309 0 obj <>stream This same year, President Abraham Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation legally frees all slaves in the Confederacy. 1878: Augustus Tolton enrolls in St. Francis College, now Quincy University. Augustus Tolton is a pioneer African American Catholic who was not only the first priest of acknowledged African descent to serve anywhere in the United States but one who navigated the choppy waters of racial acceptance endemic to 19th century America and modeled for us how to be Christians amidst the social inconsistencies of that former time with his faith, hope and love found in the end to be intact. THEY MIGHT BE SAINTS-VEN. 0000012723 00000 n It is not easy reasoning to the place of suffering in the human journey. Augustine Tolton was declared: Servant of God. fQn_PzAdx%Q~b , 73G':rl4=@ We shall see whether it deserves that honor. She endeavors to Here they joined the closest Catholic church, the German parish of St. Boniface. At the time Bishop Healy was ordained a priest, he identified as an Irish-American; it was not obvious from his appearance that he had any African-American ancestry, and no one outside of his mentors in the seminary knew that, legally, he was black. Order Bulk SubscriptionsGet a discount on 6 or more copies sent to your parish, organization Objectives . 0 He also celebrated his first Mass with Franciscan Sisters in Hoboken, New Jersey on July 7, and he celebrates his first Mass in Quincy at St. Boniface Church on July 18 and becomes pastor of St. Joseph Church. His life story embodies the seminal verse from Isaiah 53:3 that points to the Messiah, He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. In reply to his letters, excuses were made as to why he could not be accommodated. 262 0 obj <> endobj Father Tolton modeled all this in its fullness and this is why he is remembered to this day especially in the black Catholic community. The Saintly Life of Father Augustus Tolton - Catholic Exchange Through his experiences of racial negation by a society that would separate black and white by force of the law and lawless custom, Tolton found the love of God, found his own vocation and ultimately has received his reward from God as a figure of Christian faith in action, indiscriminate love of neighbor and pastoral charity despite the bigotry that was thrown at him. In the case of Augustus Tolton it is the long period of black slavery in this country and the nations Civil War foisting a resolution to uncompensated black servitude and the tumultuous period of Reconstruction of a nation torn to shreds over this issue. The young white boy the same age group gets all the attention because he wants to be a priest. The next day Father Tolton said his first Mass, with thousands left standing outside since there was no more room in the church. EWTN News, Inc. is the worlds largest Catholic news organization, comprised of television, radio, Take a second to support us on Patreon! That was dangerous enough but they were being pursued. Written By: Augustus Tolton, in full John Augustine Tolton, also called Augustine John Tolton and Father Gus, (born April 1, 1854, Brush Creek, Ralls county, Mo., U.S.died July 9, 1897, Chicago, Ill.), American religious leader who is regarded as the first African American ordained as a priest in the Roman Catholic Church (see Researchers Note). We gaze at the crucifix to find a source of meaning. Mass is celebrated there until 1889. He attended out of-the-way classes taught by friendly priests and nuns who saw in his eyes the bright spark of the love of God, a tender devotion to the Church and a determination to serve people whether black or white. Fr. It shocked Gus because it was on that very subject he had been praying namely, a possible vocation to the priesthood. He first ministered to black Catholics in Quincy, Illinois and was later transferred to Chicago. That day, however, there was one who stood apart from the crowd and quietly watched with tears in her eyes as her son returned to her a priest. Required fields are marked *. Having already passed the states House of Delegates, the bill has only to be signed by Republican Gov. Society and the Church did not allow Tolton to do these priestly things so easily assigned to him. WebIt was said that I would be the only priest of my race in America and would not likely succeed, Tolton once wrote. His was a quiet approach, a novel ministry to black and white together and he was, unfortunately, resented for it. His temperament allowed him to rejoice in the Lord while under trial. Born in Brush Creek, Ralls County, Missouri At the end of the evening, when dinner had finished, the visitor observed how the