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12th-13th February 1539 - ROBERT AND OTHER BRETHREN OF THE TRINITARIAN CONVENT, ADARE
(From Lopez’ Noticias Hisforicas, p. 150)
The convent of Adare was the first house of the Order in this country.[1]
The church is now the catholic parochial Church. Some parts of the convent are still standing. It was founded in 1230 by Thomas FitzGerald, third son of the second Baron of Offaly,[2] at the suggestion of the Earl of March, a Scotch nobleman, who was a patron of the Order. The Minister[3] of this convent in 1539 was Brother Robert.
It was at this time that the impious decrees of the King were published, and officials sent to put them into execution.
Having read the decrees and mastered their contents, Robert Summoned the Community, which then consisted of forty-two members, told them what the new doctrines were, and declared that the King was a heretic, and, moreover, that he sought to make them share in this crime.
Such was the impression which he made on these hearers that all declared they were ready to lay down their lives in defence of the Catholic faith and of the Pope’s supremacy; and knowing that the convent would be plundered immediately, they set to work at once to distribute among the poor all the provisions and clothing they had.
They hid away the sacred vessels and ornaments of the altar in various places, so that when the agents of the Government arrived, they could not find even a wooden crucifix on which to vent their impious rage.
Three times summoned before the magistrate, Father Robert was immovable in rejecting the honours offered to him by the Court, and in declaring his devoted attachment to the Catholic faith. None, he said, had ever sought to propagate their religious tenets by the sword except the pagan Emperors in the early ages and Mahomet in later times.
As for himself and the community, they were determined that no violence should move them from the principles of truth. They recognised no Head of the Catholic Church save the Vicar of Christ; and as for the King of England, they regarded him not even as a member of that holy Church, but as the Head of the synagogue of Satan. When the venerable Father had uttered these words, a heretical officer drew his sword, and with one blow severed the holy man’s head from his body.
The other agents of the Court were at once let loose against the unoffending Community. As the public prison was full of other victims, the religious were confined in private houses. There many died of the injuries and maltreatment which they received. Some too were murdered secretly, whilst others were publicly hanged in the market-place.
It was on the 12th and 13th of February, 1539, that these happy Fathers obtained their eternal crown.
[1] La casa capital de la isla,’ says Lopez, p.19. The church is now the catholic parochial Church. Some parts of the convent are still standing. See Lord Dunravens Memorials of Adare, p. 36. Adare is 9 miles S.W. of Limerick.
[2] 3Lopez, p. 18 and the Earls of Kildare, by the Marquis of Kildare, p.19
[3] This is the name of the Superior of a convent of this Order
Please pray for final perseverance for all of us!
May the martyrs of old inspire us all.
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By Manus Mac Meanmain(From Lopez’ Noticias Hisforicas, p. 150)
The convent of Adare was the first house of the Order in this country.[1]
The church is now the catholic parochial Church. Some parts of the convent are still standing. It was founded in 1230 by Thomas FitzGerald, third son of the second Baron of Offaly,[2] at the suggestion of the Earl of March, a Scotch nobleman, who was a patron of the Order. The Minister[3] of this convent in 1539 was Brother Robert.
It was at this time that the impious decrees of the King were published, and officials sent to put them into execution.
Having read the decrees and mastered their contents, Robert Summoned the Community, which then consisted of forty-two members, told them what the new doctrines were, and declared that the King was a heretic, and, moreover, that he sought to make them share in this crime.
Such was the impression which he made on these hearers that all declared they were ready to lay down their lives in defence of the Catholic faith and of the Pope’s supremacy; and knowing that the convent would be plundered immediately, they set to work at once to distribute among the poor all the provisions and clothing they had.
They hid away the sacred vessels and ornaments of the altar in various places, so that when the agents of the Government arrived, they could not find even a wooden crucifix on which to vent their impious rage.
Three times summoned before the magistrate, Father Robert was immovable in rejecting the honours offered to him by the Court, and in declaring his devoted attachment to the Catholic faith. None, he said, had ever sought to propagate their religious tenets by the sword except the pagan Emperors in the early ages and Mahomet in later times.
As for himself and the community, they were determined that no violence should move them from the principles of truth. They recognised no Head of the Catholic Church save the Vicar of Christ; and as for the King of England, they regarded him not even as a member of that holy Church, but as the Head of the synagogue of Satan. When the venerable Father had uttered these words, a heretical officer drew his sword, and with one blow severed the holy man’s head from his body.
The other agents of the Court were at once let loose against the unoffending Community. As the public prison was full of other victims, the religious were confined in private houses. There many died of the injuries and maltreatment which they received. Some too were murdered secretly, whilst others were publicly hanged in the market-place.
It was on the 12th and 13th of February, 1539, that these happy Fathers obtained their eternal crown.
[1] La casa capital de la isla,’ says Lopez, p.19. The church is now the catholic parochial Church. Some parts of the convent are still standing. See Lord Dunravens Memorials of Adare, p. 36. Adare is 9 miles S.W. of Limerick.
[2] 3Lopez, p. 18 and the Earls of Kildare, by the Marquis of Kildare, p.19
[3] This is the name of the Superior of a convent of this Order
Please pray for final perseverance for all of us!
May the martyrs of old inspire us all.