSE,
AND INTENSIVE SPIRITUAL TRAINING, THE MEN ARE ALLOWED
"FUSION"--CONTACT WITH OTHER JESUITS. THE LAST DAY
OF THIS FIRST PROBATION IS "CASSOCK DAY"--THE DAY WHEN
THE NEW MEN RECEIVE THEIR CASSOCKS. THIS DAY IS A
SURPRISE FOR THE NEW MEN, ALTHOUGH ALL OTHER MEMBERS
OF THE COMMUNITY ARE AWARE OF IT. DURING ONE OF THE
REGULAR CLASSES THAT THE NEW MEN ARE ENGAGED IN (USUALLY
AT NIGHT), MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY STORM INTO THE
CLASSROOM CARRYING THE NEW CASSOCKS. USUALLY THERE IS
MUCH YELLING AND GENERALLY A PARTY-LIKE ATMOSPHERE.
EACH NEW MAN IS SHOWN HOW TO PUT ON THE CASSOCK, HOW IT
IS TO BE WORN, ETC. AFTER THIS, THERE IS A MASS IN
WHICH THE CASSOCKS ARE BLESSED. THIS IS USUALLY
FOLLOWED BY A LARGE PARTY, WHICH OFFICIALLY WELCOMES
THE NEW MEN INTO THE JESUIT ORDER. THE CASSOCKS ARE
NEW TO THE MEN RECEIVING THEM. ACTUALLY, THEY ARE
GENERALLY QUITE OLD, SOMETIMES BELONGING TO JESUITS
WHO HAVE DIED. ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY USUALLY
WRITE "CASSOCK-DAY NOTES" TO EACH OF THE NEW MEN,
WELCOMING HIM INTO THE COMMUNITY AND THE ORDER. THESE
NOTES ARE OFTEN QUITE FUNNY, AND SOMETIMES INCLUDE SOME
HUMOROUS REMARKS ABOUT THE LIFE OF CELIBACY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; CLARKSTON