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31st May 1639. JOHN MEAGH,[1] S.J.
(From Alegamb’es Mortes lllustres, p538)
He was a native of Cork.
He was taken by his father to France, then Naples.
He entered the service of the Viceroy. But disliking the frivolity of Court, he was thinking of leaving it; and would have if the Viceroy had not been recalled just then to Spain.
John found himself there, and asking for favour from the King. He obtained an annual pension; with this he returned to Naples.
He prayed to God to make known to him when he opened a book, the manner of life which he should enter on. He found the Life of St. Dympna,[2] who fled Ireland to avoid her father’s fury, and was slain by him.
John thought the history of a woman unsuited to him for imitation, but went on reading it. ‘What if God wishes me to leave the world,’ said he, ‘and to flee from all occasions of sin, as that royal maiden did when she left her native country.’
He was wrongfully accused of a grievous crime, and taken into custody. Seeing a statue of St. Ignatius, he consoled himself that he too, was thrown into prison though free from all guilt. He placed himself under this Saint’s protection. Soon after he was released.
He set off from Rome. On the way his leg was hurt, and he was entertained by our Fathers, and nursed until he recovered.
Full of gratitude, and remembering that St. lgnatius had broken his leg, he determined to enter the Society. He was ordained a priest, and sent back to Naples.
There he entered the noviciate, and having gone through it, he was sent to Bohemia to acquire experience before he returned to Ireland.
John Pauer, who commanded the Swedish army, in 1639 laid siege to Prague.
The Fathers in the College of Cattemberg, looked for some safe place where they might take refuge. The College of Neuhaus seemed better than any other place. Several were told to go there by different roads; these were beset with robbers, whom the hardship of times or the hope of booty induced to arm themselves, to the ruin of travellers.
Moreover, many of the people were infected with wicked doctrine, and that evil teaching remained deeply fixed in the minds of many, and induced these men to assail those who strove to root out such principles by their preaching.
Many were robbed and forced to fly. Three were slain, namely, John Meagh, Martin Ignatius, and Wenceslaus Trnoska.
There are two reasons for asserting that they were put to death through hatred of the Catholic faith.
One is the hatred which heretics have for the very name of Jesuit, because they find them to be among the most active and zealous defenders and teachers of the faith.
The second is, that they did no harm whatever to other persons travelling with ours, nay, even they bade them put away all fear and take courage.
John received one wound in the breast from a leaden bullet. Martin was wounded in the breast, and received a deadly blow on the head from an axe. Wenceslaus was shot through the temples.
The place where they were murdered is a mile from Guttenberg, on the road to Neuhas.
It was May 31st, 1639.
Their bodies were taken by Bernard De Gerschoff, and buried in the church of the Holy Trinity, in Litz. On June 3rd they were transferred to the church of St. Barbara.
See also Rothe, Tanner, and Bruodin.
[1] Probably a native of Cork. Several of the named wer Mayors of Cork between 1379 and 1437.
[2] Her feast is o May 15”. See OHanlons Lives of the Irish Saints, v.264
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 Alegamb’es Mortes lllustres, p538)
He was a native of Cork.
He was taken by his father to France, then Naples.
He entered the service of the Viceroy. But disliking the frivolity of Court, he was thinking of leaving it; and would have if the Viceroy had not been recalled just then to Spain.
John found himself there, and asking for favour from the King. He obtained an annual pension; with this he returned to Naples.
He prayed to God to make known to him when he opened a book, the manner of life which he should enter on. He found the Life of St. Dympna,[2] who fled Ireland to avoid her father’s fury, and was slain by him.
John thought the history of a woman unsuited to him for imitation, but went on reading it. ‘What if God wishes me to leave the world,’ said he, ‘and to flee from all occasions of sin, as that royal maiden did when she left her native country.’
He was wrongfully accused of a grievous crime, and taken into custody. Seeing a statue of St. Ignatius, he consoled himself that he too, was thrown into prison though free from all guilt. He placed himself under this Saint’s protection. Soon after he was released.
He set off from Rome. On the way his leg was hurt, and he was entertained by our Fathers, and nursed until he recovered.
Full of gratitude, and remembering that St. lgnatius had broken his leg, he determined to enter the Society. He was ordained a priest, and sent back to Naples.
There he entered the noviciate, and having gone through it, he was sent to Bohemia to acquire experience before he returned to Ireland.
John Pauer, who commanded the Swedish army, in 1639 laid siege to Prague.
The Fathers in the College of Cattemberg, looked for some safe place where they might take refuge. The College of Neuhaus seemed better than any other place. Several were told to go there by different roads; these were beset with robbers, whom the hardship of times or the hope of booty induced to arm themselves, to the ruin of travellers.
Moreover, many of the people were infected with wicked doctrine, and that evil teaching remained deeply fixed in the minds of many, and induced these men to assail those who strove to root out such principles by their preaching.
Many were robbed and forced to fly. Three were slain, namely, John Meagh, Martin Ignatius, and Wenceslaus Trnoska.
There are two reasons for asserting that they were put to death through hatred of the Catholic faith.
One is the hatred which heretics have for the very name of Jesuit, because they find them to be among the most active and zealous defenders and teachers of the faith.
The second is, that they did no harm whatever to other persons travelling with ours, nay, even they bade them put away all fear and take courage.
John received one wound in the breast from a leaden bullet. Martin was wounded in the breast, and received a deadly blow on the head from an axe. Wenceslaus was shot through the temples.
The place where they were murdered is a mile from Guttenberg, on the road to Neuhas.
It was May 31st, 1639.
Their bodies were taken by Bernard De Gerschoff, and buried in the church of the Holy Trinity, in Litz. On June 3rd they were transferred to the church of St. Barbara.
See also Rothe, Tanner, and Bruodin.
[1] Probably a native of Cork. Several of the named wer Mayors of Cork between 1379 and 1437.
[2] Her feast is o May 15”. See OHanlons Lives of the Irish Saints, v.264
Please pray for final perseverance for all of us!
May the martyrs of old inspire us all.