Barbelin at the Prep

A card-sized, collectible photograph of founder Felix Barbelin, S.J., on loan from the Philadelphia Archdiocesan Historical Research Center.

Felix-Joseph Barbelin, S.J., the "Apostle of Philadelphia," was both a great man and the 'founder' of St. Joseph's Preparatory School - but would you have kept a trading card of him had you known him?  That is precisely what 19th century Philadelphians did - in addition to being able to own card-sized copies of the portraits of famous civil war generals and well-liked presidents - images of Barbelin would have been available for a popular market.  How do we know that?  Because of a generous loan from the Philadelphia Archdiocesan Historical Research Center (PAHRC), we currently have a small exhibit of Barbelin relics on display in front of the Prep's main office, including a number of these small images.

The locks of hair.

The 'elephant in the room' of this exhibit, and the most commonly commented upon item since it has been installed this fall, is a lock of Barbelin's hair.  Why would anyone, let alone an archive save a lock of hair from a French-born Jesuit priest who died in 1869 Philadelphia?  There are many potential answers, but seemingly no definitive one, as no details concerning the origin of this artifact have been saved with it. Speculation about the creation and preservation of this relic points towards the respect and fame that Barbelin earned during his career in Philadelphia, as well as the 19th century Catholic culture of relics.  A glowing (if not hagiographical) biography of Barbelin that was written after his death, and his biography published in the "Catholic Encyclopedia" (linked to earlier in this article) both point towards his popularity.  Although when, where, and why this lock of hair was clipped is speculation, it seems probable that it was taken after he had died in Philadelphia, as it appears in the same frame as a lock of hair from the Rev. John P. Dunn, who also died in 1869.

Also included in the display, are the coffin plates from Barbelin and Rev. John Blox, S.J., a pastor at St. John's who died nine years earlier than Barbelin.  Because of that time difference, and the fact that they are physically framed together, perhaps they were removed from the coffins when the graves were moved, as we discussed on this blog before (see "Villiger Buried Twice in Elysian Fields!")  There is, however, no documentation to prove this.

A particularly dapper image of the founder of St. Joe's Prep, Felix Barbelin, S.J., on loan from the Philadelphia Archdiocesan Historical Research Center

The collection will be on display until the summer, when the majority of the relics need to return to the PAHRC, who generously loaned them and allowed us to put this information online.  We placed the exhibit directly underneath the school's portrait of Barbelin (seemingly from the 1960's or 1970's - I am unsure of the exact history of that painting).  Viewing the exhibit as a whole, I was particularly struck by how life-like the later portrait is, even when displayed next to multiple contemporary images of Barbelin.  This exhibit has forever changed the way that I look at that portrait.

Relics during the Summer: An Introduction to a big topic

Left to Right: William Conners, Leo Vaccaro, Carmen Croce, working with the relics in preparation for an exhibit that  Carmen Croce is organizing at Saint Joseph's University.

We've been busy the past few months.  One of our big projects includes identifying and displaying the large relic collection from the church of the Gesu.  In late July, we met with an expert on Philadelphia Catholicism, Carmen Croce, who is putting together an exhibit concerning relics.  He plans to include some relics from the Church of the Gesu and is coordinating their restoration.

For those of you unaware of what relics are, they are physical objects that bear some relation to a saint, Jesus himself, or the Holy Family.  All relics should have paperwork representing their provenance, which in the Gesu's example tend to come in certificate form (and according to this interesting website, that tends to be the norm http://www.ichrusa.com/saintsalive/cert.htm).  More important relics tend to be actual body parts of saints - be it a piece of a bone (ex ossibus) - less important ones are from clothing that the saint wore - say from Joseph's robe (ex pallio).  For our purposes, we have relics that are important for many different reasons.  One relic that we have at the Gesu is a cut branch from the Garden of Gethsemane, and although it bears little religious significance considering that the branch was cut in the 19th instead of the 1st century; it is historically important because it still has a piece of its packaging label indicating that a parishioner most likely sent it specifically to Villiger over 100 years ago.

