Joseph Rosati

Background

Rosati was born in the town of Sora at the Kingdom of Naples (now Italy). Early in life he was destined for the Church, and on May 30, 1801, received clerical tonsure.

Education

His classical studies were completed in 1807 in the Diocesan Seminary. In 1807 Rosati entered the Congregation of the Mission in Rome. He took his vows on the 1st of April 1808, and in the fall commenced his theological studies under Father Andrew James Felix Bartholomew de Andreis. In 1811, during the last year of his course, he was raised to the priesthood.

Career

After four years in home mission work through the Papal States, Rosati received a note from De Andreis asking him whether he would join the Louisiana Mission recently organized at the instance of Bishop Du Bourg. He replied emphatically in the affirmative, and with six companions embarked in 1815 for Marseilles, whence they later sailed for America.

They reached Baltimore July 26, 1816, and Bardstown, December 4 , 1816 following. Here, at St. Thomas' Seminary, Rosati began in earnest to learn English while helping the local clergy minister to their scattered flocks. In November 1817 he succeeded De Andreis, who had gone to Missouri, as professor of theology in the Seminary, serving in this capacity until, with the Louisiana band, he started for "the Barrens" (Perryville) in the following year.

They reached their destination on the 1st of October 1818, and almost at once opened St. Mary's Seminary in temporary quarters. This institution of classical and theological learning, the first of its kind west of the Mississippi and the nursery of many pioneer Catholic missionaries in the Middle West, may be said to be, under the fostering care of Bishop Du Bourg, Rosati's own creation. He it was who devised the plan of the institution and superintended its construction, while teaching the most important courses and acting as pastor to the Catholics of the surrounding country. Upon him likewise devolved, after the death of De Andreis, October 15, 1820, the superiorship of his Congregation in America.

On November 26, 1822, scarcely nine months after the completion of the seminary building, he received the pontifical brief appointing him Bishop of Tenagra and vicar apostolic of Mississippi and Alabama. His representations to Rome (he sent back the brief) and Du Bourg's plea that the creation of the new vicariate was a premature and ill-advised step, resulted only in having the title changed: on July 14, 1823, Pius VII appointed Rosati co-adjutor to the Bishop of Louisiana, and forbade him further resistance. Accordingly, he received episcopal consecration at Donaldsonville, March 25, 1824, and for two years continued his multitudinous functions at "the Barrens, " while caring for the interests of the Catholics in Upper Louisiana.

On November 4, 1826, he was notified of Du Bourg's resignation and the division of Louisiana into two dioceses, New Orleans and St. Louis, both of which he was to administer for a time. Pope Leo XII desired him to accept the See of New Orleans, but he himself wished to remain in St. Louis; finally on March 20, 1827, the matter was settled according to his wishes, although he continued to administer Lower Louisiana until the consecration (June 24, 1830) of Rev. Leo De Neckere, Bishop of New Orleans.

In the fall of 1830 Rosati settled in St. Louis and for ten years labored strenuously in the vast territory under his spiritual care. Among the many churches he erected, the cathedral of St. Louis (built 1831 - 34) remains as a lasting monument of these strenuous days of religious growth.

On April 27, 1840, he left St. Louis to attend the provincial Council of Baltimore, and thence proceeded to Rome. Sent as Apostolic Delegate to negotiate an arrangement between the Haytian Republic and the Holy See, he stopped at Philadelphia on his way to consecrate Peter Richard Kenrick, whose appointment as his coadjutor he had obtained in Rome. His difficult and laborious mission resulted in the draft of an agreement with which he returned to Rome. Since he had won the favor of the authorities of Port-au-Prince, he was sent to Hayti once more by the Pope to complete the work. While on his way thither, he was seized by illness in Paris, and advised to return to Rome, where he died.

Achievements

• Rosati's achievements include: establishment of the Ladies of the Sacred Heart in St. Louis (1827); the building of St. Mary's College at "the Barrens" (1827); the opening of the St. Louis Hospital (Nov. 26, 1828) by the Sisters of Charity from Emmitsburg, Md. ; and the erection of St. Louis College by the Jesuits (1829) and the construction of the first Cathedral of St. Louis from 1831 through 1834.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Sketches of the life of the Very Rev. Felix de Andreis, first superior of the Congregation of the Mission in the United States and Vicar-General of ... of the Catholic religion in the United States

    (This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)

  • Ceremonial For The Use Of The Catholic Churches In The United States Of America

    (Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating bac...)

  • Life of the Very Rev. Felix de Andreis, C.M.

    (This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curat...)