Sit! Stay! Good Dog!

Last week we shared two photos of popes that were in a Carte de Visite album, which we called the 19th century Facebook. Just like Facebook, this album had an amazing pet picture, which we couldn't resist sharing this week:

PH 23/25AL

One of the best parts of working in the archives is getting to see what has changed and what has stayed the same. It's somehow reassuring to know that people were just as pet-obsessed 150 years ago! If they had the technology, their cats and dogs would have been all over the Internet.

Happy (Holy) Father's Day!

This Sunday is Father's Day. In the Catholic Church, we all share one spiritual father, the Pope. This week we thought we'd highlight records from some of the Holy Fathers who have reigned since the creation of the diocese in 1841.

Gregory XVI: February 2, 1831 - June 1, 1846

1839 apostolic letter of Gregory XVI condemning the slave trade.

M PS21.01
Bishop Macdonell Fonds

Blessed Pius IX: June 16, 1846 - February 7, 1878

This photo of Pope Pius IX is a carte de visite, which was a popular photograph format of the 1800s. Cartes were traded and collected by many. You could almost say they were the 19th century Facebook!

PH 25/23AL

Part of a letter from Pius IX to the Catholics of Toronto, complete with signature.

July 9, 1862
L RC44.15

Leo XIII: February 20, 1878 - July 20, 1903

Another carte de visite from the same album as the photo above with a drawing of Leo XIII.

PH 25/23AL

Signed letter from Leo XIII in response to the Bishops of the province of Toronto on the occasion of the Pope's Golden Jubilee of Priestly Ordination.

June 20, 1886
L RC69.10

Saint Pius X: August 4, 1903 - August 20, 1914

Postcard of Pius X from 1954.

PH 59/03PC

Benedict XV: September 3, 1914 - January 22, 1922

Letter from Benedict XV to Archbishop McNeil imparting apostolic blessings on the occasion of McNeil's 25th anniversary of his episcopal consecration.

September 8, 1920
MN RC109.03

Pius XI: February 6, 1922 - February 10, 1939

A telegram from Pietro Di Maria, Apostolic Delegate, informing Archbishop McNeil of the election of Cardinal Ratti as pope under the name Pius XI. The apostolic delegate is the pope's representative to the Church in Canada. Since the 1960s Canada has had an Apostolic Nuncio, who is the pope's representative to the government as well as to the Church.

February 7, 1922
MN DS24.02

Venerable Pius XII: March 2, 1939 - October 9, 1958

Postcard of Pius XII.

PH 62/04PC

Saint John XXIII: October 28, 1958 - June 3, 1963

John XXIII with Toronto Mayor Nathan Phillips and Mrs. Phillips.

PH 63/13CP

Blessed Paul VI: June 21, 1963 - August 6, 1978

Image of Paul VI printed on silk and used as a greeting card.

PH 64/03

Letter from Paul VI to Cardinal McGuigan congratulating him on his Golden Jubilee of priestly ordination.

May 10, 1968
PO RC4810.09

Servant of God John Paul I: August 26, 1978 - September 28, 1978

John Paul I blessing Cardinal Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II).

1978
PH 82/01P

Booklet from the Requiem Mass for John Paul I at St. Michael's Cathedral. Unfortunately, this pope only lived 33 days in office, which made 1978 a year of three popes.

1978
OC29

International Archives Day 2016: Friendship in the Archives

Happy International Archives Day! This year's theme is Archives, Harmony, and Friendship.

Here in the archives, we have lots of photos of our bishops that show their work and careers. But they were more than just their jobs; they were humans who had friendships. Because we all need friends to...

Chill on the beach with:

Cardinal Carter relaxes with a friend on the beach in Cancun, Mexico.

1970s
PH 18F/174CP  

Share a good meal:

Cardinal Carter and friends, including Cardinal Flahiff (right of Carter), enjoy a meal in Rome at the restaurant where Fettuccine Alfredo was invented.

1970s
PH 18R/03P

Meet the Pope with:

Cardinal Ambrozic and friends enjoy an audience with Pope Saint John Paul II.

February 21, 1998
PH 19C/147P

Be awed by creation with:

Cardinal Ambrozic (centre) with friends.

1948
PH 19F/01P

Check out ancient history with:

Cardinal Ambrozic sitting with a friend in front of the Coliseum in Rome.

February, 1998
PH 19C/130CP

Pose for posterity with:

Archbishop Pocock and a friend.

1960s
PH 14F/16CP

Blow out your birthday candles with:

Cardinal Carter celebrates his 87th birthday with friends.