younger priest took a set of Rosary beads hanging from a nail on a wall nearby and, with his mother beside him, knelt on the stone floor to recite that ancient prayer just as they always had done, not least when they had arrived frightened and anxious having fled slavery those years previously. I appealed to Bishop Ryan and he also advises me to go elsewhere.. The record of his life is absent any show of retaliation toward anyone or anything. Cardinal Giovanni Simeoni announcing to the committee deciding where Tolton would be sent in the world after ordination. Around his bedside were the hospital chaplain who had administered the Last Rites, some nuns praying, and his mother. We shall see whether it deserves that honor. He was born into slavery and escaped to freedom with his mother and siblings under harrowing circumstances. Toltons legacy says to us that transformation is possible through suffering. Rev. He receives special instruction because he was far advanced than other students. In his priesthood, Tolton embraced the life of Christ. I will end with three quotes: America has been called the most enlightened nation in the world. 0000059992 00000 n Among the best known of these six is Father Augustus Tolton (1854-1897), the first recognized American Black priest. Theme: Head Blog, Black (And Catholic) Like Me: Stories and Reflections on the Churchs Black Saints, Let em Speak On It: Reflections on Notable Quotes From Black Catholics, Prod. 0000005833 00000 n On 35th Street near South Lake Park Avenue, across from the Archdioceses, At 9th and Wabash Streets, the site of Toltons first Chicago assignment in the lower level of St. Mary Parish, On South Michigan Avenue, across from Mercy Hospital, where Father Tolton died on July 9, 1897, On South Cornell Avenue, across from Catholic Theological Union, home of the Augustus Tolton Ministry Program. Web835 North Rush Street Chicago, IL 60611-2030 . Martha readily agreed that her husband must go and that some day they would all be together again, and free. The funeral was at St. Monica Church, 36th and Dearborn Street on July 12. Having picked up German in Quincy, he was to leave Europe with French and Italian mastered, to say nothing of Latin. Father Augustine Tolton Patron of Black Priests and Seminarians, Pray for us! But Father McGirr and the sisters who ran the school knew they needed to prepare both parents and students for the schools first black student. Being the first black Catholic priest he was thrust as the first in a long line of black leaders who summoned the Church to embrace its black brothers and sisters. Tolton is the first African American ordained for the priesthood in the United States. Nevertheless, Mrs Tolton soon found work and, thereafter, supported her children as best she could. He was a bright light in a dark time. The touching story of Augustus Tolton reminds us of the glaring social deficits of a former time. Much has improved since that time but much still remains to be done to build on a society that can be an emblem of interracial peace. Will These African Americans Be Canonized? Some were surprised that he had chosen to be buried in the town that had shunned him. 1871: The Chicago Fire burned from Sunday, October 8 to Tuesday, October 10. Worship at the altar is always a commemoration of Jesus Christ as victim. On June 12, 2019, Tolton was declared Venerable by Pope Francis I, the second step towards canonization. He was declared venerable in 2019. The Church is broad and liberal. It was said that I would be the only priest of my race in America and would not likely succeed, Tolton once wrote. Web1878 Augustus Tolton enrolls in St. Francis College, now Quincy University. Peter talked to his wife, Martha, of his desire to escape and enlist in the Union army. She is the Church for our people. The touching story of Augustus Tolton reminds us of the glaring social deficits of a former time. Saints are of human stock but have the genius to step forward and bring the gospel message to the contradictions of their time. 398 0 obj <>stream The young man looked embarrassed. Just over three years after his triumphal return, Fr. 1868: Augustus Tolton enrolled in St. Peter School, Quincy, Illinois. Before anything else, however, the nearest Catholic Church, St. Peters, was identified and the family started to worship there. So its important to pray for Ignatius, as well as for those who may be against him. Father Augustus Tolton was the first identified black American ordained to the priesthood in the United States. He had won his freedom first by flight and his priesthood by perseverance. Jim Justice to become law. Webdetermined that Augustus was a non-Christian name and, therefore, as so frequently happened at baptisms, the priest at the baptismal font Christianized the name by In the end, to his surprise, he was sent back to where he had come from. WebTop Augustus Tolton Quotes I've always tried to do the smartest and best thing. It worked. 