# Theodore Foley

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Theodore_Foley
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Theodore_Foley.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Foley
> Source revision: 1289633589
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|Roman Catholic priest}}
{{Infobox person
|honorific_prefix= [Servant of God](/source/Servant_of_God)
|name            = Theodore of the Mary Immaculate
|honorific_suffix= [C.P.](/source/Passionists)
|image          = 
|imagesize      = 
|caption        = 
|birth_name     = Daniel Foley
|birth_date     = {{birth date|1913|3|3|df=y}}
|birth_place    = [Springfield, Massachusetts](/source/Springfield%2C_Massachusetts), U.S.
|death_date     = {{death date and age|1974|10|9|1913|3|3|df=y}}
|death_place    = [Rome](/source/Rome), Italy
|occupation     = Priest
}}

'''Daniel Bible Foley''' (March 3, 1913 – October 9, 1974), also known by his religious name '''Theodore Foley''', was an American-Italian [Roman Catholic](/source/Roman_Catholic) [priest](/source/priest) and the superior general of the [Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ](/source/Passionists) from 1964 to 1974. On May 9, 2008, the cause for [beatification](/source/beatification) and [canonization](/source/canonization) of Foley was opened in Rome.<ref>[http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=27924 Another U.S. Priest Saint? – Catholic Online<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606075959/http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=27924 |date=2011-06-06 }}</ref>

==Life==
thumb|Sacred Heart Church, Springfield MA
thumb|St. Michael's Monastery

Foley was born in the [North End, Springfield, Massachusetts](/source/North_End%2C_Springfield%2C_Massachusetts) on March 3, 1913, the son of Michael and Helen Bible Foley. He attended Mass at Sacred Heart parish in Springfield. He was educated at Sacred Heart Grammar School, Springfield, [Cathedral High School](/source/Cathedral_High_School_(Springfield%2C_Massachusetts)), and later Holy Cross Preparatory Seminary, Dunkirk, New York.<ref name=pha>[https://passionistarchives.org/biography/father-theodore-foley-c-p-st-paul-of-the-cross-province-1913-1974/ "Father Theodore Foley, C.P., St. Paul of the Cross Province (1913-1974)", Passionist Historical Archives]</ref>

He professed his vows on August 15, 1933, at Our Mother of Sorrows Retreat, West Springfield, Massachusetts, and received the [religious name](/source/religious_name) Theodore. On April 23, 1940, he was ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood, in [Baltimore, Maryland](/source/Baltimore%2C_Maryland), by Archbishop [Michael Joseph Curley](/source/Michael_Joseph_Curley), of the [Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Baltimore).<ref name=pha/>

From 1941 to 1942, he was a professor of philosophy for the Passionists. In 1944 he graduated with a [Ph.D.](/source/Ph.D.) in [Theology](/source/Theology) from The [Catholic University of America](/source/Catholic_University_of_America) in [Washington, D.C.](/source/Washington%2C_D.C.)<ref name=nyt>[https://www.nytimes.com/1974/10/11/archives/most-rev-theodore-foley-leader-of-passionist-order.html "Most Rev. Theodore Foley, Leader of Passionist Order", ''The New York Times'', October 11, 1974]</ref> From 1944, he taught theology as a member of the Passionist Seminary faculty at [St. Michael's Monastery](/source/St._Michael's_Monastery), [Union City](/source/Union_City%2C_New_Jersey), [New Jersey](/source/New_Jersey). As a teacher, Foley was known for his calm patience. 

From 1953 to 1956 he was Director of Passionist Seminarians. In 1956 he was appointed Rector of St. Paul's Monastery, [Pittsburgh](/source/Pittsburgh), [Pennsylvania](/source/Pennsylvania).<ref>[http://www.stpaulofthecrossmonastery.com/Foley.html "Fr. Theodore Foley", St Paul of the Cross Monastery]</ref> Foley embraced Pittsburgh. He attended [Pirates](/source/Pittsburgh_Pirates) games and heard Confessions at three Catholic hospitals.<ref name=Rodgers/>
thumb|left|St. Paul of the Cross Monastery Church, South Side Slopes, Pittsburgh

In 1958 he was elected General Consultor for the Passionists in [Rome](/source/Rome). On May 7, 1964, Fr. Foley was elected [Superior General](/source/Superior_General) of the Passionists throughout the world, a position he held until his death on October 9, 1974.<ref name=pha/> Foley was the first American from the eastern United States to hold this position and guided the Passionists through [Vatican II](/source/Vatican_II) (1962–1965).<ref>[https://www.masslive.com/news/2009/06/late_springfield_priest_rev_th.html Angelo, Holly. "Late Springfield priest Rev. Theodore Foley on path to sainthood", ''The Republican Newsroom'', March 25, 2019]</ref> In 1970, he was re-elected as Superior General. On October 9, 1974, he died in Rome<ref name=nyt/> after contracting an illness on a trip to [Asia](/source/Asia). Foley is buried at St. Paul of the Cross Monastery Church in Pittsburgh.<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Tom |title=St. Paul Cross Monastery Reopens |url=https://sopghreporter.com/2020/10/14/st-paul-cross-monastery-reopens/ |newspaper=[The Pittsburgh Reporter](/source/The_Pittsburgh_Reporter) |date=October 14, 2020 |access-date=January 17, 2024}}</ref>

== Canonization Process ==
After a review of documentation forwarded to Rome, in 2007 [Pope Benedict XVI](/source/Pope_Benedict_XVI) declared Foley a "Servant of God."<ref name=Rodgers>[http://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2010/09/30/Pittsburgh-priest-in-early-stages-of-sainthood-process/stories/201009300329 Rodgers, Ann. "Pittsburgh priest in early stages of sainthood process", ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'', September 30, 2010]</ref>
On June 23, 2009, Springfield Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell was on hand at the Sacred Heart Church to bless a memorial in honor of Fr. Foley. 

Foley is the only person ever to be a candidate for sainthood in western Massachusetts.

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090305212021/http://www.theodorefoley.org/ Father Theodore Foley]

{{canonization}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Foley, Theodore}}
Category:1913 births
Category:1974 deaths
Category:Clergy from Springfield, Massachusetts
Category:Passionists
Category:American Servants of God
Category:20th-century venerated Christians
Category:Catholics from Massachusetts
Category:20th-century American Roman Catholic priests

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Theodore Foley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Foley) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Foley?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.