The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Once a slave, now a future saint — Venerable Pierre Toussaint
During these days of racial unrest and protests in the United States it is important for all of us to know our American history and learn about those holy Black Catholics who struggled and made a difference in the Roman Catholic Church and in our society.
Venerable Pierre Toussaint, against all odds, lived out charity and justice in his love for God and others. In 1853 Pierre Toussaint’s funeral filled St. Peter’s Church in Lower Manhattan with people of different races, classes, languages and even religions who came to honor New York’s most beloved citizen at that time.
Pierre Toussaint was born into slavery in 1766 in the French colony of Saint Domingue, which today is Haiti. His great-grandmother had been born in Africa and sold into slavery in the Caribbean. Pierre first worked as a house slave on a plantation owned by Jean Bérard in Saint Domingue. His master taught him to read and write which was very unusual at the time.
In 1797 the colony was experiencing great turmoil and violence and Jean Bérard fled with his family to New York taking along with him five slaves. Among them was the teenager Pierre Toussaint and his 10year old sister, Rosalie. Jean Bérard thought that they would sit out the revolution in New York and then return with his family and slaves to Saint Domingue. However, the situation worsened and the revolution occurred in 1804 ending with freedom for the French colony. As a result, the Bérard family lost its fortune and soon after Jean Bérard died of pleurisy. While in New York Pierre was permitted to train as a hairdresser and earn his own money. After his master’s death, Pierre very generously supported himself, Jean Bérard’s widow, his sister and the other slaves by fixing hair of the wealthy. Thanks to the support and the social connections of his master’s widow, Marie Elisabeth Bérard, his hairdressing business began to prosper. At that time in New York it was very common for wealthy families to have a hairdresser go to their homes regularly to fix their hair and the hair of their children. Pierre added a special touch to his trade by including flowers in their hair for special occasions. His talent, style but especially his caring personality was the reason that he formed deep, long lasting relationships with many of his clients. In fact, he would evangelize and speak about God to them while they sat in the chair to have their hair styled. Months before her death in 1807, Marie Elisabeth Bérard granted Pierre his freedom. He was 41 years old. Four years later, Pierre Toussaint married Marie Rose Juliette, whose freedom he purchased. The couple later adopted Euphémie, an orphan girl.
In New York during that time Pierre was looked down upon since he was a freed slave, and also a Catholic. There was a strong antiCatholic sentiment in the city during that time. However, this did not stop Pierre from attending Mass daily and receiving communion. He had a special devotion to the Blessed Mother as he prayed the rosary daily and also joined the Blessed Sacrament Society in his parish that fostered Eucharistic adoration and the Benevolence Society at St. Peter’s Church for those in need. He was also a teacher of catechism during his life as he taught church dogma and faith to adults and children. Pierre was a faithful witness of God’s love and dedicated himself fully to living out the virtue of charity.
In his charitable work, Pierre brought sick people into his home and cared for them. In the early 1800s New York had yellow fever epidemics. Pierre, armed with a bible and a rosary, would enter the neighborhoods which were the epicenters of these diseases, places where no one would go, and brought aid to the sick and dying, persons often abandoned by their own families. In addition, he would appeal for donations from his wealthy clients and fellow prosperous colonists living in New York to aid those sick and dying.
Thirty years into his career, Pierre had become a wealthy man, between his career and his wife Marie Rose Juliette’s work as owner and director of a boarding house. One day a friend questioned Pierre, “Toussaint, why do you work so hard, you are the richest man I know? He answered, “I have enough for myself, but if I stop working, I will not have enough for others.”
Pierre and Marie Rose Juliette Toussaint were important in the founding of St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic School in Harlem, the first New York Catholic school for black children. In addition, Pierre purchased the freedom of many slaves, both children and adults, being conscious of their needs of an education and a job. However, the family lived through a tragedy when their daughter suddenly died at the age of fourteen. In remembrance of her, Pierre turned towards the young and poor and made his major cause orphans. Pierre and Marie Rose Juliette often offered their home to young children and also black men often without jobs, homes or family nearby. They helped them get settled and found them work. Some were even trained by Pierre to be hairdressers and barbers. In 1817 another New York saint, Mother Elizabeth Ann Seton, founded an orphanage for white children in New York City, also funded in part by the Toussaints. Also, Pierre had special ties to the Oblate Sisters of Providence based in Baltimore, the first community of black religious, and supported their work and especially their orphanage as well.
In addition to helping others, Pierre gave money to help finance the construction of the original St. Patrick Cathedral on Mulberry Street in New York City. On the day that the cathedral was dedicated, Pierre went to the church for the celebration but was promptly turned away by an usher because he was black. Pierre, who had paid for much of the cathedral, apologized and turned to leave, but another usher recognized him and immediately took him to the seat of honor.
Pierre Toussaint died on June 30, 1853 at the age of 87. He was well-known for his kindness, generosity, charity and love of God. Newspapers throughout the city wrote about all he had done for the poor and how deep his love of God was. He was buried in the cemetery of the cathedral. However, in 1990 Cardinal John O’Connor, Archbishop of New York, had his remains moved to the crypt under the high altar in St. Patrick Cathedral on 5th Avenue in New York City where only cardinals and archbishops are buried. Pierre is the only lay person to be so honored by being buried there. His feast day is June 30th, the actual day he died. In 1996 Saint John Paul II declared Pierre Toussaint “Venerable.” His canonization cause seeks one intercessory miracle for him to move onto sainthood.
Even though born a slave in the world’s eyes, through his faith and works of charity with all whom he met, Pierre brought the love of God into countless lives. He shared the love of God with everyone. His example, witness and holiness have changed hearts of many. This was obvious when so many people came out to attend his funeral. These days we need to honor this great black Catholic who overcame great obstacles and fought against racism by becoming an excellent disciple of Christ loving God and living a life filled with love and charity to all. I pray soon that he will become a saint of the church. Most Venerable, Pierre Toussaint, intercede for us during these difficult and sad days and help us to fight against racism and live and work for justice together.
Rev. Gus Puleo is pastor of St. Patrick’s Church in Norristown, and is a Norristown High School graduate.