The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-22

foster land of many noble men and wom-
Ell, whose memory mankind holds in
benediction; it is also the birth land of
him whose mission and life | SHALL with
Gods grace, briefly outline for you.
st Benedict was born at Nursia, a
city of Umbria in Italy. Nobly was he
born for his parents were of the first
families of the land. The year of his
birth is memorable in the history of man.
kind. An upheaval. political and religi-
Gus, had just burst upon Europe The
famous and world embracing empire of
Rome had fallen and barbarian, Odo-
acer sat on the throne of the Caesars
Goths and Germans were crossing the
Alps to possess themselves of the fertile
and smiling province of Italy. Death and
destruction marked their course and for
years all Italy was changed into one vast
battlefield. Famine and pestilence COM
pleted the work of the merciess invader.
Nor did the rest of Europe present a
happier prospect. Spain was under the
tyranny of Alaric, the Visigoth France
had yielded to the prowess of Childerie
and his Franks and was again given up
TO the worship of IDOLS Burgundy and
other provinces were Aran. whilst of
England and Germany we know little
more than that they were buried in the
darkness of Paganlsm.
Saint Was Born.
AT such a time and amidst scenes of
war, bloodshed and misery most appalling
was our saint born. Civilization seemed
TO be on the verge Of extinction. and the
Church of Christ seemed to have lost the
foothold which she had but lately pur-
chased by the blood of her martyrs All
Europe seemed to revert into barbarism
and idolatry, and already the enemies
were knocking at the gates Of Rome, the
city of Peter, wherein dweleth the rock,
against which Christ said That the
gates of hell shall never prevail And
true 30 his promise to be with his church
until the end of time, and once elevated
from Earth lie Will draw all to himself,
Jesus Christ comes to the rescue of his
church at the very time when the powers
of darkness were rejoicing in their con-
quest of the Cross of Christ. st. Bene
dict is the man sent by God to do bat
tie for his church and to lay the foundation
of Christian Europe which all the
storms and revolutions of fourteen cen-
turtles have not been able to destroy or
effaoe That this was his God-given mis-
sion. history, profane and sacred, album
dainty shows. for written on almost every
page of European annals for many CEN
fury may be found the name of Benedict
TO him living in his sons. who had been
trained in his school who were fiji ed
traced the conversion and civilization and
education of almost every European ma
ton. 1t was he who won the barbarians
to the Church of Christ, II was he who
gathered the barbarian nations round the
cloistered walls of his monasteries, and
charming them from their wild and
rowing life made them willing to learn
the arts of peace. while by example as
we'll precept, he taught them the dig
nifty, nobility and sanctity of labor; 1t
was he who garnered. in the secluded
cloister, the learning of ancient Greece
and Rome, the learning of a dead and
dying age that IN happier and peaceful
times, he might bring forth these treas
ures of antiquity which would have
been lost forever; and lastly, it was 10
his gentle and paternal care that for CEN
turtles the youth of Europe owed it's cul-
ture and education.
Sublime Mission.
Sublime was the mission, and AL
mighty God, who selected St. Benedict
to accomplish it, adorned him with all
the graces natural and supernatural be-
fitting the high calling. Like the elder
Tobias, he is said to have manifested
the steadiness and wisdom of advanced
years. As child under the parental
roof no is noted for his obedience, pety
and intelligence: as youth, pursuing a.
EOllSBl6lt tOuISt VI SLuuy III ItOfUfs he
prizes virtue and innocence higher than
human knowledge and worldly honors,
and distinctions. To escape the dangers
and temptations of the corrupted schools
and society Of Rome. fees from the
city to the mountain rc-ion of Sublacum,
about forty miles from Rome. and there
buries himself in rocky cave for three
years to prepare himself for the great
apostolate. To forget the world and all
she loves and values to die to all, even
to himself to live for God to be united
with God in prayer and meditation. are
henceforth the end and aim of his youth
full ambition. Far removed from the al
lurements of depraved and licentious
world-amid solitude and silence-Bene-
dict, like another John the Baptist.
schools himself IN prayer and penance. in
self-denal and subduing the youthful
passions. That the struggle was hard
one the f,torns and briars around his
cave testify; the cave of Subiaco is the
monastic school. wherein. under God :
direction and assistance, Benedict learns
10 be a master of himself, learns to be
a Saint of God. When at Gods appoint
cd hour. he leaves his mountainous home.
IL is as a leader of men and lawgiver
10 thousands. who under his guidance
learn tc become perfect For eighteen
wears he lived and labored and prayed
in the desert of Subisco. and God, for
whose saks he had left the world and