Father Gus Tolton

                    
We meet today a recently beatified priest. Fr Augustus Tolton lived between 1854 and 1897 and was born as a slave. He wanted to become a priest, but American seminaries did not accept colored students back then. But with the help of a Franciscan priest, he entered the seminary in Rome and was ordained on Holy Saturday, April 24, 1886, at the Basilica of St. John Lateran.  He celebrated his first Mass on Easter at St. Peter’s Basilica. He was hoping to go as a missionary to Africa, but he was sent to the United States as the first black priest ever. He was very eloquent, with a strong voice, beautiful sermons, and worked hard against poverty, racism and the degradation of the black population, which was suffering back then, especially the harsh treatment towards the slaves. He was known as ‘Good Father Gus.’ He died of a sunstroke aged 43 and was loved by everyone who knew him. Pope Francis proclaimed him as Blessed in 2019.