Albert Gregory Meyer | |
|---|---|
| Cardinal,Archbishop of Chicago | |
 | |
| See | Chicago |
| Appointed | September 19, 1958 |
| Installed | November 16, 1958 |
| Term ended | April 9, 1965 |
| Predecessor | Samuel Stritch |
| Successor | John Cody |
| Other post | Cardinal-Priest ofSanta Cecilia in Trastevere |
| Previous posts |
|
| Orders | |
| Ordination | July 11, 1926 by Basilio Pompili |
| Consecration | April 11, 1946 by Moses E. Kiley |
| Created cardinal | December 14, 1959 byJohn XXIII |
| Rank | Cardinal-Priest |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1903-03-09)March 9, 1903 |
| Died | April 9, 1965(1965-04-09) (aged 62) |
| Buried | University of Saint Mary of the Lake |
| Education | Pontifical Urban College for the Propagation of the Faith Pontifical Biblical Institute |
| Motto | Adveniat Regnum Tuum (Thy kingdom come) |
| Styles of Albert Meyer | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
| See | Chicago |
Albert Gregory Meyer (March 9, 1903 – April 9, 1965) was anAmerican Catholic prelate who served asArchbishop of Chicago from 1958 until his death in 1965. He was appointed acardinal in 1959. He previously served asarchbishop of Milwaukee in Wisconsin from 1953 to 1958 and asbishop of Superior in Wisconsin from 1946 to 1953.
Meyer was a strong advocate forracial justice and a firm supporter of Dr.Martin Luther King Jr. He was also a voice forreligious tolerance and for the reconciliation of the Catholic Church with the Jewish people.
Albert Meyer was born on March 9, 1903, inMilwaukee,Wisconsin, to Peter James Meyer, a grocer, and Mathilda (née Thelen) Meyer, both German immigrants.[1] The fourth of five children, he had two brothers and two sisters; one sister became anun.[2][3] As a child, Albert Meyer would pretend to celebratemass with a toyaltar and a glass of water for the chalice ofwine.[3]
Meyer received his early education under theSchool Sisters of Notre Dame at the parochial school of St. Mary's Parish in Milwaukee.[2] After finishing the eighth grade, Meyer wanted to immediately enterSt. Francis de Sales Seminary inSt. Francis, Wisconsin. However, James Meyer was forced to close his grocery store in 1912, forcing his son to attendMarquette Academy in Milwaukee for two years.[4]
With the assistance of a benefactor, Albert Meyer was finally able to pay the tuition for St. Francis at age 14.[1] In 1922, ArchbishopSebastian Messmer sent him to Rome to continue his studies at thePontifical Urban College for the Propagation of the Faith, while residing at the seminary in thePontifical North American College.[2]
On July 11, 1926, Meyer wasordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee by CardinalBasilio Pompili, at the church ofSanta Maria sopra Minerva in Rome.[5] Meyer then continued his studies in Rome at thePontifical Biblical Institute, obtaining a Doctorate in Holy Scriptures in 1930.[1][6]
After returning to Wisconsin in 1930, the archdiocese assigned Meyer ascurate at St. Joseph's Parish inWaukesha, 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.[1][2] While at the seminary, Meyer translated three books of theNew Testament into English.[4]
When MonsignorAloisius Muench was named bishop of theDiocese of Fargo, Meyer succeeded him asrector of the seminary in 1937.[1] The Vatican raised Meyer to the rank ofdomestic prelate, with the title of monsignor, in 1938. He also served as achaplain and adviser to the local Serra Club.[2][6]
On February 18, 1946, Meyer was appointed the sixth bishop of Superior byPope Pius XII.[4] Meyer was consecrated on April 11, 1946, by ArchbishopMoses E. Kiley, with Bishops Muench andWilliam O'Connor serving asco-consecrators, in theCathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Milwaukee.[7]
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.[4]
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 theCatholic 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.[5]
Meyer opened the third synod of the diocese in 1953.[4] By the time Meyer left Superior in 1953, he had built 15 churches and opened ten schools.[4]
Pius XII appointed Meyer as the seventh archbishop of Milwaukee on July 21, 1953. He was installed on September 24, 1953.[7] 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.[8]
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.[5] During his tenure in Milwaukee, Meyer constructed 17 parishes and converted five mission churches into parishes.[5]
Pius Xll appointed Meyer as archbishop of Chicago on September 19, 1958.[7] He was installed on November 14, 1958.
On December 1, 1958, a fire broke out atOur Lady of the Angels School in Chicago, killing 92 students and three nuns. While visiting the hospital and morgue with Chicago MayorRichard M. Daley, Meyer was overcome with grief. CardinalFrancis Spellman travelled to Chicago from New York City to support Meyer andPope John XXIII sent him a condolencetelegram. 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.[6]
Meyer is featured in the 1958 filmDecision for Happiness, produced by theCongregation of Sisters of St. Agnes.In 1960, Meyer banned parishes from holdingbingo games in response to reports of corruption in their management.[6] In January 1961, during riots in the African-AmericanBronzeville 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.[6]
Meyer was createdcardinal priest of the church ofSanta Cecilia in Trastevere in Rome byPope John XXIII in theconsistory 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.[6][9] Meyer participated at the first three sessions of theSecond Vatican Council in Rome from 1962 to 1964, and sat on its Board of Presidency. During the council, Meyer showed himself to be ofliberal tendencies[10][11][12] and was viewed as the chiefintellectual among the participating American hierarchy.[13]
The scholarly and often shy prelate supportedreligious liberty.[14] He strongly condemnedracism, 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.[13] Meyer also worked with the community activistSaul Alinsky and supported the integration of the archdiocesan schools.[15]
Meyer served as acardinal elector in the1963 papal conclave that selectedPope Paul VI. Meyer, an occasional fisherman, once calledfishing the "apostolic recreation", and was also known to attendMilwaukee Braves baseball games.[16]
Meyer in January 1965 was hospitalized atMercy Hospital in Chicago for treatment ofgallstones. After his discharge, he started suffering severe headaches a few weeks later. He re-entered Mercy in February and was diagnosed with a malignantbrain 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.[6]
Meyer is buried in the cemetery of theUniversity of Saint Mary of the Lake inMundelein, Illinois. TheAmerican Jewish Committee called Meyer"...one of the great liberal spirits of our time."[6]
Meyer was honored by naming at the following institutions:
| Catholic Church titles | ||
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| Preceded by |  Archbishop of Chicago 1958–1965 | Succeeded by |
| Vacant Title last held by Gaetano Cicognani | Cardinal-Priest ofSanta Cecilia in Trastevere 1959–1965 | Vacant Title next held by John Cody |
| Preceded by |  Archbishop of Milwaukee 1953–1958 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by |  Bishop of Superior 1946–1953 | Succeeded by |
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