Prejudice Unfounded

Wimmer Wednesday

“It becomes increasingly clear that the prejudice commonly held against Americans–that they do not want to become priests–is unfounded. I am sure that in a short time I will have 100 boys, or as many as I can accommodate, who want to become priests, and only a few will prove unfaithful in this resolution. Here, as everywhere else, they come from the middle class or from the poor. If they cannot study [because of lack of money], then, of course, there will be few priests. If we meet with no great misfortune, we will go far with buildings and agriculture each year, so that we will always be able to take pupils.”

BONIFACE WIMMER TO KARL VON REISACH
St. Vincent, August 7, 1854

Letters of An American Abbot