From Slave to Priest—The Journey of Augustus Tolton

Father Augustus Tolton public domain

By Larry Peterson

Something for Black History Month

This is about a man, born into slavery in Missouri, who became the first African American from the United States ordained a Catholic priest. I wish folks across America would learn about him. He was a man whose goodness shined like a brilliant star inspiring others by his gentle and caring example. Say “Hello” to Augustus Tolton.

On April 1, 1854, Peter Tolton paced nearby as his wife, Martha Jane, gave birth to her second son. They named him Augustus (after his uncle), and the baby was baptized soon after in St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Brush Creek, Missouri. Mrs.Savilla Elliot stood as Augustus’ godmother.

It was a situation a bit out of the ordinary at the time. That was because Mrs. Elliot was married to Stephen Elliot, who happened to be the “owner” of Augustus’ mom and dad. The Tolton family was slaves, and their three children, Charley, Augustus, and Anne, were born into slavery. Slave owners and their slaves all Catholic. It was quite uncommon, especially in the mostly Protestant south.

Augustus was seven years old when the Civil War began. This is when his history becomes a bit confusing. There are various accounts of his journey to freedom. You will find an account in Wikipedia of Stephen Elliot permitting Peter Tolton to head north, and join the Union Army. A bit later, Elliot gave Martha and her children their freedom too. They headed north, and with the help of Union Soldiers, crossed the Mississippi River and entered Illinois, a “free” state. They settled in the town of Quincy.

The Encyclopedia Brittanica reports Augustus’ dad, escaped his bondage and fled north joining the Union army where he was killed in battle. His mom managed to escape with her three children, Charley, Augustus, and their sister, Anne, and get to Illinois, where they settled in Quincy. From this point on most accounts agree about Augustus journey, beginning with his being discovered by Father Peter McGirr.

Father Peter McGirr

The pastor of St. Peter’s parish in Quincy was an Irish American priest, Father Peter McGirr. Father McGirr had noticed a shabbily dressed African-American boy spending an excessive amount of time near the church. After several days had gone by, Father walked across the street and introduced himself to the boy. After a brief conversation, Father asked him, ” Well, now lad, do you go to school?”

“No, sir.”

“Would you like to go to school?”

Augustus jumped into the air and yelled, “YES, Sir, YES!”

Father McGirr and Augustus headed to St. Peter’s. The priest’s move was very controversial. Most white parishioners did not want a black student studying along with their children. Father McGirr held firm and insisted that Augustus study at St. Peter’s. He got permission from Augustus’ mom, who was shocked that this had happened to her son. Augustus Tolton’s life had been placed on the road to his destiny.

Was the Holy Spirit at work?

The Holy Spirit may have moved Father McGirr because he saw something in Augustus that others did not. Within one month, the boy had moved on to the ” second reader.” Father approached Augustus and asked him if he would like to receive his First Holy Communion. He did, and by the summer, Augustus was the altar boy for the 5 a.m. Mass. After several years Father McGirr asked Augustus if he would like to become a priest. He told him it would take about 12 years of difficult study and dedication. Augustus said, “Let us go to the church and pray for my success.”

After graduation and with the unwavering support of Father McGirr, Augustus attempted to get into a seminary. It was the 1870’s, and prejudice was taken for granted. Augustus was rejected by every American seminary to which he applied. But the young man did not despair, lose hope, or begin to get bitter. On the contrary, he continued to pray, and his prayers, combined with the fearless determination of Father McGirr, enabled him to gain admission to St. Francis Solanus College (now Quincy College) in Quincy, Ill.

A brilliant student

Augustus proved to be a brilliant student and, upon graduation, was accepted into the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome. Founded by Pope Urban VIII in the 17th century, this was a training ground for missionaries. It was here that Augustus became fluent in Italian and studied Greek and Latin. In 1886, at the age of 32, Augustus Tolton was ordained to the priesthood in Rome. He was the first black Roman Catholic, American priest of African descent in the United States.

Newspapers from across the country told the story of the former slave, now ordained as a Catholic priest. When Father Tolton arrived back in Quincy, he was greeted as a hero. A brass band played, and Negro spirituals were sung as thousands of white and black people sang together, lined the streets together, and held hands together as they waited to catch a glimpse of the former slave boy who had grown up to be a Catholic priest.

Love of God replaced Prejudices

Father Tolton walked down the avenue dressed in his cassock and wearing the biretta. When he arrived at St. Boniface Church, hundreds had crowded inside, wanting to receive his blessing. His first blessing went to Father McGirr, who was still by his side. The next day Father Tolton said his first Mass at the packed church while thousands stood outside. For these few days, prejudices in Quincy, Illinois, were non-existent. They had been replaced by the love of God instead.

Father Tolton remained at St. Boniface’s for five years. He met with stiff resistance as prejudice again reared its ugly head. But Father persevered and managed to start St. Joseph’s Parish in Quincy. In 1892 he was transferred to Chicago and headed a mission group that met in the basement of St. Mary’s Church. The work at St. Mary’s led him to develop the Negro National Parish of St. Monica’s Catholic Church.

“Good Father Gus”

He was such a kind, caring man that he came to be known as “Good Father Gus.” The church grew quickly and soon had over 600 parishioners. His next plan was to oversee new construction at St. Monica’s, which had begun to accommodate the swelling numbers of parishioners. He would not live to see it.

Father Tolton had been ill for quite some time and had never told anyone. On a hot July day in 1897, with the temperature at 105 degrees, Father Tolton had just returned from a retreat in Bourbonnais, Ill. When he stepped from the train, he collapsed. Taken to the hospital, Father Gus died a few hours later from sunstroke. He was 43 years old. The community was shocked at the loss of their dear friend. Father Tolton was buried at St. Mary’s Cemetery near Quincy.

The Road to Sainthood

In March 2010, Cardinal George of Chicago announced that he was beginning the cause for canonization for Father Tolton. On February 24, 2011, the Catholic Church officially began the formal introduction of the cause for sainthood. Father Augustus Tolton was then formally designated as “Servant of God.”

Good Father Gus was declared a man of “heroic virtue” by Pope Francis on June 12, 2019. He is now known as Venerable Augustus Tolton. He is currently under consideration for Beatification.

Venerable Augustus Tolton, please pray for us all.