Which leads us to a mystery for modern Catholics: Why was there such an emphasis on or devotion to relics in this American, urban parish of the 19th century, while that emphasis has not found its way to the modern American parish?

Many sources concerning the early church of the Gesu point towards Burchard Villiger's affinity for relics.  Special mention of it is made in the biography written about Villiger by John J. Ryan, S.J.  Relics are also featured in the 1938 publication of the Jubilee of the Gesu's construction, which quotes an article from 1903 that the Church published exclaiming that "There is scarcely a day in the year for which we have not one, two or even more relics of Saints who are honored in the ecclesiastical calendar on that particular day, and those who come to visit the church will each day find them exposed for the veneration of the faithful in a monstrance on the wooden ledge beneath the shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes" (Page 111).  Works that appear to be in Villiger's own hand, which are preserved in the Villiger Archives, also attest to how Villiger organized the relics by date - seemingly so that they could be displayed on the feast day of the saint that they were representing.

The issue of Villiger and relics is by no means a small one and the modern Villiger Archives has a treasure trove of relics, including Latin certificates dating from 1730.

Relics and their certificates.  Notice the branch from the Garden of Gethsemane on the right.

A common question that I get asked (especially by students) when I tell the story of the relics is: Are they real?  And of course, the history major in me has much to say about that question alone.  It seems to be something that cannot be answered easily.  For instance, why would we assume that a relic is not real if it came from a saint who was alive when (or died shortly before) the certificate was signed?  Probably the most obvious example of this is the relic we have of St. John Neumann, the bishop of Philadelphia.  Wouldn't it be unlikely that the relic would not be truly from him?

One relic that the Gesu owns, resting in a beautiful painted reliquary, is a thread from the robe of St. Francis Assisi.  For anything to survive from a man who met Pope Innocent III in 1209 is remarkable, so one might assume that this was merely a fabrication, but considering that a robe still does exist that purportedly belonged to the great medieval saint (http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/p/m/1634ee/) maybe that it isn't impossible ...

Relics going out on loan for the exhibit were matched with their proper certificates and carefully packaged.

As for relics of the Holy Family ... it might be impossible to say that they are from them.  But they could still be very old, and I always offer up the story of the True Cross as related in the Catholic Encyclopedia http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04517a.htm.  Although there are many churches that claim to have pieces of the True Cross, perhaps most of the Churches have at least really very old pieces.  How old?  Assuming that the True Cross on which Christ was crucified on was destroyed in the 1st century, by the 4th century, there is already another one claiming to be the True Cross.  Fragments of that 4th century cross were held as important relics and passed down through the years.

All of this discussion leads back to the main mystery: Why?  Why was it so important?  It is difficult to say exactly what they thought of it in the 19th century.  Villiger did not give an explicit reason (that has survived and been discovered) as to why he was so invested in relics.  Implicitly, he emphasized the feast days of saints.  Perhaps he wanted to remind his parishioners of the day-to-day holiness of those great men and women; of their earthly struggles and spiritual gains; of how they were from every region of the world and served real historical lives.  Furthermore, as we can see from the Golden Jubilee book from the Gesu (quoted earlier in this post), the veneration of saints is something that indicates Catholic identity: "Indifference towards the Saints and a disregard of their relics are suggestive of feebleness of faith, and the chilling influence of a Protestant atmosphere" (Page 111).  So, perhaps the institution of relics was yet another way for marginalized Catholics to create their own space - as per Ann Taves' work The Household of Faith: Roman Catholic Devotions in Mid-Ninetheenth-Century America (Page 124).

Please submit all relic questions you have, the iron is hot!  Also, thank you to Bill Avington for taking the group picture at the top of the page!

Restored Pews: Before and After!

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

These pews are constructed of ¾” quartersawn oak backs and sides, with 1½” thick elm seats.  Sadly, the oak chairs have long since disappeared, and only eight of the original eighteen pews remain, and can be found on the 2nd floor of Jesuit Hall and in the 3rd floor link.  These pews are the only original furniture left from the opening of the building, the centennial of which we will celebrate in September 2012.  After a hundred years, some of the pews have fallen into disrepair.  


