by Eileen M. Kropp

It would take a complete volume to do justice to the life of a priest who sought only a life of contemplation in the silence of the cloister but who actually spent over 35 years as a priest trying to outrun the beast of modernism authorized by Vatican II.

Father Snyder was born in Louisville, Kentucky on April 7, 1912 and was christened John Francis Snyder in St. Paul’s Church on the feast of the Good Shepherd, April 21, 1912. He was the son of a grocer. His high school education was completed under the Xaverian Brothers at the old St. Xavier High School on Broadway in downtown Louisville. Four years later he received his A.B. degree in history from Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio (1934).

On returning to Louisville he held various jobs while attending the Jefferson School of Law (now part of the University of Louisville) at night. He obtained his degree in law and was admitted to the bar in 1940. Instead of going into legal practice he went to work as a secretary for Monsignor Felix N. Pitt, Director of the Catholic School Board in Louisville. At that time Monsignor Pitt was involved in a struggle to save Catholic elementary education threatened by financial problems. He ultimately had to sacrifice the first and eighth grades, which grieved him deeply. Father Snyder’s legal background and keen intellect were invaluable to the Monsignor during this period.

Sometime during the school year of 1941-42 Father Mateo-Crawley, SS.CC. visited Louisville and spoke at St. Philip Neri Church, the parish in which Father Snyder was living at that time. He had an opportunity to talk to Father Mateo personally. He had had thoughts of a vocation, but was unsure. Father Mateo urged him to pursue his vocation. Soon after this conversation, (1942) Father Snyder entered Gethsemani Abbey where he had been making annual retreats since graduating from high school. Although familiar with the Jesuits, he preferred the Benedictine Rule.

On entering the Abbey under Abbot Frederic M. Dunne, O.C.S.O., he was given the name “Urban” by which he was known to the time of his death. (Abbot Dunne was the last of the strict Cistercian Abbots at Gethsemani. Many of the holy monks received under him would die as martyrs of Vatican II.)

Father Urban made his solemn vows on the feast of the Sacred Heart in 1947 and was ordained a priest December 20, 1947. He held every office but abbott at the monastery; his first assignment being Master of Novices and Retreat Master.

Another postulant had entered Gethsemani Abbey about the same time (1941) as Father Urban. This postulant immediatey attracted national attention as Thomas Merton (religious name “Louis). Thus Father Urban and Father Louis were in the novitiate at the same time. Father Urban knew him well. Father Louis took solemn vows on March 19, 1947 shortly before Abbot Dunne’s death on August 4, 1948. Under the new Abbot, Father Louis became a voice to be heard and the monastery began to feel its impact. His particular interest was in the Eastern religions and he was allowed to initiate many of the practices within the monastery. One only has to read A Song for Nobody by Ron Seitz to know the real Thomas Merton as Louisvillians knew him, and then go back and re-read Thomas Merton’s The Sign of Jonas to see that the seeds of Vatican II had already been firmly planted as far back as 1947.

This change in spirituality upset Father Urban immensely and he requested a move in the late 1950’s. This request was granted and he was transferred to the Abbey of Our Lady of Genesee in Piffard, N.Y. where the Abbot had been one of his novices. Since Cistercian monks were being given leave of absence for further study, in 1960 Father Urban requested to study in Rome. Thus he was in Rome during the Council 1961-1963. His previous experience at Gethsemani Abbey served him well to interpret the proceedings of Vatican II.

He returned from Europe and became chaplain for the Sisters of Nazareth, Kentucky in 1966 until the effects of Vatican II became so obvious. He returned to St.Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1968 and received his Masters in English (8/29/69). He then offered his services to the Covington, Kentucky diocese under Bishop Ackerman in 1971 and was sent to St. Theresa Church in South Gate, Kentucky. During that time he met Archbishop Lefebvre and was officially admitted into the Society of St. Pius X about 1972 and taught at Econe, Switzerland from 1972-1976.

From 1977-1982 he served as a private chaplain in a German castle. This provided him with many opportunitites to visit the numerous shrines of Europe and the Holy Land as well as enjoy many cherished moments of contemplation.

He had previously spent his summers with Father Hannifin either at Fairfield, Kentucky or Boston, Kentucky. In 1982 he came to Boston to reside until he returned to the monastery at Genesee in 1993 where he died on January 25, 1995. From the time he left Gethsemani, Father Urban always endeavored to be near the Blessed Sacrament and the Holy Mass in his efforts to flee the beast of modernism. The beast never caught him for in his last illness, he died peacefully, an edification to all. He died as the contemplative he wanted to become.