March, 1999
PH 18B/10CP

We can do all these things alone, but aren't they more fun with friends?

Record of the Week: Cardinal McGuigan Gets the Key to the City

One of the best parts of being an archivist is opening a box you've never looked in before and finding something cool. Last week we found a key about the length of hand. As it turns out, we were holding the key to the City of Toronto.

After some research, we were disappointed that the key wouldn't allow us to walk into the mayor's office. In fact, it is a ceremonial key that was given to Cardinal McGuigan at a city reception upon his return from his elevation to the cardinalate in March 1946.

AF 15
Special Collections

Archbishop McGuigan's elevation wasn't important only to Catholics; the whole city was proud that the first English-speaking Canadian cardinal was from Toronto. 75,000 people lined the streets to greet him when he arrived at Union Station on the train from Halifax. The band from De La Salle Oaklands played for him, and the Catholic school children had a day off. There were receptions at City Hall and Queens Park, and a few days later there was an event at Maple Leaf Gardens attended by 15,000. The city newspapers covered his trip to Rome, his journey home, his arrival, and the celebrations.

An illuminated address presented to Cardinal McGuigan by the City Council explains the feelings of Torontonians:

"Like all men of genius, your Eminence has found your own road and carried your own lamp along the pathway of life to the goal and zenith of your ambition. Through piety, self-denial and stern discipline of intellect, your Eminence has striven unceasingly to make the best use of those remarkable natural talents, bestowed upon your Eminence by the gift of Providence."

AF 112
Special Collections

Cardinal McGuigan is presented with the above illuminated address by Mayor Robert Saunders.

PH 09C/31P
ARCAT Photo Collection
Photo credit: Globe & Mail

People line the streets with flags and banners to welcome His Eminence home.

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ARCAT Photo Collection
Photo credit: Globe & Mail

Large crowds are gathered at City Hall to receive the new Cardinal.

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ARCAT Photo Collection

The Corpus Christi Riot of 1864

Thursday was the Feast of Corpus Christi, when we celebrate the real presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. This Sunday, many parishes will take part in a traditional procession in which they will carry the sacrament through the streets.

In 1864, the annual Corpus Christi procession did not go well at all. In Toronto in the 1860s, tensions were high between Catholics and Protestants. This was a reflection of attitudes and events in Ireland, from where many of the city's inhabitants came. The city's Protestants were angered by public displays of Catholicism.

A May 30th, 1864 article in The Globe described how events unfolded:

"Yesterday being “Corpus Christi,” the day was as usual observed by the Roman Catholics in this city by a grand religious demonstration. The Church Street Cathedral was gaily decorated, and outside green arches were erected in front of the entrance on Bond Street, and the garden of the Bishop’s Palace, on the north side of the Cathedral, hung with numerous pictures, flags, etc. ... For some days past much apprehension has been felt of a disturbance on the occasion of the procession, which has [attracted] greater public interest in the event than usually attaches to it. Every precaution had been taken by the Mayor to prevent a riot, and to provide means to quell it in case one should occur."

As part of his precautions, Mayor Francis Henry Medcalf wrote to Bishop Lynch:

Medcalf to Lynch, May 28th, 1864:

"Rev'd Sir, This morning I have been waited on by a Deputation of the Citizens of Toronto, wishing to know of me if the Procession advertised in the Canadian Freeman of the 26th inst is to be a public one, or to be confined to the Grounds of the Roman Catholic Cathedral. 

"They also stated to me, in presence of His Honor the Recorder, that if such Procession was attempted in the public streets, they had reason to believe that it would occasion a very serious breach of the peace.

"Therefore, as Chief Magistrate of the City, I desire to learn, if you will have the kindness to inform me, whether the contemplated Procession is to be a public one, through any of the Streets of the City, and if it be, whether the "Host" is to be carried therein."

L AG01.01

Archbishop Lynch Fonds

The article continued:

"Long ere the appointed hour, the streets east, west, and south of the church were densely crowded, and the Bishop’s garden, on the north side, thronged with people. About four o’clock, numerous bodies of children, of both sexes, young women, in various uniforms, and all bearing paper flags and banners in their hands, made their appearance in the gardens, and took their places in front of a temporary altar erected on the north side of the Cathedral. ...  After his sermon he stated that ... they had a right to march through the streets if they chose ... but he deemed it best to confine the celebration to their own grounds, and no gentleman or lady would interfere with them."