Over the 2011-2012 Christmas break, an alumnus paid to have the worst of them repaired.  See the photos of “before” and “after”.  They are not only quite valuable on the antique market, but they are the last remaining physical strands that tie us to the Jesuit Community House - an important chapter in the history of the Prep and the College (SJU).  


If you are interested in a tour of the chapel and the newly renovated Jesuit Hall, or if you would like to sponsor the restoration of one of the century-old pews in the name of a loved one, please get in touch with Bill Conners at wconners@sjprep.org.        

The Pews of Jesuit Hall

In the summer of 1912, the Jesuit Community was preparing to move into their new home at 18^th and Thompson – the building we call today “Jesuit Hall” (see photo).  With its mosaics, brass sconces, and large stained glass windows, the chapel was to be the most spectacular room in the building (photo, ca. 1927).  Great care was taken by our president, Rev. Charles Lyons, S.J., to procure the best pews at the best price.  In the holdings of the Villiger Archives are found bids for the pews from four competing firms, including the winning bid from the American Seating Co. for $633.80 (scan).

The Chapel and her pews, circa 1927.

So what was $633.80 worth in 1912?  For the average workingman, that sum was equal to around seven months’ wages.  And for that amount, the shrewd Fr. Lyons was able to squeeze eighteen pews plus 124 oak chairs out of the American Seating Co.

The American Seating Company: For Churches, Opera, Railroads, and the Prep.

These pews are constructed of ¾” quartersawn oak backs and sides, with 1½” thick elm seats.  Sadly, the oak chairs have long since disappeared, and only eight of the original eighteen pews remain, and can be found on the 2nd floor of Jesuit Hall and in the 3rd floor link.  These pews are the only original furniture left from the opening of the building, the centennial of which we will celebrate next fall.  After a hundred years, some of the pews have fallen into disrepair. 

The cost of Pews in 1912 = $633.80
The satisfaction of getting it right = Priceless

Over the 2011-2012 Christmas break, a generous alumnus paid to have the worst of them repaired.  See the photos of “before” and “after”.  They are not only quite valuable on the antique market, but they are the last remaining physical strands that tie us to the Jesuit Community House - an important chapter in the history of the Prep and the College (SJU). 

If you are interested in a tour of the chapel and the newly renovated Jesuit Hall, or if you would like to sponsor the restoration of one of the century-old pews in the name of a loved one, please get in touch with Bill Conners at wconners@sjprep.org.    

Jack Peranteau – a “Stiles Streeter” We’ll Never Forget!

Jack Peranteau '34 (second from right) crouches into position in the Fall of 1933.

     On the day after Christmas 2011, the Prep lost a great one – John L. “Jack” Peranteau of the Class of 1934.  Jack lived in the neighborhood and was a graduate of the Gesu Elementary School.  Back in the fall of 2009, I had the pleasure of meeting Jack when he drove himself into the Prep to deliver a photograph of the 1933 Catholic League Champion football team (see photos).  We chatted during my lunch period, and he regaled me with stories of the ’33 season – an undefeated team with a scoreless tie against Central High the only blemish on their record (see team schedule). 

From Philadelphia's The Public Ledger

     I was struck by Jack’s good-natured retelling of his role in the game – that after 76 years, he remembered dropping a toss from quarterback Bobby Dougherty – a sure touchdown for the “Stiles Streeters”, as the Prep was known in the newspapers of the day.  Curious, I later consulted the scrapbooks in the Villiger Archives (see scan of article from The Public Ledger).  Sure enough, in the second column of an Inquirer article dated 30 September 1933, I found it … “At the very outset, St. Joseph’s missed a touchdown when a forward pass tossed by Dougherty to Jack Peranteau, who was all alone in the open, slid through the latter’s fingers and fell harmlessly to the ground.”  So there it was in black-and-white … for posterity. 

