Albert Gregory Meyer

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox Christian leader Template:Infobox cardinal styles Albert Gregory Meyer (March 9, 1903 – April 9, 1965) was an American Catholic prelate who served as Archbishop of Chicago from 1958 until his death in 1965. He was appointed a cardinal in 1959. He previously served as archbishop of Milwaukee in Wisconsin from 1953 to 1958 and as bishop of Superior in Wisconsin from 1946 to 1953.

Meyer was a strong advocate for racial justice and a firm supporter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He was also a voice for religious tolerance and for the reconciliation of the Catholic Church with the Jewish people.

Biography

Early life and education

Albert Meyer was born on March 9, 1903, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Peter James Meyer, a grocer, and Mathilda (née Thelen) Meyer, both German immigrants.<ref name="miranda">Template:Cite newsTemplate:Better source needed</ref> The fourth of five children, he had two brothers and two sisters; one sister became a nun.<ref name="thornton">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="time">Template:Cite magazine</ref> As a child, Albert Meyer would pretend to celebrate mass with a toy altar and a glass of water for the chalice of wine.<ref name="time" />

Meyer received his early education under the School Sisters of Notre Dame at the parochial school of St. Mary's Parish in Milwaukee.<ref name="thornton" /> After finishing the eighth grade, Meyer wanted to immediately enter St. Francis de Sales Seminary in St. Francis, Wisconsin. However, James Meyer was forced to close his grocery store in 1912, forcing his son to attend Marquette Academy in Milwaukee for two years.<ref name=":2" />

With the assistance of a benefactor, Albert Meyer was finally able to pay the tuition for St. Francis at age 14.<ref name="miranda" /> In 1922, Archbishop Sebastian Messmer sent him to Rome to continue his studies at the Pontifical Urban College for the Propagation of the Faith, while residing at the seminary in the Pontifical North American College.<ref name="thornton" />

Priesthood

On July 11, 1926, Meyer was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee by Cardinal Basilio Pompili, at the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref> Meyer then continued his studies in Rome at the Pontifical Biblical Institute, obtaining a Doctorate in Holy Scriptures in 1930.<ref name="miranda" /><ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref>

After returning to Wisconsin in 1930, the archdiocese assigned Meyer as curate at St. Joseph's Parish in Waukesha, Wisconsin. In 1931, he was appointed to the faculty of St. Francis de Sales Seminary, teaching religion, Greek, Latin, biblical archeology, dogmatic theology and scriptures.<ref name="miranda" /><ref name="thornton" /> While at the seminary, Meyer translated three books of the New Testament into English.<ref name=":2" />

When Monsignor Aloisius Muench was named bishop of the Diocese of Fargo, Meyer succeeded him as rector of the seminary in 1937.<ref name="miranda" /> The Vatican raised Meyer to the rank of domestic prelate, with the title of monsignor, in 1938. He also served as a chaplain and adviser to the local Serra Club.<ref name="thornton" /><ref name=":0" />

Bishop of Superior

On February 18, 1946, Meyer was appointed the sixth bishop of Superior by Pope Pius XII.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref> Meyer was consecrated on April 11, 1946, by Archbishop Moses E. Kiley, with Bishops Muench and William O'Connor serving as co-consecrators, in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Milwaukee.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref>

As one of his first actions in Superior, Meyer banned young priests from owning cars and demanded that they pay back the diocese the costs of their seminary preparations. However, after receiving backlash from the clergy, Meyer dropped these demands.<ref name=":2" />

Meyer in 1950 inaugurated the Diocesan Council of Women to involve Catholic women in the operation of the diocese. He also established the Apostolate of Vocations to encourage more youth to become seminarians and started the Catholic Herald Citizen diocesan news paper.Meyer wrote a series of outlines of sermons to be used by his priests; they soon gained popularity among priests throughout Wisconsin.<ref name=":3" />

Meyer opened the third synod of the diocese in 1953.<ref name=":2" /> By the time Meyer left Superior in 1953, he had built 15 churches and opened ten schools.<ref name=":2" />

