Father Augustus Tolton

Servant of God Father Augustus Tolton (1854 - 1897) will be, after his canonization, the first African American priest raised to the altars. Born the... more

by Joseph Malham

Title

Father Augustus Tolton

Artist

Joseph Malham

Medium

Photograph - Icon Print

Description

Servant of God Father Augustus Tolton (1854 - 1897) will be, after his canonization, the first African American priest raised to the altars. Born the son of slaves, Augustus Tolton felt called from an early age to serve God's people as a priest but was barred from American seminaries due to his color.

He was accepted at a seminary in Rome (hence the red tassle on his biretta) and returned to face prejudice and rejection in his adopted city of Quincy, Illinois. He was accepted in the Archdiocese of Chicago and faithfully served the African American Catholic community there until his early death in the great heat wave of 1897. Due to the heroic sanctity and witness of his life, Father Tolton had his cause for canonization opened in Rome.

The icon, based on an original icon by Joseph Malham which was commissioned by Bishop Joseph Perry of Chicago (Postulator for the Father Tolton's Cause) as the official image of the Cause. Father Tolton is shown in the white chasuble symbolizing his priestly ministry and new life of glory in the Lord. He blesses the viewer with his right hand and his left hand rests on his breast; the fingers separated to show the separation of the races which he endured but works now in heaven to bring together as he did in life.

Uploaded

July 23rd, 2017