Bishop Lynch was not pleased with the threat of violence, and he wasn't going to risk provoking trouble, but he was not afraid to make his opinion on the matter known in his reply to Medcalf's letter:

Lynch to Medcalf, May 28th, 1864:

"...I would inform those citizens through Your Lordship that as the free exercise of the Catholic Religion was guaranteed for the whole of Canada by treaty with England on the Capitulation of Quebec we could without infringing any law and in free exercise of our rights carry the Sacred Host through the streets of Toronto as is done in Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa and other places ... Dieu et mon droit is the motto of England and we adopt it as our own. We desire to live on good and kindly terms with our fellow citizens, and we expect a reciprocity of feeling."

L AG01.02

Archbishop Lynch Fonds 

Despite their efforts, trouble broke out:

"A few minutes after five, everything being prepared, the procession of the Host issued from the church, and wended its way round the garden towards the altar, to the solemn chanting of the clergy. Just at this juncture some person attempted to enter the gate of the garden next the cathedral doors, on Bond Street. He was refused admittance, and endeavoring to force his way in a scuffle ensued. So slight a disturbance, under ordinary circumstances, would probably have attracted little attention. But serious apprehensions of a fight existed; a great rush was made towards the fracas – the impression prevailed that the fighting had commenced – the fact was proclaimed in tones of alarm throughout the multitude, and the panic became general. All the efforts of the priests to reassure the people were unavailing. The affrighted girls broke from their ranks with screams – the poor children were terror-stricken – the spectators, chiefly ladies, were alarmed for their safety – and the scene became one of most admired confusion. The people poured from the church, some in their terror seeking safety in the vaults. A large part of the fence on Church Street was borne down by the press, and the population of the garden was soon emptied into the street. The alarm was no sooner over, however, than it was discovered to have been false – that the flight was without a pursuit. The affair in which it originated was long since over – and nobody hurt! The fire-bells began to sound the alarm, and still further accessions of force appeared upon the ground, but the excitement had died away. The procession was quietly reformed, and the ceremony proceeded..."

Bishop Lynch received many letters from political leaders expressing regret over the incident. Even Premier John A. Macdonald wrote to him:

Macdonald to Lynch, June 14th, 1864:

"My Dear Lord, I can assure you that I was much grieved to see the outrageous and riotous manner in which your religious observances were disturbed on Corpus Christi day. I have given instructions to the proper offices to make diligent inquiry into these unhappy proceedings.

"Sir Etienne Taché showed me your letter to him, and I will take an early opportunity of looking into the whole law of the matter, and particularly how far the prohibition of religious processions extends to Upper Canada."

L AG01.08

Archbishop Lynch Fonds

Though no physical harm was done, Protestant-Catholic relations deteriorated further. Over the next few decades, there were more clashes between the groups. Though the hierarchy warned them against violence, some Catholics felt that they had to defend themselves. In November of 1864, members of the Catholic Ancient Order of Hibernians heard rumours that there could be a threat from Protestants on Guy Fawkes day. As described by Fr. John Walsh to Archbishop Lynch:

"We are just now in the midst of great excitement here occasioned by the conduct or rather misconduct of the Hibernians on the 5th inst. ... It had been rumoured for some weeks past that the Orangemen would burn O'Connell's effigy on the night of the 5th inst. It had also been whispered about that the Hibernians would prevent such an occurrence at any hazard. On hearing these rumours and fearing the serious breach of peace we convened a meeting of some of the principal laymen to consult with them as to what was best to be done in the premises. ... We called upon the leading Hibernians and used every argument we could think of to dissuade them from making any demonstration whatsoever on that night, but all our arguments were lost upon them; for go they would and go they did, armed to the teeth with guns and pikes. Fortunately no collision took place between the hostile parties as the Orangemen failed to carry out their part of the programme. The Hibernians however were seen in hostile array. The cries of an intended Popish massacre were raised and hence the most fearful excitement prevails..." (L AE06.04, Archbishop Lynch Fonds)

These are only two episodes in the saga of the Irish in Toronto. Many books have been written about the Irish in Toronto, and the documents at ARCAT have been used extensively by historians of this subject. To learn more about Irish Toronto, check out some of these books:

The Waning of the Green: Catholics, the Irish, and Identity in Toronto, 1887-1922 by Mark McGowan

Piety and Nationalism: Lay Voluntary Associations and the Creation of an Irish-Catholic Community in Toronto, 1850-1895 by Brian Clarke

The Untold story: The Irish in Canada by Robert O'Driscoll

Record of the Week: The Pope Recovers

On this day in 1981, the Church and the world were shocked and saddened when Pope Saint John Paul II was shot while riding in an open vehicle through a crowded St. Peter's Square. It was just one in a spate of shootings at the time; John Lennon, Ronald Regan and Anwar Sadat were all victims within the same year.

