Toni Morrison, Award Winning Author, Dies at 88

Toni Morrison was an award-winning author of nearly a dozen novels whose words echoed the experiences of African American women. In 1993, she became the first African American woman to be awarded the Nobel Prize in literature. Morrison was also a Catholic woman, and her works were woven with religious themes.

Though the world knows her well as Toni Morrison, her given name was Chloe Ardelia Wofford. At age 12 she became Catholic, and chose the name Anthony, after St. Anthony of Padua as her confirmation name. Thus was born her pen name, 'Toni'. 

Morrison died this week at the age of 88. Read more about her life as an author and Catholic in this article from Catholic News Service via the Catholic Missourian.