by Sarah Patterson

St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622) is the official patron of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Did you know that we also have two minor patrons? They are St. Albert the Great (c. 1200–1280) and St. Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621). Below is a letter written by Abp. John T. McNicholas on 4 July 1938 announcing our two new minor patrons and the reason for their selection. Mentioned in the letter, the Institutum Divi Thomae was a school of scientific research founded by the Archbishop in 1935 to promote scientific research and show that science and religion are not opposed to each other.

“Our Holy Father on 4 May, 1938, approved the decision of the Sacred Congregation of Rites that St. Robert Bellarmine and St. Albert the Great are to be venerated in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati as co-patrons minus principales sub ritu duplici maiori.

“St. Robert Bellarmine and St. Albert the Great cannot but appeal strongly to our priests and people if they realize how providentially these saints have been given to us as patrons in these critical times. We urge the clergy and the faithful of all parishes to cultivate a special devotion to these two heroic servants of God.

Read the story here

For past Throwback Thursdays

http://www.thecatholictelegraph.com/throwback-thursday-a-home-for-unmarried-businesswomen/36177

http://www.thecatholictelegraph.com/throwback-thursday-the-death-of-pope-john-paul-i/35935

http://www.thecatholictelegraph.com/throwback-thursday-national-dear-diary-day/35874

http://www.thecatholictelegraph.com/our-mother-of-sorrows-roselawn/35756

Welcome to Throwback Thursday, an online feature wherein users of social media share an old photo or anecdote about times gone by. The Catholic Telegraph partners with the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Chancery Archives’ blog Laboring on the Mission to bring you a bit of local history each week.