In Toronto, Catholics and people from other faiths came together to pray for the Pope's recovery. His importance as a leader and advocate for peace was widely recognized.

Cardinal Carter considered Pope Saint John Paul a friend. In a letter dated June 8th, 1981, he wrote,

"You burst upon the scene of history like a meteor. Your charisma appears to be exactly what a tired world required. And we observed with admiration, and even awe, the impact which you were making on all parts of the world and in all realms of thought even among people who are far from sharing in our religious convictions. The concept of your being eliminated by this thoughtless act appeared to me to be intolerable. But I must confess that in all humility I offered myself in your place. I immediately decreed a public Mass in my Cathedral in thanksgiving for your salvation and in petition for your prompt and perfect reestablishment. I preached myself and one of the things which I said and which seems to have been very much appreciated by the gathering, which included the Greek and Anglican hierarchy, was that you were such a man that there could be no doubt that when you took the See of Peter you also offered your life in all its dimensions. And I said, "This is a very dangerous thing to say to the Lord because sometimes He takes us at our word. therefore the Pope was ready and is ready to die for the Church." This is a form of martyrdom and it is not underneath your capacity. The willingness after all is the real baptism of blood."

In reply, the Pope sent the letter below:

Signed letter from Pope Saint John Paul II.

September 18, 1981
Cardinal Carter Fonds

The Pope recovered fully, and went on to lead an exceptional Papacy for 24 more years. After this incident however, his security was taken more seriously (he was previously one of the most accessible Popes in history), and his 'Popemobile' was fitted with bulletproof glass.

Pope Saint John Paul II set an amazing example for us in 1983 when he visited his shooter in prison and personally forgave him. Although the shooter was sentenced to life in prison, he was pardoned by the Italian president at the Pope's request in 2000.

Records of the Week: Catholics Helping Their Neighbours

This week we have seen the devastating reports of the destructive wildfire burning in Fort McMurray, Alberta. Cardinal Collins is asking Archdiocese of Toronto Catholics to help their Albertan neighbours.

Catholics have a long tradition of donating to disaster relief funds. They donate millions every year. In 2013 alone Catholics in this Archdiocese gave $2.724 million for humanitarian aid.

We were curious to see if there were any records in the archives to show how Toronto Catholics responded when their neighbours were in need. Below are just a few examples out of many.

In 1866 Bishop Farrell appealed to Hamilton Catholics to help after portions of Quebec City were destroyed by a fire. Over 2000 homes were burned and 18,000 - 20,000 people were left homeless.

1866
L AD02.24
Archbishop Lynch Fonds

In this 1909 letter, Archbishop McEvay was raising funds for victims of the 1908 Sicilian earthquake that destroyed the city of Messina.

1909
ME AA05.08
Archbishop McEvay Fonds

This letter from the Apostolic Delegate thanks Cardinal McGuigan for Toronto's contribution of $17,335 (almost $144,000 in 2016 dollars) for disaster relief after the Chilean Valdivia earthquake, which is the strongest earthquake ever recorded.

1960
MG DS 62.20b
Cardinal McGuigan Fonds

In 1950 the Red River flooded, causing much damage to Winnipeg. Cardinal McGuigan sent a cheque for $15,000 ($156,000 in 2016 dollars) to the Archdiocese of Winnipeg.

1950
MG FA16.35b
Cardinal McGuigan Fonds

In 1917 Halifax was devastated when a munitions ship exploded in the harbour. Archbishop McNeil instructed the Pastors of Archdiocese to take up a special collection to send to Nova Scotia.

1917
MN PC05.04
Archbishop McNeil Fonds

In this letter, Archbishop McNeil asked the Pastors of the Archdiocese to take up a special collection for victims of the 1923 earthquake on Japan's main island. He asked the Pastors to discuss the catechism with parishioners: "If we are bound to help our neighbor in case of material need, no matter how far that neighbor may be from us in race or creed or distance, much more are we bound to extend to him the charity of prayer and other spiritual benefits."

1923
MN PC11.15
Archbishop McNeil Fonds

In the words of Bishop Farrell: "If you are rich, give generously; if you are poor, give willingly the little you can afford, remembering that in giving to the poor you are lending to the Lord, who will not fail to pay you back a thousand fold."