Skip to main content

ST JOHN NEPOMUCEN - MARTYR OF THE SEAL OF CONFESSION - 20 MARCH

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MARCH

Saints celebrated on the 20th of March

WELCOME!

SAINT JOHN NEPOMUCEN - MARTYR OF THE SEAL OF CONFESSION 

Saint John Nepomucen was born in Bohemia, probably between the years 1340 and 1350. He studied in the University of Prague, which had recently been founded by the King of Bohemia, Emperor Charles IV. After ordination as a priest, John occupied various ecclesiastical posts before being appointed as Vicar General to the Archbishop of Prague. In 1378 Emperor Charles IV died and was succeeded by his son Wenceslaus IV. 

THE NEW KING WAS A VICIOUS YOUNG MAN

The new King was a vicious young man who gave way unrestrainedly to fits of rage, in which he would perpetrate acts of great cruelty. St John and Wenceslaus IV had many quarrels, St John always being obedient to his religious superior rather than give in to the King’s wishes. On occasions St John was attacked and suffered injuries.

HE WAS INTENSELY JEALOUS

Shamelessly unfaithful himself, Wenceslaus IV was intensely jealous, and harboured suspicions of his wife’s conduct, which was actually irreproachable. Tradition recounts that the King’s great anger and resentment was aroused when St John refused to reveal to the King the substance of his wife’s confessions. For this Wenceslaus IV had St John’s body trussed up and taken secretly at night through the streets of Prague to the St Charles Bridge and then cast off the bridge into the River Moldau (Vltava).

ST CHARLES BRIDGE IN PRAGUE

The next day St John’s body was washed ashore and taken and buried in the cathedral of St Vitus, the first martyr of the ‘seal of confession’. The St Charles Bridge in Prague today has a statue of St John and a metal plate marks the spot where he was thrown over the bridge. St John Nepomucen is invoked for help to make a good confession.

From: Spiritual Thought from Fr Chris

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saints John Nepomucen may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. 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.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

WELCOME

  Please pick your saints: January - Saints by date  1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    10    11    12    13    14    15    16    17   18    19    20    21    22    23    24    25    26    27    28    29    30    31   February - Saints by date  1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    10    11    12    13    14    15    16    17 18    19    20    21    22    23    24    25    26    27    28    29 ...
Post a Comment
Read more

FATIMA APPARITION - 13 AUGUST

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN AUGUST Saints celebrated on the 13th of August Marian Feast Days WELCOME! FATIMA APPARITION - AUGUST 13 The Fatima Children “BUT IN THE END MY IMMACULATE HEART WILL TRIUMPH.” But in the end my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me; it will be converted, and a certain period of peace will be granted to the world. THE AUGUST 13 EVENTS On August 13, the children were in jail at Ourem. The civil administrator threatened to boil them in oil if they did not tell the Lady’s secret. Though badly frightened, they could not think of disobeying our Lady. In disgust, the administrator finally freed them. A large number of people, not knowing that the children had been kidnapped, went to the Cova for the scheduled appearance of the Lady. At noon, there was a loud clap of thunder. Then, according to an eyewitness: “Right after the thunder came a flash, and immediately we all noticed a little cloud, very white, beautiful and bright,...
Post a Comment
Read more

BL. LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 30th of May WELCOME! BLESSED LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR 16th century houses, painted by Auguste Mayer He was born in the bishopric of Durham, according to Raissius ; others say at Richmond, in Yorkshire. He was master of arts in one of our universities; but going abroad to Douay, in Flanders, was received into the English college there, 1576, and made priest in 1577; and the year following sent upon the mission. Where he had not been long before he again went abroad, and travelled to Rome, partly for devotion, and partly for further improvement in learning. Here he remained in the English college till 1580, when he returned into England, and was not long after apprehended: for I find by a printed diary of things transacted in the Tower of London from 1580 till 1585, that on the 5th of December, 1580, Luke Kirby, Thomas Cottam , and other priests, were brought to the Tower from other prisons; and that these two, on the 10th...
Post a Comment
Read more