Friday, March 1, 2019

America's first black priest has lessons to teach us today

(CNS photo)
Although he died over 120 years ago, Father Augustus Tolton is a man for our times and his story deserves telling. It is the story of America's first recognizably black Catholic priest and his faith, perseverance and holiness.
Joyce Duriga's recent volume on his life for Liturgical Press' "People of God" series is the latest contribution to the telling of his story.
Father Tolton's story has spread in recent years, mostly due to the opening of the cause for his canonization in 2010. The late Cardinal Francis E. George stated in 2014 that introducing Father Tolton's cause was "one of the most important, if not the most important" ecclesiastical actions he had taken in his nearly 17 years as archbishop of Chicago.