ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN AUGUST
Saints celebrated on the 23rd of August
SAINT JOHN WALL, PRIEST AND MARTYR
John Wall, alias Francis Johnson, Priest, O.S.F., called in religion Father Joachim of St Ann, and executed under the name of Francis Johnson, was born in Lancashire, anno 1620, of a gentleman's family, possessed at that time of about 500 l a year, which he and his elder brother William (afterwards condemned at London under the name of Marsh or Marshal) entering into religion, was devolved to the third brother, and by him enjoyed at the time of the execution of our confessor.
Mr Wall was sent over young to the English college of Douay, where he performed all his studies, and was made priest. And being now 32 years of age, he took the habit of St Francis, in the English convent of Douay, on new-year's-day, 1651, and on the same day in the following year made his solemn vows of religion. Such was his comportment during his noviceship, and such the esteem his superiors had of his prudence and zeal for regular discipline, that within half a year after his profession he was made vicar of the convent, and shortly after master of the novices.
He was sent into England upon the mission in the year 1656. His residence was in Worcestershire, where he was some time known by the name of Webb, and was esteemed a laborious missioner, who both by word and example gained many souls to God.
He was apprehended at a friend's house, not long after the first breaking out of Oates's plot, by the sheriff's deputy, and others who were making search for another man; and being carried before Sir John Packington and another justice of peace, and refusing to take the oaths of allegiance and supremacy, was committed to Worcester gaol, in the beginning of December, 1678.
What he suffered here, and with what disposition of soul, may be gathered from his own words, in his narrative, p. 3. "Imprisonment, (says he) in these times especially, when none can send to their friends, nor friends come to them, is the best means to teach us how to put our confidence in God alone in all things; and then he will make his promise good, That all things shall be added to us, Luke xii. which chapter, if every one would read and make good use of, a prison would be better than a palace; and a confinement, for religion and a good conscience sake, more pleasant than all the liberties the world could afford. As for my own part, God give me his grace, and all faithful christians their prayers; I am happy enough. - We all ought to follow the narrow way, though there be many difficulties in it. It is an easy thing to run the blind way of liberty, but God deliver us from all broad sweet ways, &c."
After five months imprisonment, he was brought upon his trial at Worcester, April 25, 1679, before judge Atkins, upon an indictment of high treason, for being a priest and remaining in this realm contrary to the statute of Elizabeth 27. He would neither confess not deny his priesthood, but defended himself very prudently. There was only one witness that voluntarily appeared against him, and three others that came by compulsion; however, the jury found him guilty of the indictment, and the judge pronounced sentence against him in the usual form, as in cases of high treason. Upon which the confessor made a bow, and said aloud, Thanks be to God; God save the king: and I beseech God to bless your lordship, and all this honourable bench. The judge replied, You have spoken very well, I do not intend you shall die, at least not for the present, until I know the king's further pleasure.
"I was not, I thank God for it, says Father Wall in his narrative, p. 12, troubled with any disturbing thoughts, either against the judge for his sentence, or the jury that gave in such a verdict, or against any of the witnesses for I was then of the same mind, as by God's grace I ever shall be, esteeming them all the best friends to me, in all they did or said, that ever I had in my life. And I was, I thank God, so present with myself, whilst the judge pronounced the sentence, that without any concern for anything in this world, I did actually at the same time offer myself and the world to God."
The holy man goes on in his narrative, "After the judge was gone from the bench, several protestant gentlemen and others, who had heard my trial, came to me, though strangers, and told me how sorry they were for me. To whom with thanks I replied, that I was troubled they should grieve for me or my condition, who was joyful for it myself: for I told them, I had professed this faith and religion all my life-time, which I was as sure to be true, as I was sure of the truth of God's word, on which it was grounded; and therefore in it I deposed my soul, and eternal life and happiness; and therefore if I should fear to lose my temporal life for this faith, whereon my eternal life depends, I should be worse than an infidel; and whosoever should prefer the life of their bodies before their faith, their religion, or conscience, they were worse than heathens. For my own part, I told them, I was as ready, by God's grace, to die to-morrow, as I had been to receive the sentence of death to-day, and as willingly, as if I had a grant of the greatest dukedom."
