Father Austin Bernard Pozzi belonged to a school of missionary monks which has now nearly died out. He was one of those who had his training in the crowded slums of Liverpool and Warrington, when the dreaded typhus fever had a permanent home in their midst. And it is probable that this was the most meritorious period of his life. But he will be remembered chiefly as the builder of the noble church at Brownedge. Timid in his first essays in church improvement and church decoration, he has ended his career with a work, which, at the least, will remain as a monument of his courage. He had faith in the generosity of his flock, and we believe that, up to the day of his death, he had no reason to repent of it. But the courage to undertake responsibility is one thing, and the physical strength to withstand the worry of it is another. And it is in no way to Fr. Pozzi's discredit that death has compelled him to lay down a burden which was too great for his years.
The following summary of his life, and account of his death and burial, is taken from a local paper, and will serve as a gauge of the estimation in which he was held.
The death occurred on Tuesday, March 13th, of Father Pozzi, at Llandudno, where the deceased gentleman had been staying for some months, with a view to recruiting his health. Death took place early in the morning.
Father Austin Bernard Pozzi was in his 70th year. He was Rector of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Brownedge, a position he had occupied for the last eighteen years, and which he continued to hold at the time of his death.
He was born at Chester in 1831, and was educated at St. Lawrence's College, Ampleforth, near York. In the year 1851 he took the religious habit, and became a monk of the order of St. Benedict. He was subsequently ordained to the priesthood. He served some years at St. Alban's Warrington, and afterwards at St. Anne's, Ormskirk; St. Augustine's, Liverpool; and St. Mary's Warrington. Eighteen years ago he was removed to St. Mary's, Brownedge, succeeding the late Father Walker. While there he practically rebuilt the church, adding the transepts and the sanctuary to the nave. During his priesthood, the beautiful high altar, which is constructed of marble and alabaster, was added to St. Mary's, the total cost of the whole work amounting to some thousand pounds. The Rev. gentleman was an eloquent preacher, and held a high place in the affections of his parishioners. For many years he had been suffering from weakness of the heart, and he repaired to Llandudno before Christmas in the hopes of recruiting his health. While there he stayed with his niece, Miss Micali.
On Tuesday night the body of the deceased clergyman was conveyed by rail to Bamber-Bridge station, where it arrived shortly after six o'clock. It was met at the gate by the clergy of the mission and members of the various confraternities and a large number of the congregation. The line of route to the church was crowded with spectators. The coffin was carried to the church by four of the men of the congregation, and as it passed along, many of the people occupying the houses en route drew their blinds as a mark of esteem for the dead priest. Upon arriving at the church the coffin was placed on a draped bier, at the entrance to the High Altar, after which the dirge was chanted by the Very Rev. Prior Smith, O.S.B., and Fathers Turner, O.S.B., Wilson, O.S.B., Clarkson, O.S.B., and Gregson, and Abbot Bury, O.S.B.
On Thursday morning a solemn Mass of requiem, was sung by the Very Rev. the Prior of Ampleforth Abbey (Father Smith), Father H. B. Polding, O.S.B,, acted as deacon, and Father A. Burton, O.S.B., of Hindley, as sub-deacon. The Bishop of Salford (the Right Rev. Dr. Bilsborrow) presided. The church was packed to its fullest extent by members of the congregation, many of whom were moved to tears. At the close of the Requiem, Father Bede Prest, O.S.B., entered the pulpit. In the course of his address he said: 'A few months more and the 19th century will be complete. Many centuries have already passed, each marked by peculiarities of its own. And in many respects our own age will stand marked in history by events quite exceptional. When we remember that less than 400 years ago this England of ours was Catholic, that its churches and cathedrals, its priories and abbeys, were the glory of the land, that reverence for the Vicar of Christ and devotion to the Holy Mother of God unmistakably proclaimed the Catholicity of its people, and then give even a passing glance to the spiritual condition of England 100 years ago, no one can fail to see, that one strong feature in the history of the passing century is the re-kindling of holy faith, almost reduced to dying embers, and now fanned into such overpowering flames that extinction is impossible. That the faith never died is the glory of our English martyrs, the glory of those who, 'in spite of dungeon, fire and sword,' and 'though chained in prisons dark, were still in heart and conscience free,' showing unswerving loyalty to Christ their Lord, and, like the apostles of old, 'rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Jesus.' And, as in the early ages 'the blood of the martyrs became the seed of the Church,' so it has proved in England. But, my brethren, upon what specific point were centred all the efforts of the enemy? And, therefore, to what specific object was directed as perseveringly all the energy of the faithful? Was not the propagation in England 1,400 years ago, and its continuity for 1,000 years, due to the personal and ministerial presence of Christ our Lord ? And how was the suppression of holy religion practicable so long as the priesthood was tolerated? Hence the barbarous effort to drive every priest from the country, to put an end to Holy Mass, and thus make our blessed Lord Himself an exile. The history of the greater part of two centuries is a record of this desperate, though futile, effort to extirpate the priesthood from England. You have evidence in your own parish, in the priests' hiding-places of the neighbourhood, how priests were hunted, and, if caught, hanged and quartered. I fear we do not sufficiently realize the extent to which we have been blessed. A country without Holy Mass, without a real priesthood, deprived of