The Making of Black Catholic History

02-19-2023Pastor's LetterFr. John Bonavitacola

Dear Friends,

The cause for the first canonization of a US born priest has begun in Chicago. This journey to sainthood reminds us once again how God can write straight with crooked lines: Fr. Augustus Tolton (1854-1897) was also the first native born black man and former slave ordained a priest from the US. As St. Paul reminds us, God often uses what the world considers insignificant to confound the rulers of this world.

Both of Fr. Tolton’s parents were the ‘property’ of Catholic slave owners who made sure their slaves were catechized and baptized. Augustus Tolton’s baptismal record would list him as it did most slaves without a name:

"A colored child, born April 1, 1854, son of Peter Tolton and Martha Chisley, property of Stephen Eliot; Mrs. Stephen Eliot, sponsor; May 29, 1854. (signed) Father John O'Sullivan."

Even though Augustus would live through the Civil War and become a free man the tenacious tentacles of racism would endure throughout his lifetime. There would be many priests and sisters who would help the young Augustus discern his vocation and nurture it through the years. But despite the good intentions of the priests and sisters the legacy of slavery would continue to put up obstacles in Augustus’ pursuit of the priesthood.

It was an almost forgone conclusion that no Seminary in the US would accept a black candidate. So, in one of those divine ironies, Augustus Tolton would be sent to Rome for his studies. The racism and prejudices of America would be left beyond as Augustus crossed the Atlantic and joined with seminarians from throughout the world to prepare for ordination. For awhile Augustus would have a reprieve from the insidious dehumanization of racism that marked black life in the US.

And so, on April 24, 1886, Augustus Tolton was ordained priest in the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the very heart of the Church of Rome and whose inscription reads: Mater et Caput: Mother and Head of All the Churches. The Church from her very heart was about to teach the Church in the US a lesson it in authentic catholicity!

All throughout his seminary training Fr. Tolton was expecting to serve in Africa as it was the judgment of many that US society was not ready to accept a black priest. However, the day before his priestly ordination the Cardinal in charge of the Seminary told Augustus that he would be serving in America: "America has been called the most enlightened nation in the world. We shall see whether it deserves that honor. If the United States has never before seen a black priest, it must see one now,” said the Cardinal."

Fr. Tolton would serve in Illinois and eventually in Chicago. And as is so often the case with holy men and women his ministry was filled with great graces and tremendous sufferings. But he remained undaunted in his conviction to serve God in the Church. He would say:

"The Catholic Church deplores a double slavery – that of the mind and that of the body. She endeavors to free us of both. I was a poor slave boy, but the priests of the Church did not disdain me. It was through the influence of one of them that I became what I am tonight. I must now give praise to that son of the Emerald Isle, Father Peter McGirr, pastor of St. Peter's Church in Quincy, who promised me that I would be educated and who kept his word. 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. In this Church we do not have to fight for our rights because we are black. She had colored saints – Augustine, Benedict the Moor, Monica. The Church is broad and liberal. She is the Church for our people."

Fr. Tolton stands as a reminder of what it really means to be “catholic”.

Love, Fr. John B.

PS You can read more about Fr. Tolton at: https://tolton.archchicago.org/about/biography or read the book: “From Slave to Priest” by Sr. C. Hemesath.

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