Archbishop of Milwaukee

Pius XII appointed Meyer as the seventh archbishop of Milwaukee on July 21, 1953. He was installed on September 24, 1953.<ref name=":1" /> In 1956, Meyer published a pastoral letter titled "Decency and Modesty", in which he condemned sexual content in films and television, along with what he considered to be immodest clothing worn in public.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Meyer in 1958 established a Council of Catholic Men to involve laymen in the running of the archdiocese. He also instituted a $3.23 million capital improvement project for the archdiocese, including St. Francis de Sales Seminary.<ref name=":3" /> During his tenure in Milwaukee, Meyer constructed 17 parishes and converted five mission churches into parishes.<ref name=":3" />

Archbishop of Chicago

File:Queen-of-the-Angels.jpg

Monument in Chicago to victims of the 1958 Queen of the Angels Fire (2006)

Pius Xll appointed Meyer as archbishop of Chicago on September 19, 1958.<ref name=":1" /> He was installed on November 14, 1958.

On December 1, 1958, a fire broke out at Our Lady of the Angels School in Chicago, killing 92 students and three nuns. While visiting the hospital and morgue with Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, Meyer was overcome with grief. Cardinal Francis Spellman travelled to Chicago from New York City to support Meyer and Pope John XXIII sent him a condolence telegram. After the fire, the archdiocese faced $44 million in lawsuits from the families of victims and survivors. Six years later, after a long series of settlement talks, Meyer decided to provide reparations to all the victims and survivors.<ref name=":0" />

Meyer is featured in the 1958 film Decision for Happiness, produced by the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes.In 1960, Meyer banned parishes from holding bingo games in response to reports of corruption in their management.<ref name=":0" /> In January 1961, during riots in the African-American Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago, he issued this statement:

We must remove from the church on the local scene any possible taint of racial discrimination or racial segregation, and help provide the moral leadership for eliminating racial discrimination from the whole community.<ref name=":0" />

Cardinal

File:Martin Luther King, Jr..jpg

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1964)

Meyer was created cardinal priest of the church of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere in Rome by Pope John XXIII in the consistory of December 14, 1959. Church observers were surprised by his appointment as he had not spent much time either in Rome after finishing his education or as archbishop of Chicago.<ref name=":0" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Meyer participated at the first three sessions of the Second Vatican Council in Rome from 1962 to 1964, and sat on its Board of Presidency. During the council, Meyer showed himself to be of liberal tendencies<ref>Time. The Council's Prospects September 14, 1962</ref><ref>Time. Cum Magno Dolore October 23, 1964</ref><ref>Time. The Pope Runs the Church November 27, 1964</ref> and was viewed as the chief intellectual among the participating American hierarchy.<ref name="holynamecathedral.org">Template:Cite web</ref>

The scholarly and often shy prelate supported religious liberty.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He strongly condemned racism, warning his clergy "not to foster the flame of racial hatred". At the 1963 National Conference on Race and Religion in Chicago, Meyer delivered a speech along with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.<ref name="holynamecathedral.org" /> Meyer also worked with the community activist Saul Alinsky and supported the integration of the archdiocesan schools.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Meyer served as a cardinal elector in the 1963 papal conclave that selected Pope Paul VI. Meyer, an occasional fisherman, once called fishing the "apostolic recreation", and was also known to attend Milwaukee Braves baseball games.<ref name="Successor">Template:Cite web</ref>

Death and legacy

Meyer in January 1965 was hospitalized at Mercy Hospital in Chicago for treatment of gallstones. After his discharge, he started suffering severe headaches a few weeks later. He re-entered Mercy in February and was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. He underwent an operation on February 25th, but never recovered from the surgery. Albert Meyer died at age 62 on April 9, 1965, at Mercy Hospital.<ref name=":0" />

Meyer is buried in the cemetery of the University of Saint Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Illinois. The American Jewish Committee called Meyer"...one of the great liberal spirits of our time."<ref name=":0" />

Meyer was honored by naming at the following institutions:

• St. Albert Parish in Land of Lakes, Wisconsin<ref name=":2" />
• Cardinal Meyer Library at Marian University in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Cardinal Meyer Center, a part of the Archdiocese of Chicago in Chicago<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Cardinal Meyer Lecture series at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

• Catholic Church hierarchy
• Catholic Church in the United States
• Historical list of the Catholic bishops of the United States
• List of Catholic bishops of the United States
• Lists of patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops

External links

• Cardinal Albert Meyer, The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church
• Official site of the Holy See