Sacraments, is an arid desert, though materially it may be even a paradise of beauty. To what, then, is due the wonderful change, so conspicuous a feature of the 19th century, Surely to the continued presence of our blessed Lord amongst us, to the ever-increasing number of priests, and therefore to the proportionate increase of holy sanctuaries. Knowing, though inadequately, the sublimity, the efficaciousness of one single Mass, we know, too the sacred character and the wonderful power of a priest. How blessed, then, are they who have a priest amongst them. How blessed are those places where in tabernacles our blessed Lord Himself resides! A hundred years ago there were very few in England, now they abound. And amongst the few this mission has been so blessed for the greater part Of 200 years. Allowing for days of trouble and danger, I think I am safe in saying that the Masses said hereabouts have been the equivalent of at least one daily Mass for 150 years. And what is the result? Not only has religion flourished, but sanctuaries have been multiplied; there are four sanctuaries instead of one, six priests instead of a single one. But this only gives a very inadequate idea of what follows from the presence of a priest amongst you. In the 100 years, how many baptisms, marriages, confessions, holy anointings in the hour of danger? How many Holy Communions? And what ought perhaps to impress us more deeply, how many times has our blessed Lord allowed Himself to be borne along the highways and byeways dispensing with all outward signs of honour, to shed a blessing upon even the poorest cottage, and to bring solace and strength in the sacrament of His love? If all this comes to us through the priesthood, every ordination should bring joy and hope. And every death of a priest is in itself an immeasurable loss, only compensated for by the fulfilment of the Divine will. But if the death is that of your own pastor, if for approaching twenty years he has been in your regard the dispenser of the mysteries of God, how natural is your grief for his loss. And I could scarcely exaggerate the debt that is due to him. But this is only about half his missionary life. When a much younger man he laboured for some years in two very large missions in Liverpool, where the poor were often crowded in dwellings that in these days would not be tolerated. For some years, too, he was on the mission in Warrington. I need not enter into details of his labours at Brownedge. But speaking in this beautiful church, it is only right I should put on record good Fr. Pozzi's courageous zeal for the beauty of God's House. He loved his congregation, he had confidence in them, he felt that he could rely upon their supporting a great undertaking. Considering the history of Brownedge for nearly 200 years, remembering that it was a 'Mother church,' bearing also in mind the actual numbers in the parish, looking forward to future increase, he came to the conclusion that something more than ordinary was due to religion here. As in larger towns, it seems proper that there should be some churches of more commanding size and more striking beauty; so does it seem due to the advance of religion that here and there, at least, in even more rural districts, there should also be some church to challenge attention. Certainly Brownedge, with its church and chapel of ease, its schools, convent, and even club, makes patent to the thousands who pass, that the days of repression are over, and that Catholics in England may hold up their heads. Again in the interior of a church the sanctuary calls for all the outlay that is prudent. Our Lord was, indeed, content with the stable at Bethlehem, but the glory of Tabor was less than His due. The magnificent altar was Fr. Pozzi's inspiration, developed by the talent of the architect. He went further still. This is St. Mary's Church. There is here an important confraternity of the Children of Mary, and in conjunction with them he resolved to erect a Lady Altar not only fully worthy of the church, but in worthy keeping with the High Altar itself. Many times has he discussed it. Even in his serious illness he gave it his attention, and finally arranged for its completion, fully relying upon the confraternity to raise the necessary funds. When this altar is fixed, this church will be the fullest evidence that your good pastor was indeed zealous for the beauty of God's House. Father Pozzi was a monk of the English Benedictine Monastery at Ampleforth, recently raised by the Holy Father to the dignity of an Abbey. He entered college about 1842, received the Holy Habit in November, 1850; so that he had nearly reached his golden jubilee. He was ordained priest, in, I think, 1857. His missionary life embraced about 40 years. You are aware that his health failed some months ago. For a time he seemed to believe in recovery. But later he fully understood that such was not the will of God. Naturally he would have liked to have seen 'Our Lady's Altar' fixed, in which he was so interested. But the holy will of God was, of course, his rule. When I am told that he was edifying throughout his sickness, that he suffered with cheerful resignation, that he was constant in prayer, that his death seemed most holy, and he often repeated 'I thank God,' that is what should be meant by dying as a priest or monk. But, whether priests or monks, all are judged by the Almighty, from those to whom more is given more will be required. You can easily understand, that dust, that would scarcely be noticed in a cottage or ordinary dwelling, would not be tolerated in a mansion or a palace. Our duty of charity is to pray for the repose of his soul, and your gratitude will prompt you all the more, when speaking about the Lady altar, and about the Children of Mary in connection with it. Fr. Pozzi specially requested, that they might be informed, that he asked to be remembered in their prayers. R.I.P.
Austin Bernard POZZI 13 Mar 1900 1830 16 May born at Chester educ at Ampleforth 1850 28 Oct Clothed 1851 9 Nov Professed 1857 6 Jun Priest 1857 Aug St Augustine's Liverpool 1858 St Alban's Warrington 1861 Ormskirk 1862 Aug St Augustine's Liverpool 1870 St Mary's Liverpool 1871 St Alban's Warrington 1877 St Mary's Warrington 1883 Brownedge 1900 13 Mar died at LLandudno, buried at Brownedge