BL. JOSEPH LAMPTON, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 27 JULY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JULY

Saints celebrated on the 27th of July

WELCOME!

BLESSED JOSEPH LAMPTON, PRIEST AND MARTYR

Joseph Lampton [Lambton] was born of a gentleman's family, at Malton in Yorkshire, and going abroad to the college then residing at Rheims, there performed part of his studies, and being in his divinity, went from thence to Rome, to the English college of that city, in 1589. 

But he had not been here long, before his zeal for the salvation of the souls of his neighbours prompted him to desire to break off the course of his school divinity, and to return home to look after the lost sheep. 

So being made priest, he was sent upon the mission, where he was immediately apprehended, and committed to prison, and not long after brought to the bar, arraigned and condemned for being a priest, and coming into England to perform his priestly offices in this kingdom. For this, and no other treason, he was sentenced to die the death of a traitor, which he suffered with great constancy and fortitude. 

He was cut down alive, and the hangman, (who was one of the felons, who, to save his own life was to perform that office,) having begun the butchery, by dismembering the martyr, had so great a horror of what he was doing, that he absolutely refused to go on with the operation, though he was to die for the refusal, so that the sheriff was obliged to seek another executioner, whilst the martyr, with invincible patience and courage, supported a torment which cannot be thought of without horror, and which shocked even the most barbarous of the spectators; till, at length, a butcher from a neighbouring village was brought to the work, who, ripping him up, and bowelling him, set his holy soul at liberty, to take its happy flight to its sovereign and eternal good. He suffered at Newcastle, July 27, 1593, in the flower of his age, (for he was not yet thirty,) and in the sight of his friends and relations.

[Some sources state that Fr Joseph was executed on July 23.]

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 Joseph 

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.