Laetare Medal

Laetare Medal

An award conferred annually by the University of Notre Dame upon a member of the Catholic laity in the United States, who has won prominence by distinguished accomplishment for country and Church, and whose life, lived in conformity with the principles of Christian morality and good citizenship, has been an inspiration to his fellows. The medal was the result of a desire to stimulate Catholic citizens to great achievement. The general plan of the award is based on the ancient custom of the Golden Rose. It is conferred on the fourth Sunday of Lent, the name being taken from the first word of the Introit of the Mass of the day, Laetare, rejoice. The medal, of heavy gold with black enamel tracings, bears the inscription Magna est veritas et praevalebit, Truth is mighty and shall prevail. It is suspended from a bar on which is lettered “Laetare Medal.” Following is a partial list of the recipients of the award:

1883 – John Gilmary Shea, historian

1884 – Patrick J Keeley, architect

1885 – Eliza Allen Starr, artist

1886 – General John Newton, army engineer

1887 – Edward Preuss, journalist

1888 – Patrick V Hickey , founder “Catholic Review”

1889 – Anna Hanson Dorsey , novelist

1890 – William T Onahan, organizer Catholic Congress

1891 – Daniel Dougherty, orator

1892 – Henry F Brownson, philosopher

1893 – Patrick Donahoe , founder “Boston Pilot”

1894 – Augustin Daly, theatrical manager

1895 – Mrs James Sadlier, writer

1896 – General William S Rosecrans, leader Army of Cumberland

1897 – Thomas Addis Emmett, surgeon

1898 – Timothy E Howard, jurist

1899 – Mary Gwendolin Caldwell, benefactor Catholic University

1900 – John Creighton , founder Creighton University

1901 – William Bourke Cockran , orator

1902 – John B Murphy, surgeon

1903 – Charles J Bonaparte, attorney-general

1904 – Richard C Kerens, philanthropist

1905 – Thomas B Fitzpatrick, business man

1906 – Francis Quinlan, medical specialist

1907 – Katherine E Conway , author

1908 – James C Monaghan, lecturer

1909 – Frances Tiernan, (Christian Reid), litterateur

1910 – Maurice Francis Egan, writer

1911 – Agnes Repplier, essayist

1912 – Thomas M Mulry, charity worker

1913 – Charles G Herbermann , editor-in-chief “Catholic Encyclopedia”

1914 – Edward Douglas White, chief justice of the United States

1915 – Mary V Merrick, founder, Christ Child Society

1916 – James J Walsh, physician and author

1917 – William Shepherd Benson, admiral

1918 – Joseph Scott, lawyer

1919 – George Duval, philanthropist

1920 – Lawrence F Flick, physician

1921 – Elizabeth Nourse, artist

1922 – Charles P Neil, economist

1923 – Walter George Smith, lawyer

1924 – Charles D Maginnis, architect

1925 – Albert Francis Zahm, scientist

1926 – Edward N Hurley, business man

1927 – Margaret Anglin, actress

1928 – Jack J Spalding, lawyer

1929 – Alfred Emmanuel Smith, statesman

1930 – Frederick P Kenkel, director of Central Bureau of the Central Verein

1931 – James J Phelan, philanthropist

1932 – Stephen J Maher, tuberculosis expert

1933 – John McCormack, vocalist

1934 –

1935 – Frank H Spearman, author

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1942 – Helen Constance White, teacher and author

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1955 – George Meaney, labour leader

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1965 – Frederick Dominic Rossini, teacher and scientist

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1972 – Dorothy Day, activist

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1984 – John T Noonan, jurist

1985 – Guido Calabresi, jurist

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1992 – Daniel Patrick Moynihan, US senator

1993 – L John Durney, teacher and journalist

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1996 – Sister Helen Prejean, anti-death penalty activist

1997 – Father Virgilio Elizondo, theologian and writer

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2000 – Andrew J McKenna, businessman

2001 – Monsignor George G Higgins, labour activist priest

2002 – Father John Smyth, educator

2003 – Peter and Peggy Steinfels, writers

2004 – Father Bryan Hehir, theologian

2005 – Joseph E Murray, organ transplant pioneer

New Catholic Dictionary

Fuente: New Catholic Dictionary