May 28, 2024

Hello John,

Venerable Pierre Toussaint exemplified internal freedom long before he was legally free. Refusing to become bitter despite his circumstances, Pierre chose to cooperate daily with God’s grace. His life became a compelling sign of God’s wildly generous love, serving as an inspiration to us all. 

Reflecting on Pierre's journey, I am reminded of Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. She was an outcast, meeting Jesus in the heat of the day, separated from her community. When Jesus revealed his identity to her, she ran to tell the townspeople she had found the Messiah. Her joyous testimony led many to believe in him, despite her reputation. 

As you ponder these reflections, we invite you to deepen your spiritual journey with a special seven-day retreat guided by St. Anthony of Padua. Starting on June 6th, you will receive daily emails filled with rich content, guided prayer activities, and probing questions drawn from St. Anthony's life and teachings. This retreat will help you find yourself and your way to God, culminating in the celebration of St. Anthony’s feast day on June 13th. 

Take a moment to listen to Fr. Dennet and Bro. Dominic share their insights on the importance of retreat and the profound impact St. Anthony has had on their lives. Don’t miss this opportunity to enrich your spiritual life. 

In gratitude, 

Christopher Meyer

P.S. Let St. Anthony guide you towards a deeper connection with God. Register now and embrace the journey of faith and discovery. 

Saint of the Day for May 28: Venerable Pierre Toussaint

(June 27, 1766 – June 30, 1853)

Venerable Pierre Toussaint’s Story

Born in modern-day Haiti and brought to New York City as a slave, Pierre died a free man, a renowned hairdresser, and one of New York City’s most well-known Catholics.

Plantation owner Pierre Bérard made Toussaint a house slave and allowed his grandmother to teach her grandson how to read and write. In his early 20s, Pierre, his younger sister, his aunt, and two other house slaves accompanied their master’s son to New York City because of political unrest at home. Apprenticed to a local hairdresser, Pierre learned the trade quickly and eventually worked very successfully in the homes of rich women in New York City.

When his master died, Pierre was determined to support himself, his master’s widow, and the other house slaves. He was freed shortly before the widow’s death in 1807.

Four years later, he married Marie Rose Juliette, whose freedom he had purchased. They later adopted Euphémie, his orphaned niece. Both preceded Pierre in death. He attended daily Mass at St. Peter’s Church on Barclay Street, the same parish that Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton had attended.

Pierre donated to various charities, generously assisting blacks and whites in need. He and his wife opened their home to orphans and educated them. The couple also nursed abandoned people who were suffering from yellow fever. Urged to retire and enjoy the wealth he had accumulated, Pierre responded, “I have enough for myself, but if I stop working I have not enough for others.”

Pierre originally was buried outside St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, where he was once refused entrance because of his race. His sanctity and the popular devotion to him caused his body to be moved to the present location of St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue.

Pierre Toussaint was declared Venerable in 1996.

Reflection

Pierre was internally free long before he was legally free. Refusing to become bitter, he daily chose to cooperate with God’s grace, eventually becoming a compelling sign of God’s wildly generous love.

Venerable Pierre Toussaint is the Patron Saint of:

Barbers
Hair Stylists

Spend seven consecutive days letting St. Anthony of Padua be your guide to finding yourself and your way to God. Through rich content, guided prayer activities and probing questions drawn from his preaching and the stories of his life, you will learn about this Franciscan saint but, even more important, about your own spiritual life.

Begins Thursday, June 6th!

God challenges us all the time. Often we feel inadequate and ill-prepared. Nevertheless, God challenges us to step outside our comfort zones. While we may not feel ready for the job, we were given the one thing needed most to carry out a task: The Lord would be with us.

Mary is about to be given one of the most important missions in Israel’s history: to be the mother of the Messiah, who will bring salvation to the whole world. Such a role will not be easy. It will take her through many periods of trial, uncertainty, confusion, and suffering. Nevertheless, Gabriel tells Mary that she has the one thing she needs to be faithful to God’s plan: The Lord is with her. We need to hear that message too. How might God be asking you to rely on him more, to trust that the Lord is truly with you in whatever you might face in your life right now?

—from the book Praying the Rosary Like Never Before: Encounter the Wonder of Heaven and Earthby Edward Sri

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