BL. FRANCIS DICCONSON, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 13 APRIL

 

WELCOME!

BLESSED FRANCIS DICCONSON, PRIEST AND MARTYR

Francis Diconson [Dicconson], a Yorkshireman, suffered with Miles Gerard, who was born in Lancashire, of a gentleman's family. These two were both priests of Douay college, during its residence at Rheims, and were sent together upon the English mission, from Rheims, on the 31st of August, 1589; though Mr Gerard had been ordained priest in 1583. The ship in which they went for England was overtaken by a violent storm, by which they were cast away upon the coast of Kent. 

But it was not God's will that they should perish by this less glorious death, his divine providence having reserved for them the crown of martyrdom. They escaped therefore to the shore, where they met with a more violent storm, for being immediately apprehended, (upon suspicion, or the information of some of the ship's crew,) and cast into prison, they were arraigned, tried, and condemned for coming into England, being priests; and, upon this account, had sentence of death, as in cases of high treason, and they both suffered with constancy, at Rochester, April 30, 1590 [April 13, 1590].

Source: Bishop Richard Challoner, Memoirs of Missionary Priests, Volume 1

⬅️ The Holy Martyrs of England and Wales

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that we who know how courageously your holy martyr Francis  confessed the faith, may experience his goodness as he intercedes for us with you. 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.