From Slave To Priest by Sr. Caroline Hemesath

Author:Sr. Caroline Hemesath [Hemesath, Sr. Caroline]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Spiritual & Religion
ISBN: 9781681491967
Publisher: Ignatius Press
Published: 2009-06-29T05:00:00+00:00

13

THE SEMINARIAN

“Verso dove, Signore?” shouted the coachman, looking noncommittally at the tall black man standing before the door of a Roman hotel.

“To the Piazza di Spagna”, answered Augustine promptly, guessing the meaning of the driver’s question. He referred to his notebook and added, “To the Collegium Urbanum de Propaganda Fide.”

9. The Piazza di Spagna, near the Collegium Urbanum

10. Collegium Urbanum de Propaganda Fide

The coachman nodded saying, “Sì, sì, Signore”, as he jerked the reins and uttered sounds understood only by the horses.

As the conveyance clattered over the uneven streets, Augustine gazed in awe and astonishment at the conglomeration of buildings around him. When the driver pointed out Saint Peter’s dome silhouetted in the distance, the young man drew a quick breath and was unable to say anything but “Oh . . . ! Oh . . . !”

The carriage stopped at the foot of the so-called Spanish steps. While the obliging driver waited, Augustine admired the historic church of Trinita dei Monte that overlooks the Piazza di Spagna. Then the coachman pointed out another building, and soon the carriage moved toward it. “There it is!” cried Augustine excitedly as the driver stopped at the entrance to a three-story structure. Augustine had noticed the large plaque high above the front door. It bore the Roman-lettered inscription: collegium urbanum de propaganda fide.

A smiling seminarian met the new student at the door and showed him into a small waiting room. Augustine shifted his traveling case from one hand to the other; finally he set it on the floor. He went to the chair indicated by the seminarian, sat nervously on the edge, and waited. Above the pounding of his heart he heard the rustling of brocaded robes. In another moment Cardinal Giovanni Simeoni, prefect of the college, entered. As Augustine jumped to his feet, the great prelate came forward, clasped a black hand in both his own, and welcomed the American candidate to the Propaganda College.

It was Friday, March 12, and as was pointed out by Father John Greene, S.S.J., editor of the Josephite publication The Saint Joseph Advocate,1

The day is significant; the 12th being the feast of Pope Gregory the Great, one of the most determined enemies of slavery who ever sat in the Chair of Peter. It was he who uttered the famous sentence on seeing the English slaves for sale: “Non Angli sed Angeli si Christiani forent. No Angles (Anglo-Saxons) but angels would they be if only they were Christians.” And it was Saint Gregory who set the example of manumission by giving freedom to all slaves attached to his patrimony.

It was on this date, then, that Augustine Tolton, ex-slave, began his preparation for the priesthood.

In the course of the first few days Augustine was introduced to many people associated with the college. He had no idea of their status, despite the fact that they were garbed in black or red or purple. Even though he had previously studied and rehearsed the proper procedures for meeting and addressing members of

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