0000001964 00000 n Why the Devil Hates the Blessed Virgin So Much (And Why You Should Love Her). 0000051295 00000 n He faced opposition notably from within the Christian community, the one institution he should have been able to rely upon for compassion and support. Augustine Tolton was alone on a night train in a segregated carriage heading to Chicago where he had been assigned to care for that citys growing black population. He was born into slavery and escaped to freedom with his mother and siblings under harrowing circumstances. Venerable Augustus Tolton. ):www.catholicgentleman.com [], Your email address will not be published. His time in Quincy, though, was short-lived. On June 12, 2019, Tolton was declared Venerable by Pope Francis I, the second step towards canonization. The Civil War had just begun. WebAugustus Tolton: the Church is the True Liberator, by Joyce Duriga, Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN, 2018; Audio Book (From Slave to Priest) by Lighthouse Catholic Media: They knew the odds that stood against them and the Church. God pulled him through a sinful situation. Father Augustus Tolton | CatholicSaints.Info, Fr. His idealism was not political though; it was religious. Even certain scripture passages were manipulated to justify people of African descent as preordained by God for perpetual servitude and haphazard treatment, thereupon, blackness dismissed as a universal symbol of inferiority. He had won his freedom first by flight and his priesthood by perseverance. At Quincy station there was a large and noisy crowd to welcome him. The Church is broad and liberal. WebFather Augustus Tolton was a priest who, for the love of souls, tore down a racial barrier, reluctantly and single-handedly, on direct orders from Rome. This same year, the Census of 1880 showed the U.S. population at 50 million with a Black population of 6.5 million (13%). Peter talked to his wife, Martha, of his desire to escape and enlist in the Union army. His parents were Catholics, so he too was baptised into his parents Holy Faith. A nation experimenting with democracy and certain notions of freedom was unable to process the dignity of black skin amidst the kaleidoscope of ethnic diversity emerging therein. They settled in Quincy, Illinois, a major stop on the Underground Railroad. Seven years after Augustine, or Gus as he was known, was born, war broke out between the States. If the United States has never before seen a black priest, it must see one now. It was the same church where he had served Mass and given catechism classes after he had finished his work at the local factory. 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. Father Tolton was demeaned for reasons of his race and background. 0000056751 00000 n For the first time in his life he lived in an environment free from racial discrimination. 19th century America placed dark skin at the bottom of the color pyramid. monetization of National Catholic Register RSS feeds is strictly prohibited. She had colored saints Augustine, Benedict the Moor, Monica. WebGeneral Novena to Venerable Father Augustus Tolton. On 9 July 1897, he died as a priest should worn out in the care of his flock. Father Augustus Tolton, you whose life demonstrated the fruit of the Holy Spirits gifts of fortitude and perseverance, pray for my strength and perseverance as I cry out for Gods mercy for (state your intention here). Pray Father Augustus Tolton that God will hear my cry and answer me according to His will. Amen! He wrote to every seminary in the country and all gave him the same answer: We arent ready to accept a Negro. His was a quiet approach, a novel ministry to black and white together and he was, unfortunately, resented for it. Worship at the altar is always a commemoration of Jesus Christ as victim. Ted Turner Dedication Whether side by side or miles apart we are sisters. 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. ZeS6N ;'pw! EWTN News, Inc. is the worlds largest Catholic news organization, comprised of television, radio, 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. On the other hand, Christians worship a suffering Messiah and so have theologized about this conundrum over the course of two thousand years and counting. But bitterness was alien to Toltons soul. You need patience to do Gods will and receive what he has promised. [10, 32-33; 35-36]. Subscribe to get email notifications of new posts and special offers PLUS a St. Joseph digital poster. Blacks were considered inferior and were begrudgingly accepted, if at all, in the social groupings and institutions that made up America. 