WHAT ABOUT A "SAINT MARTHA JANE" AND A "SAINT" MATILDA?"

More Information About Our Beloved Saint-To-Be

THE VENERABLE FATHER AUGUSTUS TOLTON

His mother (Martha Jane), a slave, was baptized and raised a Catholic in my home parish of St. Theresa of Avila in Rhodelia, Kentucky, was taken by her "owner" to Missouri at age 17 where she married and gave birth to Augustus and eventually escaped Missouri to the free-state of Illinois. Because no US seminary would accept him because he was black, Augustus was educated and ordained in Rome, served in Quincy and Chicago, Illinois,  and finally died in Chicago. 

Father Augustus Tolton probably would not have been a Catholic, much less a priest, without his Catholic mother's fidelity and courage. His mother probably would not have been a Catholic without the faith of the Catholic community of St. Theresa in Rhodelia that passed it on to her. His grandmother, Matilda (Martha Jane's mother), is buried in our old St. Theresa Cemetery.  

As long as I am into it, let me say this! After reading about Martha Jane's heroic life and all that she went through for her son, I think his mother should be canonized as well! She was certainly one tough, courageous, determined and faithful Catholic woman! I am reminded of a wonderful old story that I posted at the time of my ordination anniversary that is not too different from Martha Jane's story. 

Pope Pius X (1835-1914) was a very humble man who had a saintly mother, Margarita Sanson. Because they were so poor, she worked as a washer woman and a school janitor to earn enough money so that he could go to the seminary. (In those days, the family had to pay for the seminarian’s education.) When he was installed as Pope, his mother was present, and as was the custom, she kissed his large papal ring. She then presented her tiny hand with her wedding ring and said, “Now you kiss my ring—for without it, you never would have received yours!” St. Pius also said, “Every vocation to the priesthood comes from the heart of God, but it passes through the heart of a mother”

                          

A new window in the Cathedral of the Diocese of Jefferson City,  Missouri, depicts the baptism in Missouri, the ordination in Rome  and the First Mass of Father Augustus Tolton.