Joesph Elmer Cardinal Ritter: His Life and Times

By Nicholas A. Schneider and Msgr Nicholas Schneider

Joseph Ritter was one of the most important and forward-thinking prelates of the Church in North America during the 20th century. He served as ordinary for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and then as Cardinal Ritter in St. Louis for twenty years until his death in 1967. Through his efforts, the entire archdiocesan school system was desegregated, and he was the first bishop to send priests to Latin America as missionaries. This biography provides us with the first serious account of his life and accomplishments. It is written by a priest who knew him firsthand and ministered under his guidance. Readers will find this historical account of such a great man truly inspiring.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764817019
• ISBN13: 9780764817014
• Release Date: April 2008
• Publisher: Liguori Publications
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.76 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.1" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

A Humble Servant of God

A few years ago a friend mentioned that Cardinal Ritter is one about whom a biography should be written. Now it has. Msgr. Schneider has done an excellent job of writing a popular biography of one of the most significant churchmen of Twentieth Century America. Cardinal Ritter was born into the humble background of a German-American family in New Albany, Indiana. After graduation from St. Meinrad's Seminary, he entered the service of the diocese of Indianapolis where he became a protégé and eventual successor of Bishop Chartrand. Ritter was installed as Bishop of Indianapolis in 1934 and as Archbishop when Indianapolis became an Archdiocese in 1944. During his tenure in Indianapolis, Ritter got the diocese on a sound financial footing and promoted Catholic education while facing the challenges of Depression and War. In 1946 Archbishop Ritter was called to replace the popular John Cardinal Glennon as Archbishop of St. Louis. Ritter, in contrast to his predecessor, came as a humble, physically unimpressive man with limited oratorical skills. His tenure in St. Louis was to be historic as he challenged the Archdiocese, community and the universal church in ways which could not have been foreseen. His first major initiative was to integrate the parishes and parochial and archdiocesan schools, starting in the late 1940s, when it was not even clear that such was permitted by Missouri law. It is a tribute to him and to the community that this was accomplished with so little disruption. As the 50s and early 60s progressed, Ritter established Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital as a memorial to his predecessor as well as numerous new parishes and high schools to serve the increasing faithful and new suburbs that were springing up. He anticipated Poe John XXIII's call for missionaries to Latin America by setting up the Archdiocesan Mission program in Bolivia, which continues to this day. Ritter's service was recognized with his elevation to the College of Cardinals by Pope John in 1961. This would enhance his service to the Universal Church. During Vatican II, Ritter became a leader of the American Bishops and the one who was most responsible for the Vatican Document on Religious Freedom, which he pushed over determined European opposition. During the Council he took part in the 1963 consistory which elected Pope Paul VI. After the Council, Cardinal Ritter devoted himself to the implementation of its decrees in St. Louis, as well as opening Ecumenical invitations to other Christian communities. He had little time to work on these issues as he died in June 1967. Cardinal Ritter is a figure with whom anyone interested in the history of St. Louis, Indianapolis or the Church in America should be familiar. Msgr. Schneider has given us the opportunity with this short, well written and easy to read work. No reader should worry of being bogged down in minutiae. Terms are defined and there are no footnotes to slow down the reading. I hope th