Donald McClarey on the First American Cardinal

"Born on March 10, 1810, to Irish immigrants in Brooklyn, New York, John McCloskey when he was seventeen had a life altering accident. Driving a team of oxen pulling a wagon full of heavy logs, the wagon overturned and buried John beneath the logs for several hours. For the next few days, he drifted in and out of consciousness and was blind. He recovered his sight, but his health was permanently damaged by the accident.

"Out of his travail, he decided to become a priest. He was ordained a priest of the diocese of New York in 1834. He wanted to minister to the victims of a cholera epidemic, but his bishop, recognizing rare ability in the young priest, ordered him to Rome where he studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University and the University of the Sapienza."

In a recent commentary, Donald R. McClarey offered a profile of Archbishop John McCloskey, the first cardinal in the United States.

To access Ms. McClarey's complete post, please visit:

Catholic Stand: John McCloskey,The First American Cardinal (6 SEP 16)