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Greatness Gained Through Submission
By Michael Whitcraft
"We will take to the streets right
now, we will delegitimize Bush, discredit him, do whatever
it takes, but never accept him."1
As Jesse Jackson's words ripped through the agitated crowd,
the bow of racial tension was once again stretched taut. "…and
indeed African-Americans were targeted," Mr. Jackson
continued, "80 percent of those in discussion are really
African-American voters, who were targeted, only African Americans
were stopped by police as they stopped to vote…"2
Although the above scene happened in
December of last year, it could very well have taken place
in 1789 on the islands which make up present day Haiti. Due
to the fall of the Bastille and the first sparks of Revolution
in their mother country of France, the islands were thrown
into utter chaos. Slaves and workers led by revolutionaries
of bad intent, rebelled against their masters and employers.
Hoping to escape the violence, Jean
Bérard du Pithon, head of one of the richest families
of the islands, fled to New York with his family and Pierre
Toussaint, one of his slaves.
Wrongly believing that the revolt would
be short-lived, Jean brought little money with him. He soon
used up his money and was forced into menial labor. Due to
his social status, he was unaccustomed to the strains and
difficulties of this type of work and it wore hard on him.
Just when it seemed things could get no worse, Jean died in
1791, leaving his broken-hearted widow, Marie Elizabeth with
no money, income, or means to obtain either. Realizing the
desperation of her situation, Marie fell into a deep depression.
Seeing his mistress so distraught,
Pierre was filled with compassion. Though he easily could
have taken advantage of the situation to run away and live
free, he preferred to remain in the service of his mistress.
Moreover, after joyfully completing his day's chores, he worked
as a hairdresser, catering to the wealthy ladies in New York
society. Because he had above average talent, this work prospered.
But Pierre was uninterested in making money for himself, and
gave large sums of it to Marie. He worked so hard, that he
not only saved her from poverty, but allowed her to enjoy
the same living standards of before her husband's death.
In his relationship with Marie, Pierre
demonstrated a spirit of charity and submission more angelic
than human. Pierre often put on great parties for Marie, paying
for everything. Once these parties got underway, he would
don the attire of a butler, and serve the guests never letting
on that he was anything more than his mistress' faithful servant.
With Pierre's help, Marie put her life
back together. She remarried and regained some of the stability
she had lost.
Meanwhile, Pierre saved up a goodly
sum which he used to buy the freedom of his sister, and his
future wife Juliette. He never once sought his own liberty.
Entirely content with his position, he remained a slave until
Marie granted Pierre his freedom on her deathbed. The year
was 1807, and Pierre was 41 years old.
Once freed, Pierre continued his works
of charity. When not dressing hair, he aided plague victims.
Together with Juliette, he raised several young abandoned
black boys, and found jobs for them.
In 1853, after 85 years of living in
accordance with the Gospels, Pierre Toussaint died.
The edifying story of Pierre Toussaint
is rarely told today. However, he was once again raised to
the forefront last October. Diagnosed with severe scoliosis,
six-year-old Joseph Peacock was about to be confined to the
use of a back brace until he turned twenty. Encouraged by
an article about Pierre Touissaint in The Washington Post
published during "Black History Month" Joseph's
mother Lisa, and her husband John prayed to Toussaint asking
for their son's cure.
A couple of days later, Joseph was
taken in to be fitted for his brace, when a second set of
X-rays were taken, Dr. Sponseller, Joseph's pediatrician purported
shocking results. His back showed a mere 10-degree curve which
is within the normal range. When the family asked Dr. Sheila
Murphy for a second opinion, she stated, "In my opinion,
the reversal of Joey's scoliosis is not explainable by current
medical thinking."
Immediately the story of Joseph's cure
was sent to Rome where Pierre Toussaint's canonization process
has been open since 1968. If it passes the Vatican's strict
screening process and is proclaimed miraculous, the last obstacle
to Toussaint's beatification will be removed. He will only
need one more miracle to be canonized as America's first black
saint.
How beautiful it would be to see Pierre
Toussaint canonized in our days. His life stands out in sharp
contrast to the radically egalitarian spirit dominating modern
society. Pierre Toussaint promoted social harmony while many
modern civil rights leaders, like Jesse Jackson, seem intent
on inciting disunity and animosity.
Inherent in this modern egalitarian
spirit is a denial of all inequality. Although essentially
all men are equal, their accidents are vastly and undeniably
unequal. St. Thomas Aquinas teaches that God created these
inequalities so that creation can more perfectly reflect Him
and His virtues. Thus, every man must find his place in creation
in accordance with his talents and abilities and content himself
with filling it to the best of his capacity.
Due to his heroic faithfulness and
submission to Marie Bérard, Toussaint practiced a degree
of virtue before which kings should bow down in reverence.
Through his service he embodied certain virtues and qualities
like humility and obedience which even the greatest emperor
would never be able to attain.
On the contrary, Jesse Jackson, preferring
revolt and class struggle, is incapable of fathoming the greatness
Toussaint gained in this way.
May Our Lady grant that the canonization
of Pierre Toussaint finally occurs, raising him to the dignity
of the altar where he belongs, and conquering the profound
egalitarian errors of our days.
To purchase a book on Pierre Toussaint,
click
here.
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