BL. PATRICK O'HELY, BISHOP AND MARTYR

BL. PATRICK O'HELY, BISHOP AND MARTYR - 13 AUGUST

BLESSED PATRICK O'HELY, BISHOP

[Blessed] Patrick O'Hely [O'Healy] was Bishop of Mayo, Ireland; he died at Kilmallock in September 1579. He was a native of Connaught, and joined the Franciscans at an early age.

HE WAS SUMMONED TO ROME

Four years after his profession he was sent to the University of Alcala. Summoned to Rome, Pope Gregory XIII promoted him in 1576 to the See of Mayo, now merged in that of Tuam. In autumn, 1579, he sailed from Brittany and arrived off the coast of Kerry. The bishop and his companion, Conn O’Rourke, a Franciscan priest, son of Brian, Lord of Breifne, came ashore near Askeaton, and sought hospitality at the castle where, in the earl’s absence, his countess entertained them.

THEY WERE SEIZED

Next day they departed for Limerick; but the countess, probably so instructed, for the earl claimed the merit afterwards, gave information to the Mayor of Limerick, who three days later seized the two ecclesiastics and sent them to Kilmallock where Lord Justice Drury then was with an army.

As president of Munster, Drury had recently perpetrated infamous barbarities. In one year he executed four hundred persons "by justice and martial law". Some he sentenced "by natural law, for that he found no law to try them by in the realm".

HE REPLIED THAT HE COULD NOT BARTER HIS FAITH FOR LIFE AND HONOURS

At first he offered to secure O’Hely his See if he would acknowledge the royal supremacy and disclose his business. The bishop replied that he could not barter his faith for life or honours; his business was to do a bishop's part in advancing religion and saving souls.

To questions about the plans of the pope and the King of Spain for invading Ireland he made no answer, and thereupon was delivered to torture. As he still remained silent, he and O’Rourke were sent to instant execution by martial law. The execution took place outside one of the gates of Kilmallock.

Source: Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913

PRAYER:

May the intercession of Blessed Patrick commend us to you, so that through his merits we may obtain that which we cannot accomplish by our own. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

WELCOME

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