Venerable Pierre Toussaint

Today we celebrate the feast day of Venerable Pierre Toussaint. Venerable Pierre was born on June 27, 1766 in Haiti and he was later brought to New York City unfortunately as a slave. However, Venerable Pierre was able to die a free man, a very well known hairdresser, and one of New York City’s most known and respected Catholics.

The plantation owner named Pierre Bérard decided to make Venerable Pierre Toussaint a house slave. Pierre Bérard also allowed Venerable Pierre Toussaint’s grandmother to teach her grandson how to read and write.

During Venerable Pierre’s early 20s, his younger sister, his aunt, and two other house slaves accompanied their master’s son to New York City because of a large political unrest that was occurring back home. Venerable Pierre was apprenticed to a local hairdresser, and he was able to learn the trade quickly and eventually he was able to be very successful and work in the homes of rich women in New York City.

Eventually when Venerable Pierre’s master had passed away, Venerable Pierre was very determined to support himself, his master’s widow, and all the other house slaves. Venerable Pierre was eventually freed shortly before the widow’s death in 1807.

Four years later, Venerable Pierre was able to marry Marie Rose Juliette, whose freedom he had gained. They were later able to adopt Euphémie, who was his orphaned niece. Both preceded Venerable Pierre in death.

Venerable Pierre would attend daily Mass at St. Peter’s Church which was located on Barclay Street, this is actually the same parish that Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton had attended.

Venerable Pierre also made sure that he donated to a various number of charities, generously and he assisted many people regardless of their race, religious beliefs or social class.

Venerable Pierre and his wife eventually opened a home for orphans and they educated them. They also nursed many people especially abandoned people who were suffering from yellow fever. Eventually Venerable Pierre was forced to retired and he got to enjoy the rest of his life, Venerable Pierre would say, “I have enough for myself, but if I stop working I have not enough for others.”

Venerable Pierre died on June 30, 1853 and he was originally buried outside St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, where he was actually once refused entrance because of his race. Venerable Pierre’s sanctity and the popular devotion to him ended up causing his body to be moved to the present location which is at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue.

Venerable Pierre was declared Venerable during the year 1996 and his feast day is celebrated on May 28.

Prayer to Venerable Pierre Toussaint

Venerable Pierre Toussaint pray that we may be able to be filled with the charity and kindness we need to serve everyone regardless of their social class, race or beliefs. Help us to see through a persons race and beliefs and only see their human dignity. Help us to live a life where we seek to protect everyone’s human dignity and make the world a more accepting place.

Amen

Venerable Pierre Toussaint pray for us

St. Joseph pray for us

May we continue to strengthen our journey to sainthood and keep others in our prayers.

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Works Cited

Information (read from, not taken):

Franciscan Media. "Venerable Pierre Toussaint. ”Venerable Pierre Toussaint | Franciscan Media. Accessed 28, May 2021.

Images:

Venerable Pierre Toussaint. May 28, 2021. Venerable Pierre Toussaint - Google Search.