Father Wall was returned to prison, and after some time was sent for up to London, as were also several other priests, who were under condemnation for their character. What passed here, we learn from the following letter, which he wrote after his return to the country, July 18 to Mr Charles Trinder, counsellor, afterwards serjeant at law:
Sir,
With my service I return you thanks for the twenty shillings. I am safe returned from London, whither I was sent to be examined by Mr Oates and Bedloe, Dugdale and Prance, to see if any of them had any thing against me, as guilty of, concerning these great disturbances of the times. I was very strictly examined by all four, several times over, in that month I stayed at London; and thanks be to God, I was, after the last examination, publicly declared innocent and free from all plots whatever, by Mr Bedloe, who examined me last; and he was so kind to me, that he told me publicly, that if I would but comply in matter of religion, that he would pawn his life for me, that for all I was condemned, yet I should not die. I was also offered the same after my first examination, though I should have been never so guilty, if I would have done what was against my conscience. But I told them, I would not buy my life at so dear a rate, as to wrong my conscience. How God will please to dispose of all us that are condemned, none know. Some think it is concluded we must all die; and yet be cause it will not appear grateful in the eyes of rational and moral men, to see us die merely for conscience sake, I have been several times informed from London, since I came down, that, if possible, some will do their best to bring some of us, one way or another, into a plot, though we have all at London been declared innocent after strict examination. God's will be done. The greater the injury and injustice done against us by men to take away our lives, the greater our glory in eternal life before God. This is the last persecution that will be in England; therefore I hope God, will give all his holy grace to make the best use of it. All these things have been sufficiently prophesied long since; and I do no way question the truth; though it is like some will suffer first, of whom I have a strong imagination I shall be one. God's will be done in earth as it is in heaven, and in mercy bring me happy thither. I subscribe, Sir, your faithful servant,
Francis Webb
At the bottom of this letter serjeant Trinder has added what follows. "This holy priest, sometimes called Mr Johnson, whose true name was Wall, was martyred at Worcester, &c. He was equally courageous and cheerful at his apprehension, during his imprisonment, at his trial, and to his very death. A true account of all which, might deservedly fill a volume, &c." So he.
At length, after four months had passed from his condemnation, the confessor was ordered to be executed. Father William Levison, who visited him in prison, has given the following account of him, in a letter preserved by the English Franciscans, of which I have a copy: "Of late, says he, I was desired, and willingly went, to visit our friend Mr Webb (Father Wall) prisoner at Worcester, whose execution drew near at hand. I came to him two days before it, and found him a cheerful sufferer of his present imprisonment, and ravished, as it were, with joy, with the future hopes of dying for so good a cause. I found, contrary to both his and my expectation, the favour of being with him alone; and the day before his execution, I enjoyed that privilege for the space of four or five hours together; during which time I heard his confession, and communicated him to his great joy and satisfaction. I ventured likewise, through his desire, to be present at his execution, and placed myself boldly next to the under-sheriff, near the gallows, where I had the opportunity of giving him the last absolution, just as he was turned off the ladder. During his imprisonment, he carried himself like a true servant and disciple of his crucified Master, thirsting after nothing more than the shedding of his blood for the love of his God; which he performed with a courage and cheerfulness becoming a valiant soldier of Christ, to the great edification of all catholics, and admiration of all protestants, the rational and moderate part especially, who shewed a great sense of sorrow for his death; decrying the cruelty of putting men to death for priesthood and religion. He is the first that ever suffered at Worcester since the catholic religion entered into this nation, which he seemed with joy to tell me before his execution. He was quartered, and his head separated from his body, according to his sentence. His body was permitted to be buried, and was accompanied by the catholics of the town to St Oswald's churchyard, where he lies interred. His head I got privately, and conveyed it to Mr Randolph, who will be careful to keep it till opportunity serves to transport it to Douay, &c. The miseries we here lie under are great, and I hope our brothers in safety will be mindful of our condition in their best thoughts, and beg of God we may cheerfully bear our crosses, and if it be his holy will courageously sacrifice our lives in defence of our religion, which is the earnest desire of, &c.
William Levison, August 25, 1679: Father Wall suffered at Worcester, August the 22nd, being the Octave day of the Assumption of the blessed Virgin. His head is kept in the cloister of the English friars at Douay; and it was remarked for some time after, that his grave, where his body lies at Worcester, appeared green, whereas the rest of the churchyard was all bare, it being a constant thoroughfare.
The confessor, before his death, composed a long speech, which he delivered to a friend to be printed; in which he declares his faith, hope, and charity, and strongly recommends these divine virtues; he professes his abhorrence, and that of the catholic church, of all plots and conspiracies, or the concealing any such conspiracies, &c. He implores God's mercy for himself, for the whole church, for the king and kingdom, and for his persecutors, whom he forgives from his heart, and asks pardon of all whom he had any way offended: and finally offers up his death to God, and commends his soul into his hands.
Father Levison, or Lewson, in his letter above quoted, makes mention also of the suffering of his brother Francis Levison, a priest of the same order, called in religion, Father Ignatius a S. Clara. "My poor brother, says he, continues still a close prisoner, and complains much of want. The justice who committed him has endeavoured to bribe witnesses to swear against him, but as yet cannot prevail with any; what will be the event of these proceedings only God knows, &c. After 14 months' close confinement, he died in prison a confessor of Christ, February 11, 1679-80.
From the Records of the English Franciscans at Douay; a narrative written by himself of his apprehension and trial, afterwards published in print, and from his printed speech.
Source: Bishop Richard Challoner, Memoirs of Missionary Priests, Volume 2
Fr John Wall was beatified on December 15, 1929 by Pope Pius XI and canonised on October 25, 1970 by Pope Paul VI. He is commemorated on August 23 (formerly August 22, the day of his execution), with St John Jones on July 12, and as one of the Douai Martyrs on October 29. St John Wall is one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.
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