BL. ROBERT WATKINSON, PRIEST AND MARTYR

BL. ROBERT WATKINSON, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 20 APRIL

BLESSED ROBERT WATKINSON, PRIEST AND MARTYR

Robert Watkinson was born at Hemingborough, in Yorkshire, and had his education abroad, partly in the college of Douay, and partly in that of Rome: he went through his course of philosophy in the latter; but was obliged, for his health, to return to Douay to study his divinity: but the change of air made no great alteration in the state of his health; so that his superiors thought it best to present him to holy orders, and send him over into England. He was ordained priest at Arras, and on the third of April following, began his journey for England.

Whilst he was at London, under the care of a physician, he was betrayed by one John Fewether, a false brother, apprehended, arraigned and condemned, on the 17th of April, and executed on the 20th of the same month. He suffered with great constancy, at Tyburn, in the company of Mr Tichburn and Mr Page.

There is a very remarkably story, concerning this Mr Watkinson in the Douay Diary: which is, that the day before he was apprehended, as he was walking in London streets, with another catholic, he met a stranger, who appeared to be a venerable old man, who saluted him with these words; Jesus bless you, you seem to be sick and troubled with many infirmities; but be of good cheer; for within these four days, you shall be cured of all, which happened accordingly; for the next day he was apprehended, tried and condemned, which was on Saturday; and on the Tuesday following, he received his crown. The same diary adds, that Mr Watkinson, having found means to celebrate Mass in prison the morning before he went out to execution; they that were present, and in particular, says Dr Champney, Mr Henry Owen, a prisoner for his conscience, who then served at the Mass, perceived about his head, sometimes on the one side, sometimes on the other, a most bright light, like a ray of glory; which, from the consecration till after the communion, rested directly over his head, and then disappeared.

From the Douay Diary, Dr Champney's manuscript, and the catalogues of Chalcedon and Raissitus.

[Bl. Robert is also commemorated on April 29.]

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 Robert
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.

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