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Laetare Medal

1910 New Catholic Dictionary

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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
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• 1955 - George Meaney, labour leader
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• 1965 - Frederick Dominic Rossini, teacher and scientist
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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