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. We need good priests. https://www.ncregister.com/blog/father-augustus-tolton-america-s-first-black-priest, The Hope-Filled Legacy of the First Black Priest in the United States, EWTN Spotlight: The Story of Venerable Father Augustus Tolton Comes to TV. He receives special instruction because he was far advanced than other students. Fr. K. V. Turley is a London based freelance writer and filmmaker with a degree in theology from the Maryvale Institute. Just remember that even though many people dont know his name, many people are praying for an increase in vocations to the priesthood. 63 0 obj <> endobj xref 63 23 0000000016 00000 n He expects to become a missionary priest in Africa. Another miracle has been recently attributed to his intercession. But Father Tolton received no rewards or citations in life. As long as I was at the school, I was safe. Learn about six holy lives in an upcoming EWTN documentary. And, with that, one of her children, Augustine Tolton, later to become the first African-American to be ordained priest, was freed. 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. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, his father ran away to fight with the Union. The Sacred Congregation for Causes of Saints at the Vatican grants the title Servant of God to Father Augustus Tolton and orders that the Archdiocese of Chicago proceed with the Diocesan Inquiry into his life and virtues. THEY MIGHT BE SAINTS-VEN. The holy family fled at night into Eygpt to spare His life from Heord so our Blessed Lord was born in a cave which no one would expect for the King of kings. EWTN host discusses the remarkable life of Father Augustus Tolton during the 125th anniversary year of his death. In reply to his letters, excuses were made as to why he could not be accommodated. Among the best known of these six is Father Augustus Tolton (1854-1897), the first recognized American Black priest. Saints arise from the exigencies of the eras within which they live. The stone rejected had become a living stone, one upon which now future generations would build. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The building was later razed to the ground, unless it was in a pit! With his bishops approval, the young priest set about raising funds for a church. He loved his time in the Eternal City. In that social inequities remain apparent in our times Tolton offers strident Christians a model of deportment that is useful in what it can mean for the reconciliation of the races. His story is one of suffering service. Sign-up for E-NewsletterGet Register Updates sent daily or weeklyto your inbox. 0000005833 00000 n It was the priests of the Church who taught me to pray and to forgive my persecutors it was through the direction of a Sister of Notre Dame, Sister Herlinde, that I learned to interpret the Ten Commandments; and then I also beheld for the first time the glimmering light of truth and the majesty of the Church. Northern congregations resented the recent influx of blacks from the South. Sign up for 6 Free IssuesTry us out with a free trial subscription. I was a poor slave boy but the priests of the Church did not disdain me. Small sins lead to big sins, and big sins bring about a terrible spiritual darkness. It shocked Gus because it was on that very subject he had been praying namely, a possible vocation to the priesthood. We desperately need more priests from the US. But, there are no clear answers at this time. Funds were raised and the basis of a great and beautiful church, St. Monicas, dedicated to the service of the citys black population was started. Not least by a fellow priest, part inspired by jealousy and part by racial prejudice, that, in the end, caused the young priests removal. WebIt was said that I would be the only priest of my race in America and would not likely succeed, Tolton once wrote. Michael ONeill Michael ONeill is a radio and television host, author, and creator of the website MiracleHunter.com, the top online resource on miracles. If the United States has never before seen a black priest, it must see one now. Cardinal Giovanni Simeoni announcing to the committee deciding where Tolton would be sent in the world after It was through the influence of one of them that I became what I am tonight. 0000001549 00000 n At times you were publicly exposed to insult and trial; at other times you associated yourselves with those who were being so dealt with do not, then surrender your confidence; it will have great reward. In his priesthood, Tolton embraced the life of Christ. By all accounts, his mother, having continued to work as a priests housekeeper died an equally holy death in 1911. She is the Church for our people. The future for the Tolton family began to become clearer when the Civil War finally ended with victory for the North and an end to slavery throughout the United States. Finally, a second appeal to the Urban College through the Franciscans lead to Augustus acceptance. Tolton is a model of virtue for all Catholics. His family escaped when he was a child and ran away to