Obituary Notice
This obituary notice has been digitally processed from a scanned archival document. Some words may be imperfectly rendered.
Fr. URBAN Young (1875-1955) REV. FATHER URBAN of the MOST HOLY SACRAMENT. On Saturday night, the 5th instant, Father Urban died in the Nursing Home of the Alexian Brothers in Manchester in his 80th year and the 53rd of his Friesthood. It is a remarkable coincidence that his death occurred on the 114th anniversary of the arrival in England of the Venerable founder of the Passionists in this Country - Dominic Barberi - for the "Cause" of whose Beatification he had been Vice ° Postulator since the year 1912. Three years ago he underwent a serious major operation in Selly Oak Hospitel and cnmea through the ordeal successfully. On his return to St. Mary's Retreat, Harborne, where he had been stationed Since 1941, he seemed to have gained a new lease of life. Although unnble to participate in the active duties of the Sacred Ministry, he was still able to celebrate Holy Mass until © comparatively short. time before his desth. 4 recurrance of n former illness however, necessitated his removal once more to Selly Oak Hospital in the month of August--and, despite the most skilful medical attention, his condition was declared hopeless, Then Fr. Superior decided on the patient's return to Harborne to give him every possible help, spiritual and materiel. A reauest for a qualified nursing Brother to the Superior of the Alexian Brothers at Manchester, to csre for Father Urban, met with ® ready response. Brother Ignatius came and for’a month did everything possible for his patient, and then suggested it would be better to take Fr. Urban to their home in Manchester where full nursing facilities were aveilable. Having consulted the Birningham Red Cross Society, Doctor Good, medical adviser to St. Mary's Retreat, arranged for Fr. Urban to travel by ambulance to Manchester, accompnanied by Brother Ignatius. As already noted, death took place on November 5th, exactly three weeks efter entering the nursing home. The passing of Father Urban removes 6 familiar figure and a striking personality from the Province of St. Joseph of which he was pm Loyal and devoted member. Fifty three years of pricsthood on é6arth is sa privilege granted to few. To stand at the altar between God and men, to labour in His vineyerd for so long 2 period is, indeed, an envieble record and the priest who attains it is worthy of heartfelt congretulations. But the record is still more laudable when, in all sincerity, we can say of the deceased Passionist: "Behold a great priest who during his long life has fully pleased God". A great priest, indeed, Father Urban has been during fifty odd years in the sacred ministry. Great according to the highest standard of priestly greatness. As his brethren can testify, he maintained to the end the fervour of the young Levite on whose hands the srored o11 of ordination has sesrcely dried. The source of his oerennial fervour must be attributed chiefly to his special devotion to the Holy Mass and its compliment, the Blessed Sacrament. He evidently learned enrly on in the ministry that if he would "stir up the grace of God which is in him by the imposition of hands", he must especially cherish the Holy Sacrifice and the Sacrament of the Altar; that if a priest 18 to be really "another Christ" he must continuelly draw close to his original Divine Model. Thus did Father Urban, for so many years, concentrate his energy, first and foremost, on the interior priestly life. Consequently, the ways of men, the transitory fashion of this world held a very subordinate place in his life. He ever reelised thet "no man being a soldier to God, entangleth himself with secular business that he may please Him to whon he hath engaged himself" (11 TIM. 11.4.) On the other hand, Father Urban spent his long life in Studies necessary for the efficient exercise of a priest's active ministry. The sacred science of Theology, dogmatic and moral, the Sacred Scriptures, the works of the Fathers; Literature, sacred and profane} Langusges, classical and modern: in all these spheres he ever evinced the liveliest interest acting, no doubt, on the advice of St. Paul: "Cerefully study to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly handling the word
