The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-03-22
OBSERVE FEAST
 OF ST. BENEDICT 
Eloquent EuIogy Delivered by
 Father Clarence
BISHOP CELEBRATES MASS
Memory of the Founder of the Bene- dictine Order of Monks Is Ap- propriately Celebrated at
 St. Bernard.

St Bernard March a.--(speeial)-fhe feast of St. Benedict. founder of the Ben edictine order of monks, was observed to- day in an elaborate manner Solemn pom tifeal mass was celebrated by Bishop Allen of Mobile at s o'clock. He was asssted by the Very Rev. Boniface, O. s. B. The Rev. Joseph, 0. S. B.. and the Rev. Clemens. o. S. B. were deasons of honor and the Rev Gregory and the Rev. Edmund. respectively, were deacon and subdeacon of the mass. Joseph Cru bers mas. Mater Dolorosae was sung by the monastery choir The Rev. Father Flarence, O. g. B. of Tuscumbia delivered an eloquent and masterful eulogy on the life of St. Benedict
 He said in part:
 'Mirabils Deus in Sanctis suis." The world is ever anxious to preserve the memory of it's heroes. The yeneration of the illustrious dead is recognized debt on the part of a grateful people to the great names that adorn it's history. The child in the nursery room is told of their heroic deeds and thus from it's ear Hest infancy is stimulated to emulate their example
 The great church of God is not derelist in this duty With jealous care she guards the memory of its truly great men and women who were intimately associated with her origin and progress, with her sorrows and her triumphs. But unlike the world which traces upon tablets of stone the names and achievements of its heroes to be sooner or later wiped away by the irsatabe tooth of time. she writes the names and deeds of it's lofty and chival- rous spirits, the saints of God. with a pen of adamant into the book of life from which neither time nor eternity will obliterate them, for the works of the just will endure forever Their sanctlty and virtues are ever held up to Us as models that we might conform ourselves accord ingly And this is the reason we today commemorate saint, ranking away the foremost of the Benedictine order
 The catacombs.
 There was a time when the church had scarcely emerged from the cataeombs- still bleeding from thousand wounds inflicted by the cruel prosecutions and humanly speaking too. weak to carry out the divine injunction: "Go teach all na- tions," too weak. as 1t were, to cope with the enemies from within and without who were ever alert to thwart her God given mission. She seemed doomed to a disgraceful fall and to pass into ob- ! ways with her and when danger seemed greatest he was nearest, and sent men and means to the scene of danger. And so 1t transpired that at the time of visi- tation he caused to spring into existence the bodyguard of the church. the Bene- dictine order and St. Benedict was the instrument chosen by Gods all-wise providence to accomplish that purpose.
 The life of St. Benedict might be liken- aI nla -ofn | and rereard 1t and vet we grow not tired i; we may read it and reread 1t and yet we shall always find matter for entertain ment and edification. Born in Nursia some 400 years ago Gin 4S0), St. Benedict show ed himself in his earliest years a youth of superior parts. Yet boy of ten der years he was sent to Rome to ac- quire an education in keeping with his position in life There he grew disgusted of the lewdness and looseness of morals of his companios; he resolved to escape their fate before the breath of contagion could wlther his pure mind. He hied away to the caves of Subaco and there he prepared himself for the tack for which he had been singled out. Like the lowly violet, arrayed in it's penitential garb of royal purple, hides away under leaves and yet sheds forth sweet fragrance and thus easily leads to it's discovery-so with St. Benedict.
 Fragrance of Sanctity.
 The fragrance of his sanctity was soon felt around and about him, and attracted the faithful of the neighborhood He was importuned to direct small community of men but they. like so many others applauded the sanctity in others while they resented measures leading to their own. Only by miracle did he escape their treacherous resentment. Again he | threw himself solitude would no longer be respected. The high and low fiocked to him attracted by his fame. Here then he determined to move to the boundaries of Samneum and Compania and there founded the most famous monastery the world has ever seen, Monte Casino. On this mountain he | framed his code of laws the observance of which has landed safely thousands ana thousands of souls in the Kingdom of God.
 Here his life was an inspiration to his followers for over it was diffused the golden glow of Paradise. Who can de- scribe his life-his constant incense of prayer unalloyed with the slightest dross of the affections of the world ascending from his pure heart to the throne of God, reflected back upon him in richest streamets of God-given blessings. Who can describe his utter self-immolation at the foot of Calvary his humility sublime in its lowliness; his purity bending to it the very love of the Immaculate lamb. his charity Christlke in ardor and eff fusiveness; all the virtues of the gospel alive in fullest bloom, all the ravishing odors going thither to soften and purify the surrounding atmosphere, and there in heaven are the complete details of the picture drawn upon the canvass of im- mortality by the recording spirit of God.
 Powerful Ally,
 Sabeus narrates of Philip, King of Macedon. that when certain orator un- dertook to speak the Kings eulogy, ho summed up his praises In these few words, Philip was the father of Alex ander the Great So today, after having descanted on the eminent character of St. Benedict, l might well sum up all his glories in these few words: St. Benedict was the father of the Benedctine order for in these words his greatest encomium Is spoken. That order has ever been a trusted and powerful ally to the church. The faithful sons of St. Benedict sallied forth from this retreat at Monte Casino and armed only with the holy ruie they marched on but as they went they left behind them footprints on the sands of time-footprnts of civilization, footprints of learning. footprints of virtue The order has grown o.d but with her age it has waxed stronger from year to year and today there is scarcely Q land or cline but where the Benedctines are quietly plodding. writing. teaching, pray ing, that In all things God might be glori- fled
 But let US return to our theme and make it profitable to ourselves. Nothing but Imitation can attest to the sincerity of