Patrick O'Boyle (cardinal) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids His Eminence Patrick Aloysius O'Boyle |
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| Cardinal, Archbishop of Washington | |
O'Boyle in 1916
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| See | Washington |
| Appointed | November 29, 1947 |
| Enthroned | January 21, 1948 |
| Reign ended | March 3, 1973 |
| Predecessor | Michael Joseph Curley |
| Successor | William Wakefield Baum |
| Other posts | Cardinal-Priest of S. Nicola in Carcere |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | May 21, 1921 |
| Consecration | January 14, 1948 by Francis Spellman |
| Created Cardinal | June 26, 1967 |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Patrick Aloysius O'Boyle |
| Born | July 18, 1896 Scranton, Pennsylvania |
| Died | August 10, 1987 (aged 91) Washington, D.C. |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| Motto | STATE IN FIDE (STEADFAST IN FAITH) |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Styles of Patrick O'Boyle |
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| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
| See | Washington |
Patrick Aloysius O'Boyle (born July 18, 1896 – died August 10, 1987) was an important leader in the Roman Catholic Church in America. He became the very first Archbishop of Washington in 1948. He served in this role until 1973. In 1967, he was given the high honor of becoming a Cardinal.
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Early Life and Education
Patrick O'Boyle was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania. His parents, Michael and Mary O'Boyle, were Irish immigrants. His father came from Glenties, County Donegal, and settled in Bedford, New York. His mother moved to New York City from County Mayo in 1879. They married in 1893 and then moved to Scranton. Michael O'Boyle worked in a steel factory.
Patrick was baptized at St. Paul's Church in Scranton just two days after he was born. When his father passed away in 1907, Patrick helped his mother by working as a paperboy. In 1910, he left school to work full-time for the Bradstreet Company. However, a local priest told him to go back to school. So, in 1911, he started attending St. Thomas College. While studying, he was also the class librarian and the editor of the college's monthly magazine, The Aquinas.
Becoming a Priest
Patrick O'Boyle finished St. Thomas College in 1916 as the top student. He then began studying to become a priest at St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers, New York. During his time there, he became good friends with James Francis McIntyre. McIntyre later became the Archbishop of Los Angeles and also a Cardinal. One of O'Boyle's teachers was Rev. Francis P. Duffy, a famous chaplain from World War I.
Archbishop Patrick Joseph Hayes made O'Boyle a priest on May 21, 1921. The next day, he led his first Mass at St. Paul's Church in his hometown of Scranton. In June, he moved back to New York. He became a curate at St. Columba's Church in Chelsea, Manhattan. There, he started St. Joseph's Society for teenage boys, which quickly grew to about 300 members. He also organized parish dances.
From 1926 to 1933, O'Boyle directed the Catholic Guardian Society. This group helped orphans and children in foster care. During this time, he also worked at Holy Innocents Church. O'Boyle was very passionate about social issues, workers' rights, and making sure everyone was treated equally, no matter their race.
He continued his education at the New York School of Social Work from 1927 to 1932. He also taught about child welfare at Fordham Graduate School of Social Service from 1930 to 1934. In 1933, he helped create the National Conference of Catholic Charities. O'Boyle also worked with the New Deal program, Works Progress Administration, to help young people find jobs. From 1936 to 1943, he was the director of the Mission of the Immaculate Virgin, also known as Mount Loretto, on Staten Island.
He was given the title of Privy Chamberlain of His Holiness in 1941. In 1944, he became a Domestic Prelate of His Holiness. From 1943 to 1947, he directed the War Relief Services for the National Catholic Welfare Conference. On August 1, 1947, he became the director of Catholic Charities in New York.
Becoming a Bishop
Patrick O'Boyle's work with War Relief Services was noticed by Archbishop Amleto Giovanni Cicognani. O'Boyle was very good at working with government and other groups during and after the war.
On November 27, 1947, Pope Pius XII chose him to be the Archbishop of Washington. O'Boyle became a bishop on January 14, 1948. Cardinal Francis Spellman led the ceremony at St. Patrick's Cathedral.
O'Boyle was well-known for being against racism. In 1948, he took a big step towards ending segregation in American schools. He racially integrated the Catholic schools in Washington. This happened six years before the U.S. Supreme Court said that segregation was against the law. He started with schools in Washington city, then expanded to the southern parts of Maryland. First, he integrated colleges and universities, then high schools, and finally elementary schools.
In 1949, O'Boyle gave the opening prayer at President Harry S. Truman's inauguration. In 1959, Bishop O’Boyle dedicated the United States to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
In April 1964, while Congress was discussing the Civil Rights Bill, O'Boyle led a meeting about civil rights at Georgetown University. He said that "Every person has a special worth. From this worth come human rights. Everyone must respect these rights." He asked Congress to pass the bill. He also urged people to tell their representatives that such a law was a moral duty.
From 1962 to 1965, he attended the Second Vatican Council. This was a very important meeting for the Catholic Church. On October 12, 1965, Washington became a Metropolitan Archdiocese. This meant O'Boyle became a Metropolitan Archbishop. On August 28, 1963, he gave the opening prayer for the March on Washington.
Becoming a Cardinal
Pope Paul VI made him a Cardinal Priest of San Nicola in Carcere on June 26, 1967. At the same ceremony, Archbishop Karol Wojtyła of Kraków also became a Cardinal. He later became Pope John Paul II. O'Boyle retired as Washington's archbishop on March 3, 1973. He had served for twenty-five years.
His Beliefs
Cardinal O'Boyle was progressive when it came to social issues. However, he held traditional views on religious teachings. He strongly supported Pope Paul VI's letter Humanae Vitae. He also disciplined priests who disagreed with its teachings. When he was younger, he supported politicians like Robert M. La Follette, Sr. and Al Smith.
He was a strong opponent of racism. O'Boyle once wrote:
Those who deny a neighbor, just because of their race, the chance to buy a house, or to have equal education and job chances, are actually denying those rights to Christ Himself.
Death
Cardinal O'Boyle passed away in Washington, D.C., in 1987. He was 91 years old. He was the first person to be buried in a special burial place inside the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle. This place was built for the Archbishops of Washington. Cardinal James Aloysius Hickey and Cardinal William Wakefield Baum are also buried there.