     Of course, Jack was too humble to mention a few highlights of that storied season – like his play against Roman Catholic on Thanksgiving Day at Shibe Park.  From The Public Ledger, “The speedy wingman (Peranteau), playing well on the defensive, took the occasion to snare half a dozen passes from Dougherty for long gains, while he intercepted several of the (Roman) Catholic aerials, recovered fumbles and also kicked two extra points.” Or the fact that his stellar play earned him the honors of Second Team All Scholastic and First Team All Catholic in 1933. 

     Though that pass slipped through his fingers so many years ago, Jack held a firm grasp on what was important in his life: Mollie and their eight kids, his 26 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren, and his dear alma mater that honored his fidelity with the Golden Hawk Award in 2010.

This schedule is from a scrapbook in the Villiger Archives.

This 1933 football roster is also from the Villiger Archives.

A program from the Thanksgiving Game in 1933.

This picture now hangs in display at St. Joseph's Prep's Jesuit Hall.

Silver medal discovered from the 1850's

     This medal, awarded to St. Joseph’s student James W. Newlin in 1855, is a very rare find from some of the earliest days of Jesuit education in Philadelphia.  Although the opening of the Prep is traditionally set at 1851 – the year that the college began under the control of Fr. Felix Barbelin, SJ – it seems reasonable to believe that boys of high school age took courses at “Old” Saint Joseph’s Church in Willings Alley long before that date.  In fact, in his history of Saint Joseph’s Prep, Fr. James J. Gormley, S.J., notes that Jesuit education started as early as 1781 and turned into a high school between 1800 and 1833.  In the seminal work of an earlier Jesuit – “Jesuit Education in Philadelphia: Saint Joseph’s College 1851-1926” by Francis X. Talbot – it is also stated that a school had been constructed by the Jesuits (at the cost of £440, 15s.) in 1781.  Whatever the case may be, the Prep is really older than 1851.

     Although we at the Villiger Archives know very little about this medal, we can assume that it was presented at an end-of-school year assembly, similar to the one mentioned by Gormley on July 11, 1852.  Those alumni of Saint Joseph’s University who own David Contosta’ excellent history of the University should also note that a very similar medal is displayed on page 29.  Both medals are silver, and they are dated one year apart from each other.

     This medal is particularly important for a number of reasons.  Information about the Prep’s and the University’s earliest students is often difficult to come across, so knowing that there was a James W. Newlin at St. Joseph’s who received this medal is significant in and of itself.  Additionally, this may be one of only two surviving medals – (the other one is displayed in Contosta’s book).  Perhaps most significantly, it is another artifact from an increasingly distant time in our combined institutional histories.  It is hard to imagine being a Catholic student in the Philadelphia of the 1850’s, as James W. Newlin must have lived during the infamous riots of 1844, in a place and time decidedly distant from our own understanding.

Prep Crushes Roman! ... 92 years later

     This hand-drawn poster promotes a basketball game played on 25 January 1919 between St. Joe’s Prep and Catholic High, now known as Roman Catholic.  The artist was senior Clem McGovern of the Class of 1919.  As the story goes, after the Prep defeated the Cahillites by a score of 26 to 20, Clem gave the poster to Charles Laughlin, captain of the basketball team and a classmate of McGovern.

     Charlie eventually gave the poster to his daughter Betty, who married Joe Flynn of the Class of 1950.  The Flynns enjoyed the poster for many years, then donated it to the Villiger Archives at Joe’s 60^th reunion in the Fall of 2010.  The poster now hangs proudly in the second floor hallway of Jesuit Hall in a period frame.

     Beside the poster hangs a framed photo of the 1918-1919 squad.  Under the direction of Coach John Donoghue, the team was crowned the Catholic City Champions (the Philadelphia Catholic League did not yet exist) with a record of 21 and 2, and Charlie Laughlin was Philadelphia’s 1919 Free Throw Champ.

Home again: You can see these two great artifacts on display on the second floor of Jesuit Hall.