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The Catholic Defender: Saint Alexis Toth, Confessor and Defender of Orthodoxy in America

was born in Austro-Hungary on March 18, 1854 into a poor Carpatho-Russian family. Like many others in the Austro-Hungarian empire, the Toths were Eastern Rite Catholics. Alexis’ father and brother were priests and his uncle was a bishop in the Uniate church.


Saint ALEXIS was a true man of God who guided many Carpatho-Russian and Galician immigrants through the dark confusion of religious challenges in the New World and back to the unity of the Catholic Church through his grace-filled words and by his holy example.


His holy relics now rest at Pennsylvania where the faithful may come to venerate them and to entreat St ALEXIS' intercessions on their behalf.


In October, 1889 St. Alexis was appointed to serve as first pastor at St. Mary's (1889-1893). He was instrumental in bringing our community at St. Mary's into the Catholic faith.


Although the Minneapolis parish was received into the Catholic Faith in March, 1891, This resolution reached America only in October, 1892.


Until his priestly salary began to arrive from Russia, the righteous one was obliged to work in a bakery in order to support himself. Even though his funds were meager, he did not neglect to give alms to the poor and needy.


He shared his money with other clergy worse off than himself, and contributed to the building of churches and to the education of seminarians in Minneapolis. He was not anxious about his life (Mt.6:25), what he would eat or drink or wear. Trusting in God to take care of him, St Alexis followed the admonition of Our Savior to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Mt.6:33). So he bore the tribulation, slander, and physical attacks with patience and spiritual joy, reminding us that "godliness is stronger than all" (Wisdom of Solomon 10:12).


Upon his arrival in America, Father Alexis presented himself to the local Roman Catholic diocesan authority, Archbishop John Ireland, since there was no Uniate bishop in America at that time. Archbishop Ireland belonged to the party of American Catholics who favored the “Americanization” of all Roman Catholics.


His vision for the future was founded on a common faith, customs, and the use of the English language for everything except liturgical celebrations. Naturally, ethnic parishes and non-Latin rite clergy did not fit into this vision.

टिप्पणियां


© 2017 Deeper Truth Catholics

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