November is National Black Catholic History Month. One way that I thought we could observe that was to look at the six African American people whose cause for canonization is advancing. We’ll look at three individuals on the road to sainthood this week. We’ll look at the other three next week. I am going to base my remarks on the reflections of each of the six that have been provided by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Before I present the first three candidates for possible canonization, let me give a quick explanation of terms. Servant of God is the title of a person who died “in the odor of sanctity” and into whose life and virtues the Church has instituted an inquiry for the purpose of having the person declared Blessed, which will bring with it the right to receive liturgical celebrations. Venerable is the title of a Servant of God whose cause or beatification has been introduced and whose heroic virtue or martyrdom has been officially established. However, those who have been declared Venerable cannot yet receive public liturgical veneration. We will look now at the six candidates in chronological order: three this week and three next week. Venerable Pierre Toussaint (1776-1853) Venerable Pierre Toussaint, a philanthropist and founder of many Catholic charitable works, was born a slave in Haiti and brought from Haiti to New York as an apprentice under a popular hairstylist in the city. He eventually became the most sought-after hairdresser of high society women. Upon the death of his master, he gained his freedom and quickly succeeded as one of the country’s first black entrepreneurs. He became quite wealthy, but instead of spending lavishly on himself, he supported the Church and the poor. He and his wife sheltered orphans, refuges, and others out on the streets in their home. He founded one of New York’s first orphanages and raised money for the city’s first cathedral. During yellow fever epidemics, Toussaint would risk his life to help others by nursing the sick and praying with the dying. “I have never felt I am a slave to any man or woman but I am a servant of Almighty God who made us all. When one of his children is in need, I am glad to be His slave.” Servant of God Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange(1784-1882) Servant of God Mother Mary Lange was born Elizabeth Lange, a native of the Caribbean, and believed to be Cuban born of Haitian descent. She was the foundress and first Superior General of the Oblate Sisters of Providence (1829-1832), the first religious congregation of African American women in the history of the Catholic Church. On July 2, 1829, Elizabeth and three other women professed their vows and became the Oblate Sisters of Providence with the goal of educating and evangelizing African Americans. They educated youth and provided a home for orphans. Freed slaves were educated and at times admitted into the congregation. They nursed the terminally ill during the cholera epidemic of 1832, sheltered the elderly, and served as domestics at St. Mary’s Seminary. Mother Mary Lange practiced faith to an extraordinary degree. It was her deep faith – in close union with Jesus – which enabled her to persevere against all odds. She lived through disappointment and opposition until God called her home in 1882 at the St. Frances Convent in Baltimore, Maryland. Venerable Henriette Delille (1813-1862) Venerable Henriette Delille was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she would live her entire life. For the love of Jesus and responding to the Gospel’s mandate, she was determined to help those in need. Henriette was also a person who suffered as she made her way through life, and she bore many crosses. She taught those around her that sanctity can be attained in following the path of Jesus. It was in this manner that she dealt with her troubles and major obstacles to achieve her goals. Some of the troubles Henriette met were the resistance of the ruling population to the idea of a black religious congregation; the lack of finances to do the work; the taunts and disbelief of people in her mission; the lack of support from both the Church and civil authority; and poor health. However, Henriette practiced heroic virtue. She had faith, lived in hope, and practiced love. She was compassionate, forgiving, and merciful. She believed in justice and was not afraid to do what was right in the eyes of God. God blessed her efforts and, in 1842, she founded the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family. Henriette died 20 years later on November 17, 1862. Her funeral was held at St. Augustine Church. Her obituary stated, “. . . Miss Henriette Delille had for long years consecrated herself totally to God without reservation to the instruction of the ignorant and principally to the slave." For more information on these saintly Americans, check out the following link to the USCCB website: On the Road to Sainthood: Leaders of African Descent | USCCB. Until next week, Fr. John