 |
 |
Faith
at Folly Quarter
| The
rich history of relationships surrounding the property on which the
Shrine of St. Anthony sits extends all the way back to the founding
of the colony of Maryland. In fact it extends further to the dream
of one man who wanted to establish at least one peaceful spot in the
New World as a place of religious tolerance for all those who desired
to remain faithful to their practice of the folly of the cross. |
| George
Calvert, First
Lord Baltimore 1580-1632 |
 |
In
a world of religious intolerance, this royal diplomat sought
permission to found a “tolerant” colony where
people could worship freely and in peace. Thus in 1632, Maryland
became a brave new experiment in a brave New World.
|
George Calvert
“deserved to be ranked among the most wise and benevolent lawyers
of all ages; he was the first in the history of the Christian world
to seek religious security and peace by the practice of justice and
not the exercise of power.” In 1625, George Calvert was raised
to peerage in recognition of his devotion and exemplary service as
Secretary of State under James I (son of the Catholic, Mary Queen
of Scots, and the adopted son of the Protestant, Elizabeth I). Calvert
was named first Baron of Baltimore of County Longford in Ireland.
In
1627, Calvert sailed to Virginia to explore the lands along the Chesapeake,
after having taken up colonizing activities with two other Catholic
families, the Howards and Arundells. In 1632, King Charles I graciously
acceded to his desire for a colony free of religious oppression. Unfortunately,
George Calvert died that same year. The charter was given to Calvert’s
eldest son, Cecil, who promptly named the new colony “Maryland,”
after Henrietta Maria, the Catholic Queen of Charles I.
The Ark and the Dove set sail in 1633 with the first settlers--Protestants,
Catholics, and three Jesuit missionaries.
Although Protestant himself, Charles I was very tolerant of the Roman
Catholic faith. Because of this there began to surface the fearful
rumors of an attempt to restore the Church of England to “the
true faith.” For Protestants this meant a return to “popery,”
superstition, the selling of graces, Biblical ignorance and the belief
in absolute monarchy. This was a folly not to be tolerated by
the democratically minded English. Unrest in England grew to fever
pitch. Civil war broke out and Charles was eventually beheaded by
the Puritan Lord Protector, Oliver Cromwell.
When
Charles' son, James II, a devout Catholic, came to the throne, he
was bold enough to receive a Papal Nuncio at Court and began to raise
many Catholics to Parliament. The Whigs and Tories fearing another
Catholic succession united forces to invite William of Orange to bring
Dutch troops to help them overthrow his father-in-law. This “Glorious
Revolution” raised William and Mary to the thrones of England
(1689) and prompted the legislation that from henceforth the sovereign
of England must be and must marry a communicant of the Church of England.
The temper of the nation was apparent in a severe act against Catholics,
which had equally painful effects in the colonies. A price of 100
pounds was placed on the head of any officiating Romanist priest,
who could be imprisoned for life. A Catholic reaching the age of eighteen
was required to take the oath of allegiance and supremacy and to forswear
transubstantiation and the worship of saints; in default he was to
lose his property to his next Protestant kin, be debarred from public
office and from holding land by purchase or inheritance. |
|
OUR SHRINE
History | Chapel | Grounds | Facility |
Booking | Contact
Us
Home | Our
Saint | Our
Shrine | Our Ministries | Our
Prayers | Make a Donation | Remember
Us
Calendar of Events | Companion
Gift and Book
Anthony's Basket | Email
a Friend | Mailing List | Contact
Us |
 |
