Venerable Pierre Toussaint (1766-1853)

The process leading to a person being canonized as a saint in the Catholic Church involves years of investigation and scrutiny into their lives. There are six African Americans who are in the various stages leading to being declared a saint. Throughout February, Sister Callista Robinson shares information about each of the candidates.

Venerable Pierre Toussaint (1766-1853)

Pierre Toussaint was born in 1766 in the colony of Saint Dominque, now known as Haiti. He was a slave on the plantation of Jean Berard. Pierre worked as house slave and was taught to read and write by the family tutors. This was very unusual because slaves were not allowed to be educated.

In 1787, during the revolution in Haiti, his master, Jean Berard, sent Madam Berard, Pierre and his sister Rosalie to New York. Pierre was allowed to receive training to become a hairdresser. He earned money as a hairdresser and was able to keep the money. When Madam Berard no longer had money to care for herself, Pierre used his money to take care of her. She was very grateful and promised to grant Pierre his freedom upon her death. In 1807, Madam Berard died and Pierre became a free man.

Pierre did very well as a hairdresser among the wealthy of New York. He used his money to purchase the freedom of another slave, Juliette Noel, whom he married. He also gave money to help the poor. Pierre and his wife opened their home to shelter the orphans and homeless. During the yellow fever epidemics, he risked his life to nurse the sick and prayed with the dying. He also gave money to finance the construction of the original St. Patrick’s Cathedral. 

He died in 1853 and was buried in the cemetery of the Cathedral. In recognition of Pierre’s virtuous life the late Cardinal Cooke introduced his cause for canonization at the Vatican in 1968. In December of 1989, the late Cardinal O’Connor had the remains of Pierre Toussaint transferred from lower Manhattan to St. Patrick’s Cathedral in midtown, where he is buried as the only layperson, along with the Cardinal and Archbishops of New York City.  

He was declared “Venerable” in 1997 by Pope John Paul II. Venerable Pierre Toussaint was a man who was proud of his faith and was committed to serving others.