John Thayer (priest)
Encyclopedia
The Reverend John Thayer (1755–5 February 1815) was the first native of New England
ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Thayer was educated at Yale College
and was a Protestant
in his early life. He was ordained as a Congregationalist minister and served as a chaplain during the American Revolutionary War
. While visiting Rome
in 1783, he converted to the Roman Catholic
faith, an act which caused a sensation in New England at the time. He credited his conversion to miracles attributed to the noted mendicant, Saint Benedict Joseph Labre
, who lived and died there in that period.
Thayer studied for the priesthood with the Sulpician
order in Paris
, where he was ordained in 1789. He returned to the United States
in 1790 where he was named pastor
. After a brief stint serving the Catholic community of Boston, he left to serve the scattered Catholics of Virginia
and Kentucky
. He had a rather checkered career mostly because of his erratic and confrontational temperament. In 1803, he returned to Europe and finally settled in Limerick
, Ireland
, where he was much more successful in his ministry
. He died there in 1815.
After his death, his estate was used to found an Ursuline convent on Mount Benedict in Charlestown, Massachusetts
. It was founded by the three daughters of the family with whom he lived while in Limerick. The first convent
to be established in New England, it was burned down by a nativist crowd in anti-Catholic rioting
in 1834.
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Thayer was educated at Yale College
Yale College
Yale College was the official name of Yale University from 1718 to 1887. The name now refers to the undergraduate part of the university. Each undergraduate student is assigned to one of 12 residential colleges.-Residential colleges:...
and was a Protestant
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
in his early life. He was ordained as a Congregationalist minister and served as a chaplain during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. While visiting Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 1783, he converted to the Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
faith, an act which caused a sensation in New England at the time. He credited his conversion to miracles attributed to the noted mendicant, Saint Benedict Joseph Labre
Benedict Joseph Labre
Saint Benedict Joseph Labré was a French mendicant, Franciscan tertiary and Roman Catholic saint.-Life:He was born in Amettes, near Arras in the north of France, the eldest of fifteen children of a prosperous shopkeeper, and was religious from a very early age. He was noted for performing public...
, who lived and died there in that period.
Thayer studied for the priesthood with the Sulpician
Society of Saint-Sulpice
The Society of Saint-Sulpice is a Catholic Society of Apostolic Life named for Eglise Saint-Sulpice, Paris, in turn named for St. Sulpitius the Pious. Typically, priests become members of the Society of St. Sulpice only after ordination and some years of pastoral work. Uniquely, Sulpicians retain...
order in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, where he was ordained in 1789. He returned to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1790 where he was named pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
. After a brief stint serving the Catholic community of Boston, he left to serve the scattered Catholics of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. He had a rather checkered career mostly because of his erratic and confrontational temperament. In 1803, he returned to Europe and finally settled in Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, where he was much more successful in his ministry
Christian ministry
In Christianity, ministry is an activity carried out by Christians to express or spread their faith. 2003's Encyclopedia of Christianity defines it as "carrying forth Christ's mission in the world", indicating that it is "conferred on each Christian in baptism." It is performed by all Christians...
. He died there in 1815.
After his death, his estate was used to found an Ursuline convent on Mount Benedict in Charlestown, Massachusetts
Ursuline Convent, Charlestown, Massachusetts Collection
The Ursuline Convent, Charlestown, Massachusetts Collection is a collection of papers documenting the history of the Québécois Ursuline nuns in the Boston area and the burning of the Ursuline convent on Mount Benedict during riots in 1834....
. It was founded by the three daughters of the family with whom he lived while in Limerick. The first convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
to be established in New England, it was burned down by a nativist crowd in anti-Catholic rioting
Ursuline Convent Riots
The Ursuline Convent Riots were riots that occurred on August 11 and August 12, 1834 in Charlestown, Massachusetts, near Boston in what is now Somerville, Massachusetts. During the riot, a convent of Roman Catholic Ursuline nuns was burned down by a Protestant mob...
in 1834.