Pierre Toussaint was born a slave in 1766 in the French colony of Saint Domingue, which is modern-day Haiti. His great-grandmother had been born in Africa and sold into slavery in the Caribbean. Pierre worked as a house slave inside a plantation owned by Jean Berard. He was educated by the family’s tutors, which was very unusual for the time.

When political unrest came to the island, his master sent his wife to New York for safekeeping in 1787. Pierre and his sister, Rosalie, were sent along. There in New York Pierre was allowed to train as a hairdresser. He earned his own money, and when his owner’s family fell on hard times, he used that money to take care of them. Madame Berard promised to free him when she died, which she did in 1807, when Pierre was 41.

Pierre did well as a hairdresser among the wealthy of New York. He purchased the freedom of another slave, Juliette Noel, and they married and adopted a daughter, Euphemie (his orphaned niece). From early on, the couple were very conscious of the needs of the poor. They opened their home to orphans and as a refuge to those in need. 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.”

There was tragedy, too, when their daughter died at the age of 14.

Pierre lived in an era when not only was he looked down upon as a freed slave, but anti-Catholicism was strong in New York at the time. It did not stop Pierre from professing his Catholic faith. He attended Mass every day for more than 60 years and was devoted to the Rosary. He was also a teacher of the faith and could explain the church’s teachings well and simply.

In addition to helping others with the money he made, he gave a great deal of money to help finance the construction of the original St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Mulberry Street. The story is told that on the day the cathedral was dedicated, Pierre went to the church for the celebration. But because he was black, an usher would not allow him to enter. Pierre, who had paid for so much of the cathedral’s building, apologized and turned to leave. But another usher recognized him and immediately brought him to a seat of honor.

When Pierre died in 1853, he was buried in the cemetery of the cathedral. But in 1990, the cardinal in New York had his remains moved to the crypt in St. Patrick’s Cathedral where only cardinals and archbishops are buried. Pierre is the only layperson to be so honored.

Pope John Paul II declared Pierre Toussaint “venerable” in 1966.

Sources: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/venerable-pierre-toussaint/ & http://saintsresource.com/pierre-toussaint/

I find Venerable Pierre Toussaint so inspiring because here you have a man who was of such humble, some would even say lowly, origins. Born a slave, he had every reason to be bitter or angry, but instead was a shining example of mercy and compassion throughout his whole life. As a slave, he supported his master's family and household after his master died. As a freed man, he was known for generosity for the poor, the orphaned, and the sick. As a freed black man and Catholic in New York City during that time, he faced so much racism and discrimination, but that did not prevent him from actively living and proclaiming his faith.

Venerable Pierre Toussaint gave us a very real and very true demonstration of what it means to live the faith and to preach the faith, sometimes using words. His life shows us that God looks into the soul of a person rather than their circumstance, and inspires us to be ready and willing to answer the call to holiness.