The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-03-23
CEREMONIES MARK
ST. BENEDICT DAY
Five Young Men Are Ordained
at CuIlman
NAMES OF THE CANDIDATES
The Chapel of ST. Bernard College
the Scene of Much Brlliancy.
Sanctuary Throneed With
Richly Vested Priests.

Cullman, March 22.-(Speelal.) 1.-THE an
nual recurrence of the feast of st. Bene-
dict, patriarch of the western monks,
which occurred on March 81 was partic-
ular1y solemnized this year. In addition
to the elaborate ceremonies which usual
ly mark this day. the ordination of five
young men to the order of deacon great
ly enhanced the tsolemnity of the occa-
sion. The candidates who were thus hon.
ored are the Rev. Fathers Gregory, o. S.
B.. Edmund, o. S. b.; Augustine, o. S.
B.. Alphonse, o. S. b., and Anthony, o..
S. b. The ceremony was performed by
the Rev e. p Allen, D. D., bishop of
Mobile, assisted by the Rev. Father
Meurer of Birmingham, and Father
Joseph, O. S. B., as deacons of honor, the
Rev. p. Bernard, o. S. b., presbyter as
sistant, and the Revs Osmund, o. S. B.,
and Placidus, o. s. b., as deacon and
sub-deacon of the mass.
The Rt. Rev. Abbot Benedict o. S. b.,
was in the sanctuary. At o'clock a. m.
the bishop preceded by numerous
procession of acolytes and supplied
priests entered the portals of the col
ege chapel while the orchestra rendered
appropriate music. The musicians con-
tinued to execute some select pieces while
the prelate was vested in his pontifical
robes for the ceremony.
These prelimnaries being finished the
ceremony proper was begun. The orches-
ira music was now replaced by the more
modest tones of the organ, from which
/ Father Thomas, o. S. b., the chapel or
ganist, soon drew forth its richest strains
/ ON magnificent .Kyrie." A regular
! gr \ ion of voices combined with a kill
/ fu9 execution succeeded In making the
! mnsic. a prominent feature throughout
| the ceremony. Meanwhile the sanctuary
thronged with richly vested priests, with
numerous attendent acoytes, the altar
all-resplendent with glowing wax tapers
above which rose clouds of aromatic in
cense, presented striking instance of the
soul-inspring paegeantry of the Roman
ritual Before the gospel and before the
offertory the candidates for orders APP
preached the altar to receive the various
grades of ordination. Before the gospel
the dalmaties and stole together with the
''priVelegium legend were conferred. Be-
fore the offertory the postulants received
the apoltolic injunction. "Accipite Spiri-
tum Sanctum '-"Receive ye the Holy
Ghost" which constituted the consum-
nation of the ordination.
Their Benedict, o. s. B., preached stir
| ring sermon on the greatness of st. Bell
edict as seen in his virtues. He traced
the progress of monasticism from the
time of the great patriarch down to the
present day, and depleted In glowing
words the debt which civilized society
owes to the great monastic founder. Aftet
the sermon the ceremonies were resumed
with all their splendor. At the PAX
1 - At. 4
/ ceived severaly the kiss of peace from
the right reverend celebrant The Ger
cmonies then proceeded without any not
able features to the end
The deaeons had received ordination to
| the sub-deaconship the day previous, to-
sether with the venerable FIR. Albert, o.
S. b.. whose elevation to the order OF
deacon was prevented by not having
reached the required age