Illinois, a free state. A gentleness of spirit best describes his personality in such wise that the inquirer cannot detect any irritability in him. Mrs. Henderson, I am a product of Jesuit High School and Spring Hill College. Exorcist Responds to Sensationalized Russell Crowe Exorcism Film on Father Amorth, Ash Wednesday Breaks All the Rules of Modern ChurchThink, and More Great Links! Catholic Church. After his ordination in 1886, he was sent back to the diocese of Alton, Illinois. print and digital media outlets, dedicated to reporting the truth in light of the Gospel and the Give a Gift SubscriptionBless friends, family or clergy with a gift of the Register. The truth is He is not only a priest in the order of Melchizedek order but a victim and this is united as one reality of His identity. 348 0 obj <> endobj McGirr had wanted to ask him a question. MOTHER MARIA KAUPAS If America has never seen a black priest it has to see one now! With these prophetic words the assignment orders for Father Tolton changed from some place in Africa back to Quincy, Illinois in the Diocese of Alton. On this grave stone which later replaced the original reads: Augustus was born into slavery. He had his moments of self-doubt and stark loneliness that in retrospect took their toll on his emotional and physical well-being. On 21 February 1880, Gus left America bound for Europe, destined to be a missionary in Africa. One could even say it was Fr. A Marked Man: Should Catholics Get Tattoos? Tolton lived in reduced circumstances. After he finished his basic education at 18, Tolton received the help of Father McGirr, who began to help him find a seminary. Learn how your comment data is processed. Their efforts were remarkable in face of those odds and likely those odds could have proven too high to overcome. Father Augustus Tolton was the first identified black American ordained to the priesthood in the United States. We have seen over the many years a variety of ways to confront the evil of racism, social protest violent and non-violent, academically through oratory, literature, prose and story-telling. The Cardinal overruled the previous decision to send him to Africa. Peter Tolton then headed north and joined the Union Army. It was the way he handled this challenge to his Christian faith that presents him remarkable and therefore a model for how we can handle protracted disappointment, and seeming hopelessness. 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. trailer <]/Prev 469030>> startxref 0 %%EOF 85 0 obj <>stream The formality of applying to a seminary proved, however, more complicated for the young recently freed slave, especially as there had never been a man of his race at any seminary in America. It brings a message of hope and healing for the wounds that plague our culture. The title venerable recognizes that he lived a life of heroic virtue. He showed himself a priest-servant to both black and white at a time when it was not socially appropriate or lawful to do so. He faced both racial opposition and triumph over the course of his priesthood. There are conflicting accounts of his journey to freedom. New York Times, November 11, 1889, The Catholic Church deplores a double slavery that of the mind and that of the body. 0 A religious figure like Tolton arises with unique inspiration amidst the chasms that remain apparent between black and white races in this country. 1863: At the age of 9, Augustus Tolton begins working in a Quincy tobacco factory and his brother Charles dies at age 10. What Tolton experienced in that time of social ambivalence is stuff we read about in history books or view in certain documentaries. This same year, Fr. Augustus Tolton. He maintained above all fortitude of spirit harboring no resentment for any of the insults and offenses receive from others. We shall see whether it deserves that honor. The Saintly Life of Father Augustus Tolton - Catholic Exchange Reproduction of material from this website without written permission, or unlicensed commercial use or In his first year, he took over the school he had founded and also created a flourishing parish at St. Josephs, attended by both blacks and whites. His solemn Requiem Mass was attended by more than 100 brother priests and a crowd that overflowed the church. I was a poor slave boy but the priests of the Church did not disdain me. The First Colored Priest in the United States 262 0 obj <> endobj A Better Way Forward, Heres a Bishop Doing Something Good, and More Great Links! Instead, gratitude moved him through to victory. WebTop Augustus Tolton Quotes I've always tried to do the smartest and best thing. His body was returned there and interred in a simple grave by St. Peters Church. God must be working salvation out through it all while none of it makes sense. His mom and dad were Catholic. 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