The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-03
GOLDEN JUBILEE
 AT ST BERNARD Rev. Father Urban Tracy, 0. s.
 B., Is Honored POPE SENDS HIS BLESSING Distinguished Catholic cIereymen From Various Parts of Country At tend Celebration of ordina-
 tion To Priesthood.
 
POPE SENDS HIS BLESSING

 today and was attended by many distin- guished clergymen from various parts of the country. The congratulations of the community were rendered the Rev. Father Urban last evening at 4:30, and at 7:30 concert, which consisted of classical and popular selections, was given In honor of the event solemn high mass was sung by the Rev. Jubilarian this morning at o'clock, at which the fol- lowing assisted Presbyter Assistens, the Rev Father Boniface, o. s. B., deacon of the mass; the Rev. Father Doyle, sub-deacon, and the Rev. Father Cas- sidy.
 While the procession wended it's way down the aisle in the college chapel the orchestra played the "Benefactor' over ture. Another overture was played at the end of the mass. The monastery choir sang the Blessed Virgin mass in Gregorian chant The sermon during the mass was delivered by the Rev. Father Theodose, O. S. B. He said in part
 It is a most touching scene, when you see the veterans of the civil war hold their annual reunions. In the last few years the ranks of these venerable and brave men have been thinned consider ably, and it Is only a question of a short period when the last man of the vast army of war heroes will be gathered to the millions that have already found their resting place in the bosom of Mother Earth, and none will be left to tell in living words the deeds of by-gone ages.
 But, why, some one may ask, do I speak of the veterans of the civil war, and the mighty battles they fought, on a joyous occasion such as this is, the celebration of a golden jubilee?
 In the year 1858, a few years before the civil war broke out, a young man was en- listing his name not in an earthly war fare, but in the great army of the Lord of Hosts. He put on the armor of God; his brow was adorned with the helmet of salvation, his loins were girt about with truth, on his arm he wore the shield of faith, and in his hand he wield- ed the sword of the spirit which is the word of God.
 Thus equipped he stepped forth upon the arena of this world to fight the good fight, to obtain the noblest of all con- quests, the conquest of immortal souls for the everlasting kingdom of God I need not tell you that the young soldier of Christ who enlisted in the year 1858 Is the venerable jubllarian of 190S-the Rev. Father Urban, who celebrates today the memorable event of his golden sacerdotal jubilee. The year 1908 completes for you, the Rev. Father Jubilarian, the Both an- niversary of your ordination to the priest hood of your enlistment In the army of Christ as a leader and a captain. l have no doubt you fully realize the great ness and importance of this event.
 Day of Serious Thought.
 It is above all day of serious thought and of earnest reflection. Today your mind turns back over half a century and you dwell with loving memories upon the days of old the dear companions and friends who surrounded you at the cele- bration of your first holy mass. You also notice today as you look back the many gaps which the angel of death has made in the rank and file of those who once stood by your side. You recall today the most eventful periods of your life the trials, the hardships, the troubles and temptations, the victories and the defeats you have sustained during the 50 long years of your priestly career. Yes, the day of a golden jubilee is a day that stirs up many thoughts, thoughts of joy and thoughts of sorrow, but the more you think, and the deeper you reflect upon the past, the more reasons you will find to look upon the day of your golden jubilee a day of happiness rather than a day of sadness; the closer you examine the various events of your life from the day you entered in this world, in the year 1886, to this golden jubilee day of 1908, the more you will be convinced that you have every reason to be thank full from your innermost heart for the kind and loving providence of God that has led you through all the vicissitudcs of life to this happy hour of your golden jubilee. Hoy many of that vast number of people that saw the light of day in the year 1886 are still amongst the living? It was by an eternal and inscrutable design of God that they came into exis- tence. How many of those that were chosen in the year 1858 by the same eter- nal and inscrutable design of God, to the honor and glory of the priesthood, are still amongst the living? Most of them no doubt are gone, some perhaps died early, some perhaps even have deserted the banner of Christ.
 You, Father Jubilarian, are shll amongst the living; you have fought the BOOQ uSll -diiu dTe Stlll SCdnulnS HTfu upon the battle-ground; you have kept the faith. A greater thing by far than to keep life is to keep the faith and to per- severe in 1t. The good things that you have seen in your life and the evil days that have come upon you Gas they come upon every nlan) have been ordained by the loving providence of God for your best. Truly, if there is any thought cheering and consoling In the hard life of a priest, it is the thought of Gods loving providence and the wonderful ways by which He leads us through all the trials and difficulties that beset our way The loving providence of God, which ex- tends over all His creatures, even the most insignificant, watches in an especial manner over His chosen ones And the chosen ones of God are his priests This thought fills our hearts with exultant joy and helps us to bear up with courage amidst the most disheartenng trials and disappontments of our earthly pilgrim age.
 Meaning of Golden Jubilee.
 When our blessed Lord instituted the priesthood and Himself ordained His apostles as pries He said to them. 'Jam non dlcam vos sewos sed amicos-I call you no longer serva.nts but friends:'' These words or Christ apply to all who follow Tn the footsteps of the apostles They were addressed to you 50 years ago. In these words is summed up the whole meaning, importance and greatness of Il golden jubilee. For 50 long years you lave had the honor of enjoting the glo- rious title or friend to Christ None of US here present can lay claim to such an honor; perhaps none of us here present will ever celeDrate day slch, as you eel |