1872: Augustus Tolton graduated from St. Peter School at age 18. Mrs Henderson, please know that your grandson will be in my prayers. In June 2019, Pope Francis advanced the cause when he issued a decree declaring him venerable.. Despite his open and generous manner, his learning and piety, his hard work and dedication, and above all his priestly heart and its desire for souls, he was to be defamed, insulted and ultimately rejected. Lesley Jones I'm not mad. Facets of the Church coopted what society legislated by norm and practiced by lawless custom as regards the races. ):www.catholicgentleman.com [], Your email address will not be published. Augustus, his mother, and three brothers and sisters escaped to the North where they could live as free Toltons Canonization Timeline 2019 June 11, 2019 Pope Francis issues the declaration that Sign up for 6 Free IssuesTry us out with a free trial subscription. We need good priests. Here and there we are stunned by incidents of intolerance and racial hatred in places. When Augustus was 14, the pastor of the Irish parish, St. Peters, invited the boy who could barely read to enroll. The Production [] Source: Fr. One could even say it was Fr. Augustus Tolton, who labored among us in times of contradiction, times that were both beautiful He was more than a fundraiser though. Cause website: https://tolton.archchicago.org. In the meantime, we look to the scriptures to find inspiration for our Christian lifestyle in the choices we make, solutions to problems and to simply live each days challenges. The Augustus Tolton cause for canonization is announced by Cardinal Francis George. As he did so he gazed at the three children sleeping and began to talk of his hopes for their future, one in which they would be free. or school. He died at the age of 43 on July 9, 1897 after collapsing the previous day upon returning from a priests retreat during heat wave that swept the city that year. Father Tolton is a saint for doing things priests do, namely, care for people, ministering to their desperate needs, anointing them with the saving graces of the sacraments, forgiving their sins, preaching a word that works to transform the Church to its more authentic face before the world and describe for people how they can give an authentic response to God in genuine discipleship. Toltons sanctity emerges from an experience of the cross. Augustus was born into slavery. For the first time in his life he lived in an environment free from racial discrimination. Fr. This post originally appeared at Catholic Exchange and is reprinted with permission. Our Lady teaches us to place our faith and trust Jesus. I'm in a perfectly happy mood, you asshole. While not yet canonized, Ven. Augustus Tolton is on the path towards sainthood. He was the first-known black Catholic priest in the United States after his ordination in 1886. Born into slavery and baptized Catholic in the United States Ven. Tolton studied for the priesthood and was ordained in Rome. Sign-up for E-NewsletterGet Register Updates sent daily or weeklyto your inbox. He knew the human heart was weak; he knew too that the Church was unimpeachable in its treatment of all as brothers and sisters in Christ but that she was made up of sinners, and so human frailty was never far away. I must now give praise to that son of the Emerald Isle, Father Peter McGirr, pastor of St. Peters Church in Quincy, who promised me that I would be educated and who kept his word. Next, the Irish priest wrote to the bishop of the diocese in Alton about Augustus becoming a diocesan priest. Augustus and his mother both worked at the Harris Cigar Factory. 0000051295 00000 n 1865: Augustus Tolton entered St. Boniface School and left a month later because parish and staff were being threatened and harassed by his presence. WebO God, we give you thanks for your servant and priest, Father Augustus Tolton, who labored among us in times of contradiction, times that were both beautiful and paradoxical. His fellow students loved him too, and his professors held him in high regard. We give our all to the Lord yet blacks are the most under evangelized There is only one priest Jesus Christ is our high priest and calls men to have a participation in His priesthood. He lived the Gospel within adversity and he did so faithfully for his entire life in a simple and loving way. 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