Venerable Augustus Tolton

Life story

Augustus Tolton was born on 1 April 1854 into slavery in Missouri, United States. He was baptised Augustine, and his family was Catholic. During the Civil War the family escaped to Quincy, Illinois, and settled there. He grew up working in a tobacco factory while attending the parish school whenever he could.

Because he was Black, American seminaries refused to accept him. He was sent to Rome to study at the Propaganda Fide college and was ordained a priest on 24 April 1886. Many sources describe him as the first openly recognised Black Catholic priest in the United States. Although it was expected that he would go to Africa as a missionary, he was sent back to serve at Quincy, where he met opposition from some local priests and Protestant ministers.

In 1889 he moved to Chicago and helped found St Monica's parish for Black Catholics. He died on 9 July 1897 in Chicago, aged 43, of heatstroke during a heat wave. A sainthood cause was opened for him, and Pope Francis declared him venerable on 12 June 2019. No official feast day has been set.

Works and witness

• Escaped slavery with his family and reached Quincy during the Civil War
• Studied in Rome after American seminaries refused him
• Ordained a priest on 24 April 1886
• Helped found St Monica's parish in Chicago
• Declared venerable in June 2019

Saints from the same country

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Saint Katharine Drexel, Blessed Solanus Casey

References

• Caroline Hemesath, From Slave to Priest: A Biography of the Reverend Augustine Tolton (Franciscan Herald Press, 1973)
• Dicastery for the Causes of Saints: decree on heroic virtues, June 2019
• Archdiocese of Chicago, Cause of Father Augustus Tolton

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.