You're listening to Catholic Sprouts, the daily podcast for Catholic kids that strives to plant seeds of faith.

Hey there, Sprouts. Today is Wednesday, November 10th, 2021.

Today is also the feast day of Pope St. Leo the Great.

Now, this week we are talking about our new book, The Saints and the Call of Friendship with Jesus Christ, and we are sharing

the stories from this book. Today, we will be sharing the story of an American, venerable Augustus

Tolton. Venerable Augustus Tolton was the first ever black priest in the United States,

and he suffered with feelings with the reality of being denied things that he should not have been denied.

So if you have ever experienced denial or rejection,

then know that God use these feelings and experiences to create Augustus Tolton into a heroic, virtuous hero for the rest of us. Enjoy the story.

Father Tolton walked briskly down the streets of Quincy, Illinois.

After years spent studying for the priesthood in Rome, he'd arrived back just the night before.

He smiled as he studied the shops that lined the small downtown.

There were some changes, but much was the same. Strolling with his hands behind

his back, Father Tolton felt a tug on the back of his cassock. Turning, he met the wide eyes of an

eight-year-old girl, blonde braids draped over each shoulder. Mr. Why are you dressed like a priest?

She blurted out.

Father Tolton smiled and straightened his collar.

I'm dressed this way, he said slowly, because I am a priest.

The girl's eyes grew rounder and her mouth hung open as she stared at the black man in the Roman collar.

Across the street, a middle-aged woman called to her,

Molly, she hollered, get away from that man.

Father Tolton waved politely and continued down the street.

...