Saints celebrated on the 2nd of July
BLESSED GEORGE BEESLEY, PRIEST AND MARTYR
George Beesley, also spelled Bisley, was an English martyr, born at The Hill in Goosnargh parish, Lancaster, England, of an ancient Catholic family; he died July 2, 1591. He was ordained priest at the English College at Reims, March 14, 1587, and left for England, November 1, 1588.
A man of singular courage, young, strong, and robust, he was captured by Topcliffe late in 1590, and was by his tortures reduced to a skeleton. He endured all with invincible courage and could not be induced to betray his fellow Catholics.
He suffered by the statue of 27 Eliz., merely for being a priest, in Fleet Street, London. His last words were "Absit mihi gloriari nisi in Cruce Domini Nostri Jesu Christi" and, after a pause, "Good people, I beseech God to send all felicity".
Source: Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913
[Bl. George Beesley was beatified on November 22, 1987 by Pope John Paul II.]
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