First African-American diocesan priest's cause takes another step toward sainthood

CHICAGO — With prayers, songs and sealing wax, Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago formally closed the investigation into the life and virtues of Father Augustus Tolton Sept. 29 in a ceremony in the St. James Chapel at the Archbishop Quigley Center.

The prayer service marked the binding and sealing of the dossier local research aimed at making Father Tolton, the first African-American diocesan priest, a saint. Cardinal George opened the cause in 2010.

Now the cause for Father Tolton’s canonization moves to the Vatican, where the documents collected by supporters of his cause in the Archdiocese of Chicago will be analyzed, bound into a book called a “position,” or official position paper, and evaluated by theologians, and then, supporters hope, passed on to the pope, who can declare Tolton “venerable” if the pope determines he led a life of heroic virtue.

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This prayer card promoting the canonization cause of Father
Augustus Tolton, the first recognized U.S. diocesan priest of African descent,
has been distributed by the Archdiocese of Chicago.

The Father Tolton Guild: toltoncanonization.org