BL. ROGER FILCOCK, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 27 FEBRUARY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN FEBRUARY

Saints celebrated on the 27th of February

WELCOME!

BLESSED ROGER FILCOCK, PRIEST AND MARTYR

Bl. Roger Filcock 

Roger Filcock S.J. was a native of Sandwich, in Kent. He performed his studies abroad, partly in the college of Douay or Rheims, and partly in that of Valladolid, in Spain; where, after having given great examples of virtue, to the edification of all that knew him, he was advanced to holy orders, and made priest. 

He had, for some time, a strong inclination to enter the Society of Jesus; but his admission was deferred till some trial had been made of him upon the English mission; to which he was sent, in 1598, where, after having been sufficiently recommended by two year's labours in the midst of dangers, Father Garnet, the superior of the English Jesuits, consented to receive him into the society, and to send him over into Flanders, there to make his noviceship: but this was prevented, by his being apprehended and committed to Newgate. 

From whence, he was brought out to his trial, on the 23rd of February, 1600-1. And though he neither confessed, nor denied his being a priest, and no evidence appeared against him, yet he was brought in guilty, and had sentence to die, as in cases of high treason. His fellow confessor, Mr Barkworth, who was condemned a few hours before him, writes thus of Father Filcock, in a letter, written a little while before his death:

The holy confessor of Christ, Mr Arthur, (this was the name under which father Filcock screened himself upon the mission,) was always one of my chiefest and dearest friends; as well formerly, when he was at liberty, as now in prison a man exceedingly humble, and of extraordinary patience, piety, and charity. My mind tells me, that we shall die together, who have so long lived together. So Mr Barkworth. 

And so it happened, for they were both, as we have seen, drawn together to Tyburn, February 27, where Mr Barkworth was first butchered, before the eyes of Father Filcock, who, so far from being discouraged or terrified with that scene of blood, took occasion from thence, of more heartily aspiring after the like felicity; crying out with the apostle, I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ. His desire was not long deferred when, after a short prayer, he cheerfully yielded himself up to the executioner; and the cart being drawn away, he was hanged, and then cut down, dismembered, bowelled, and quartered.

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 Roger 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.