Bishop's Blog

Monday, August 25, 2014

Bishop John Lancaster Spalding

Bishop John Lancaster Spalding died August 25th, 1916.


























The Episcopal Coat of Arms of John Lancaster Spalding, First Bishop of Peoria (1877-1908)
  
His crest depicts the ancient Spalding ancestry symbols (buckles or knots) and Bishop Spalding’s motto in Latin Hinc Mihi Salus (Behold My Salvation). 

            Besides his role of the Shepherd and initiator of our own Spalding Institute, Bishop Spalding, in his early 40’s, played an eminent part in the Council of Baltimore on the issue of a unified national catechism, while becoming the Founding Father of the Catholic University of America. Before the end of the century, he was also appointed president of the National Catholic Educational Exhibit in Chicago. He had consistently and publicly pronounced his strong belief in the parochial educational system. The Faith, for him, was the base of all human educational efforts.


            “Believe in education; and let your faith give you confidence in yourself when you strive to upbuild your being.”