of truth" (IBID.11.15). As ® preacher and wri ter Father Urban did splended work for God and souls in the course of his long ministry, and brought honour to the Pessionis.. Cengregation in these countries. Apart from numerous missions to the people and retreats to the clergy and religious communities ccnducted in many parts of Great Britain and Ireland, he found time to publish biograpnies of the Ven.Fr.Dominic Barberi snd Fr. Ignatius Spencer - bicgraphies which form a velusble contribution io the history of the "Catholic Revival" in Ine and Since his yointment in 1912 48 Vice-Postulator of the "Wosase" for the Beatttication of the Ven. Fr. Dominic, he did much by his jectures and writings to focus the attention and excite the interest of meny - Gatholics and non-Catholics alike - on the Life and lehours of -the Fornder of the Passionists in England. It was he who aisw up the "Pe tition" for Ven. Dominic's Beatification, signed by ths hiersrchies of smctlind, Wales and Ireland, and presented to the Holy Father in AD. Always a ikesn Stucent of Newmsn's works from his pre- Catholic deys, he wi3 invited to preach the special sermon in the Srlesian chapel at iictlemore in October 1945, on the occasion of the centenary or Newnan! ¢ reseption into the Catholic Church by the Ven. Dominin. He died knowing that Newman's "father in God" had not yet teen raised to the noncurs of the altars, but all who yearn for England's sonversion will surely pray | for the speedy realisation of Father Urban's labours for the “Cause” of Ven. Dominic's beatification. It will surely be a greet day for the Church in England generally and for the Passionist Congregation particulerly when we may invoke and honour Ven. Dominic eas “our father, model and patron". Born in Belfast in 1875, the Son of a Fresbyterian Minister, Janes Young, ss he was then known, was educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Inetitution, and later at Queens College, now Queens University. Among his papers since his death was found a picture Fost Card of Bonamargy Abbey, Ballycastle, Co.Antrim, on which he wrote: "As 2 small boy I used to wander among the ruins of Bonamargy and ask myself: What is this Reman Gatholicism? Who were these monks who built this place. ee and what was their idea?? This ws the first dewn of the Faith in me" The dawn was destined to be followed by the full light of the Trut th when on the 5th September, 1896, in his 2lst year, he was received into the Catholic Church at Holy Cross Church, Ardoyne, Belfast, by the late Father Martin Byrne, C.P. The call to"nigher things" cane two years later when he entered the Passionist Novitiate at St. Saviour's Retreat, Broadway, Wores., where he made his profession on the 13th December, 1899. He was then sent by his Superiors to 5.5.John and Paul's, Rome, to pursue his studies for the priesthood, and on 20th December 1902, was ordained priest by Sardinal Respighi in the Bascilica of St. John Lateran. On his return to England he was appointed Vice-Master of ‘Novices at Broadway, and subsequently Director of Students at St.Paul's Retreat, Mount Argus, Dublin. In the Provincial Chapter held in 1914, he was elected Rector of St. Saviour's Retreat, Broadway, and in 1917 he was transferred to St. Mury's Retreat, Carmarthen, as Rector. Then followed a short perlod 23 Director of a class of Student-priests at St. Anne's Retreat, Sutton. From 1921 till 1938 he was a member of the Community of St. Mary's Retreat, Herne Bay, Kent, and in the latter year was appointed Vice- Rector of st. Anne's Retreat, Sutton, where he remained until 1941, when he was transferred to St. Mary" 8 Retreat, Harborne, Birsingham. Three years ago he celebrated his Sacerdotal Golden Jubilee snd on the occasion was the recipient of numerous messages of congratulation from his brethren, far and wide. On that Sundey in December 1952, on the conclusion of his Jubilee Mass, his reply to Father Provincial's congratulations revealed his great love for and attachnent to the Congregation - reveled elso # rare spirit of humility thet nade a deep impression on the menbers of the Harborne Sormunity. “When I becrme a Catholic and later sought adnission into the Passionist Congregation, I was © beggar" he said. "The Rector of Holy Gross, Ardoyne, paid my fore to the Novitiate at Broadway. I owe everything to the Gongregation".
Very suprcpriately his mortal remains have found a last resting place beside the Church of St. Anne, Sutton, where rests also all that is nortal of his illustricus forebears ~ Ven. Dominic end Father Ignatius Spenser ~ wrese labours for England's conversion his gifted pen crought vividly toa the notice of the people of this country and far beyond it. Passionists from the Frovince of 5t. Patrick, led by their Provincial, joined their Brethren of this Provinco in the last tribute of esteem for and appreciation of Fataer Urren's life and work. On Wednesday morning the 9th instant, the Very Reverend Fr. Patrick, Provincial, Senge bhe Rolenn Requiem Mass for the deceased, assisted by Very Rev. Fr. Roru2ld, superior of St. Mary's, Harborne, and Rev. Fr. Declan of St. Michsel's Retreat, Dankeith, Scotland, as Deacon and Sutders3on respectively. The Very Rev. Fr. Jerome, Rector of St. gsune’s, Sutton, g-ve the final Absolutions gnd officiated at the graveside. May Father Urban's soul rest in peace! "Pies Jéuu Domine, dona ei requiem."
Source: Obituary Notices, Provincial Archive, St Joseph's Province. Passionist Congregation.