Victor Samuel LaMotte, O.P., Death, 1999-05-19
Scope and Contents
This collection contains personal materials relating to friars after they have left the order, passed away, or transferred to another province. Each friar's file contents are mostly limited to their novitiate records, canonical assignments, historically important correspondence, and a small number of personal items if desired upon their passing. Within the broader collection, each Friar is sorted as a series.
Friars with particuarly substantial historically important papers or items outside of the scope of the Personal Files are placed within a dedicated collection under their name.
This collection is a work in progress and any use of these files requires the explicit permission of the Provincial. Contact the Archivist to discuss access or inquire about friars that may not been cataloged yet.
Dates
- Creation: Death, 1999-05-19
Conditions Governing Access
Requires explicit permission from Provincial to access any records. Contact the Archivist for more information.
Conditions Governing Use
Can only be accessed upon written permission of the Provincial. Contact the Archivist for further details.
Biographical / Historical
Samuel Joseph LaMotte, the son of Samuel LaMotte and Dolores Andres, was born in Providence, Rhode Island, on July 12, 19 27. He was orphaned as a very young child and grew up in several different foster homes in Providence. His early education was at St. Raymond Grammar School and LaSalle Academy, although for financial reasons he found it necessary to interrupt his high school education and become a mill worker for a time. He completed his high school education at the Seminary of Our Lady of Holy Cross, North Easton,
Massachusetts, and upon graduation joined the United States Arm y, serving with the occupation forces in Japan (1946 -1947).
After his discharge from the Army in December 1947, he took advantage of the G.I. Bill and attended Providence College for a year. Believing he had a call to the priesthood he applied to the Province of St. Albert the Great and was sent to St. Mary ' s College, Winona, Minnesota, to prepare for entrance into the novitiate. In August 1950, he entered the novitiate at St. Peter Martyr Priory, Winona, was given the religious name Victor, and made his first profession there on September 5, 1951. For three years he pursued philosophical studies at the Pontifical Faculty of Philosophy (Dominican House of Studies), River Forest, IL, making his solemn profession there on September 5, 1954. Victor began his theological studies at the College of St. Rose of Lima, Dubuque, Iowa {19 54 -55), and completed them at the College of St. Albert the Great, Oakland, California (1955-58). On June 16, 1956 Archbishop Guilfoyle ordained him a priest at St. Mary's Cathedral, San Francisco.
Father LaMotte's life ministry was teaching. He was first assigned to St. Albert the Great Rectory, Minneapolis, Minnesota (1958 -61), where he taught medical ethics at St. Mary's Hospital and conducted classes for the novices of the Sisters of St. Joseph. For a year he was chaplain and professor of philosophy and theology for the Dominican Sisters at Rosaryville, Louisiana (1961 -62). In 1962 he moved to St. Dominic Priory, Oak Park, Illinois, and taught at DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois (1962-64). He began doctoral studies in 1964 at the Pontifical Faculty, River Forest, Illinois, during which time he also served as chaplain to Trinity Convent. During 1967-68, he continued his studies at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University, England, and at the Goethe Institute, Am Spitalbach, West Germany. In 1968 he was awarded the degree Doctor of Philosophy.
He returned to the United States to teach at Aquinas Institute, School of Philosophy, River Forest, Illinois (1968-70). and then moved on to Loyola University of Chicago (1969- 74). Father LaMotte returned to his college alma mater, St. Mary's in Winona, Minnesota, as
Professor of Religious Studies and campus minister in 197 4. In 1977 he was appointed Professor of Religious Studies at Lewis University, Lockport, Illinois, where he remained for eighteen years until his retirement in 199 5. There he was known as an excellent teacher and a compassionate campus minister. Always ready to be of service to his brothers, Father LaMotte took a leave of absence from Lewis University (1981-84) to teach philosophy to the Dominican student brothers at Aquinas Institute, St. Louis, Missouri.
In addition to his teaching Father LaMotte was equally known for his over thirty years of labor as editor, contributor and finally publisher of Listening: Journal of Religion and Culture. Under his leadership it became a highly respected journal in the academic community. His wide interests led him to be corresponding secretary for the Albertus Magnus Lyceum (1964-67), an associate of the Center for Studies in Religious Education (1969-71), Director of TRS Consultants (1978-92), and Director of the Institute of Spirituality (1978-88).
Always plagued by ill health, in 1995 Father LaMotte retired from teaching and was assigned to limited service, although he remained active in promoting and seeking support for Listening. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer which in spite of treatment spread to the bone and other parts of his body. He died at Loyola Hospital, Melrose Park, Illinois, on May 19, 1999. His funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Thomas Aquinas Priory, River Forest, Illinois, on May 22, 1999, and he was buried in the Dominican plot at All Saints, Cemetery, Des Plaines, Illinois.
Extent
From the Collection: 1 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
From the Collection: Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Archives of the Province of St. Albert the Great, U.S.A. Repository
1910 S. Ashland Ave
Chicago Illinois 60608 United States
3122430011
archivist@opcentral.org