May 6: The First American Cardinal

Welcome to the American Catholic Daily Reader podcast. Today is May 6th, and our story is The First American Cardinal. From the start, the young John McCloskey knew getting to Sunday Mass was important. It was important enough to rise before dawn, important enough to walk along the dirt roads of Brooklyn with his parents, and important enough to row across the East River, where the nearest Catholic parish, St. Peter's, waited on the other side.

Perhaps because of what his family went through every Sunday to get to Mass, by the age of 11, McCloskey knew how he wanted to spend his life, offering Mass as a Catholic priest. That year, 1821, McCloskey left his family and entered minor seminary at Mount St. Mary's College in Emmitsburg. At 23, he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of New York, and at 34, after studying in Rome and pastoring a parish in Greenwich Village, he was consecrated as coadjutor bishop of New York.

Three years later, McCloskey became the first bishop of Albany. There, he established nine religious orders, 19 schools, four orphanages, and nearly 100 parishes, all before May 6, 1864, when Rome called the energetic prelate home to become New York's next archbishop.

Back in his native city, McCloskey's energy seemed inexhaustible as he completed the building of St. Patrick's Cathedral, attended the first Vatican Council, established 88 parishes, tripled the number of priests in the archdiocese, founded a hospital for the mentally ill, and helped enroll more than 37,000 children in parochial schools.

Revered for his gentleness, intelligence, and piety, as well as his energy, Catholics across America celebrated when in April 1875, Archbishop Bailey of Baltimore, who himself had converted to Catholicism through McCloskey's friendship, placed the red beretta on the prelate's head. That day, America's first cardinal told the gathered crowds, Not to my poor merits, but to those of the young and already vigorous and most flourishing Catholic Church of America has this honor been given by the Supreme Pontiff.

Cardinal McCloskey shepherded New York for ten years more, dying from fever in October 1885. Like McCloskey, we are invited to devote energy, talent, and heart to the work of faith, leaving a lasting impact beyond our lifetime. Consider a way you can serve your faith community consistently and selflessly this week. Thank you for listening to the American Catholic Daily Reader Podcast. Join us tomorrow, May 7th, for another story of faith and courage in America.