Saints celebrated on the 19th of May
BLESSED PETER WRIGHT, PRIEST AND MARTYR
Blessed Peter Wright was born at Slipton, Northamptonshire, 1603. After spending ten years in a country solicitor’s office he enlisted in the English army in Holland, but deserted after a month, and for two years remained in the Flemish Jesuit Seminary at Ghent. In 1629 he entered the novitiate of the Society at Watten.
HE BECAME CHAPLAIN AND RETURNED TO ENGLAND
After holding various offices at Liège and Saint-Omer he became chaplain to Sir Henry Gage’s English regiment in the service of Spain. When Gage returned to England in the spring of 1644, Wright went with him and was present at the relief of Basing House, the seat of John, 5th Marquess of Winchester.
HIS MARTYRDOM
On Gage’s death (January 13, 1645), at which he was present, Wright became the marquess’s chaplain in his London house, where he was arrested on Candlemas Day, 1651. Committed to Newgate, he was eventually condemned at the Old Bailey under 27 Eliz., c. 2. His execution on Whit Monday, May 19, 1651, and took place at Tyburn before over twenty thousand spectators. He was allowed to hang till he was dead.
Source: Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913. The title "Blessed" was added afterwards. Bl. Peter Wright was beatified on December 15, 1929.
PRAYER:
Almighty God,
who in our country raised up martyrs
from every walk of life
to vindicate the authority of your Church
in teaching and worship,
grant through their intercession, we pray,
that all our people may be gathered once again
to celebrate the same sacraments
under the one Shepherd, Jesus Christ your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
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