Bishop Thomas Foley of Chicago (1822-1879)

Last updated on: October 3, 2011 at 6:11 am by Pat McNamara

Bishop Thomas Foley of Chicago (1822-1879) 2011-10-03T06:11:00-06:00 Pat McNamara

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

FOLEY, Thomas, fifth R. C. bishop of Chicago, was born in Baltimore, Md., March 6, 1822, of Irish parentage. He was educated at St. Mary’s College, in his native city, and upon graduation in 1840, entered St. Mary’s Theological Seminary. After a six-year course of study, on Aug. 16, 1846, he was ordained a priest in the Baltimore Cathedral, by Archbishop Eccleston. Father Foley was first appointed to a mission at Rockville, Montgomery County, Md., from which he attended four country churches. He was afterward made assistant to Father Matthews, of St. Patrick’s Church, Washington, D.C., being called home by Archbishop Eccleston to the cathedral at Baltimore.

In 1851 Archbishop Kenrick made him his secretary and chancellor of the diocese, which position he also filled under Archbishop Spalding, being at one time administrator of the archdiocese (during the archbishop’s absence. Dr. Foley was secretary and notary to the two plenary councils of Baltimore in 1852 and 1866; as prominent in organizing the Young Catholic Friends’ Society, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and in the establishment of the House of the Good Shepherd in Baltimore. In 1869 he was called to become coadjutor bishop of Chicago. This diocese, which Bishop O’Regan had left in an unsettled state, was thrown into worse confusion by the illness and insanity of his successor, Bishop Duggan, and Dr. Foley was selected as the most suitable person to adjust the difficulties.

He was consecrated at the Baltimore Cathedral on Feb. 27, 1870, by Rt. Rev. William George McCloskey of Louisville, Ky., and at once assumed his difficult charge. In an address delivered on the occasion of his installation Bishop Foley very beautifully expressed the policy he intended to pursue:

Peace be with you. No words can express more fully my feelings towards you and the object of my mission here than these same words, Peace be with you. I am here, as I believe all of you know, not by my own choice, but by the appointment of a higher power and for considerations to which it was my duty and obedience to yield. I am here for no other purpose than that which Jesus Christ announced to His Apostles when he said to them ‘Peace be unto you.’ My mission here is to honor His peace. I am a stranger to you, and therefore it is proper that I should take prudent and cautious action, so that I may be so instructed as to do all in order for the prosperity of the diocese. I am convinced that both people and clergy will fully understand the motives which prompt me to this abstinence from proceeding to the appointment of the officials of the diocese at once. Peace be unto you.

Bishop Foley in a short time restored peace and good feeling in the diocese; his appointments were favorably received and his administration gave general satisfaction. It has been aptly said of him that his “tact was unerring.” He was a man of great business and executive ability, and was an indefatigable and successful worker in building new churches, multiplying the number of his priests, charitable, benevolent and educational institutions. In 1877, the diocese of Peoria was created from that of Chicago. The Chicago fire, which occurred in 1871 and resulted in the loss to the church of about 85,000,000, would have discouraged a less energetic nature. But Bishop Foley at once set to work to rebuild the cathedral, churches, pastoral residences, schools, hospitals and institutions that the fire had destroyed. He also introduced a number of religious orders into the diocese. His whole administration was one of enterprise and success. His biographer says of him:

The greatest monument he left to his memory in Chicago was the new cathedral of the Holy Name, which was built at a cost of $200,000. He was an advocate of temperance and of the temperance cause, and gave his official approbation to the Catholic Total Abstinence Union of America. His death, the result of an attack of pneumonia, occasioned deep regret among all denominations, especially the prelates, clergy and laity of the Catholic church in the United States. Among the numerous testimonials of respect received from all quarters of the country were a series of resolutions of condolence adopted by the legislature of Illinois. He died at Chicago, 111., Feb. 19, 1879.

Bishop Foley was a ready and effective speaker. In all his addresses he was peculiarly happy in saying exactly the right thing at the right time and place. His generosity was as proverbial as his charity was great.

The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography (Volume IX) (New York: James T. White & Company, 1899), 80.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

September 29, 2011

A German-American Civil War Veteran in Seattle

Next Post

October 4, 2011 This Week's Column at Patheos

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category African-American Catholics Alabama Catholics American Catholic History American Catholic women American History Anniversaries Anti-Catholicism Arkansas Catholics Benedictines Bishops Blessed John Henry Newman Book Reviews Books Boston College Brooklyn churches Brothers California Catholics Capuchins Cardinals Carlo Carretto Carmelites Catholic authors Catholic Cemeteries Catholic Historians Catholic History in Less Than 5 Minutes Catholic musicians Catholic Poetry Catholic Press Catholic School Textbook Catholic University of America Catholic Worker Catholics and Music Catholics and Race Catholics in Politics Catholics in the American Revolution Catholics in the Military Catholics in the Movies Catholics in the South Catholics in the West Catholics on Stage Catjolic Women Catolic Poetry Charles de Foucauld Children's Masses Christian Brothers Christmas Church Reform Civil Rights Movement Civil War Colleges and universities Converts D.C. Catholics Deaf Catholics Dominicans. Dorothy Day English Catholics Florida Catholics Fordham University Franciscans French Catholics Georgetown University German Americans Good Shepherd Sisters Hispanic Catholics Historians and Archivists Holy Cross Fathers Holy Name Society Idaho Catholics Illinois Catholics Indian Wars Indiana Catholics Irish Americans Irish Catholicism Italian Americans Italian Catholics Jesuits Josephite Sisters Kentucky Catholics Know-Nothings Laetare Medal Recipients laity Liturgical Movement Maine Catholics Manhattan College Maryland Catholicism Michigan Catholics Middle Ages Minnesota Catholics Missionaries Mississippi Catholics Missouri Catholics Monasteries Montana Catholics Native Americans New England Catholicism New Jersey Catholics New York Catholics North American College Ohio Catholics Oratorians Oregon Catholics Parish Mission Parishes Passionists Pat McNamara's Books Paulists Pennsylvania Catholics Popes Presidents Priests Quotations Religious Orders Rhode Island Catholics Saints Salesians Seminarians Seminaries Sermons Servants of God Siisters of Charity Sisters of Mercy South Carolina Catholics Spanish-American War Sports St. Francis of Assiai St. John Henry Newman Suplicians Tennessee Catholics Texas Catholics The year in review Thomas Merton Throwback Thursday Photograph Trappists Uncategorized University of Notre Dame Video Presentations Vincentians Virginia Catholics Visitation Nuns Washington West Point West Virginia Catholics West Viriginia Catholics Wisconsin Catholicism Women Religious World War II

Select a Month December 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 April 2012 March 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Jesus replied: "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘__________________’"

Select your answer to see how you score.

Do Not Kill Love Your Neighbor As Yourself Love Others Honor Your Father And Mother