Pierre Toussaint was a devout catholic |
 Pierre Toussaint was a slave born in Haiti in 1766 and who today is in the process of being declared a Saint of the Church. The French revolution erupted in 1784 and in time news of the revolution reached the French colonies.
Toussaint’s master foreseeing potential trouble in Haiti left with his family and “belongings” for New York in 1787. Within a few years of their arrival in New York, the slavemaster died. Pierre Toussaint, a talented hairdresser, began to service some of New York City’s elite and over a 20 year period he would financially support the slavemaster’s family.
Pierre Toussaint who was a devout catholic attended daily mass. Having been freed before his slavemaster’s wife’s death, Pierre bought the freedom of hundreds of black slaves, paid for the education of the freed slaves, founded a home for children without families, helped priests and seminarians; and took care of the sick. He also gave some of the money for the construction of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
He died in 1853 and was buried in the yard of St. Peter’s Church in New York City (Corner of Church Street and Barclay – right by Ground Zero). His remains were removed in 1996 and they were re-interred in St. Patrick’s Cathedral where the leaders of the Archdiocese of New York are laid to rest. His crypt is below that of John Cardinal O’Connor.
The Church recognizes Pierre Toussaint as a pious and charitable man. Pope John Paul II, declared Pierre Toussaint Venerable in 1996. |
|
|
|
Menu
-------------------------
|
