The Convent of Limerick was dedicated to the Holy Cross; it was one of the largest of the whole country, its inmates numbering 46 religious.

Cornelius O’Neill, Bishop of Limerick, had been a religious of the Order, and was much attached to the brethren. 

He had been Consulted by the King about the divorce from Queen Catharine, which he wishes to bring about, and gave his opinion firmly in her favour. The King was much angered thereat and declared he would have his revenge. 

The Bishop was aware of the dangers that were threatening. He called the Trinitarian Community together and addressed them in the following words  

"A beginning like this does not lead to a good end. The King and his kingdom are lost. The Catholic Church is in great danger, and heresy will be introduced amongst us unless God’s omnipotence protects us."

He advised them to sell the Property of the monastery, even the gold and silver vessels, lest they might be profaned by the enemies of God, and to distribute the money among the poor. He gave a like warning to the other Orders, secular clergy under his jurisdiction.

When he learned of the destruction of the monastery of Adare and the death of the religious there, he called the brethren together, and solemnly intoning the ‘Te Deum,’ he earnestly besought the Most Holy Trinity to grant them courage and Strength, that they might imitate their martyred brethren.

The Bishop let it be known that he would preach on the feast of St. John. A large congregation assembled.

He set before them the grounds of the Catholic faith the Pope’s authority; he declared that the commands of the King were heretical and that he, his counsellors, and all who adhered to him were anathematized and he concluded by asking from God strength for himself and all under his care to defend the Catholic faith, even at the peril of their lives.

The King’s officials were afraid to offer any violence in the church but that evening, some of them went to his house; and told him he should obey the King’s order or suffer instant death.

Throwing himself on his knees and raising his eyes to Heaven, he exclaimed : ‘Lord, to-day I offered to Thee the unbloody sacrifice of the Body of my Lord Jesus Christ. Now accept the sacrifice of my life, to Thy greater honour and glory.’

And fixing his eyes on a picture of the Most Holy Trinity, he ejaculated ‘Sancta Trinitas, unus Deus, Miserere nobis.’ A moment after the executioner with one blow of the sword severed his head from his body.

The officials went through the house, and seized the religious there, and slew them. Their anger was all the greater when they found that nothing was left for them to plunder.

The Minister and his brother were seized the next day. They were brought to the public square and ordered to swear obedience to the King. As they refused, they were beheaded on the spot.

The other religious in the convent were also asked to take the oath; and as all refused, some were hanged, other slain, others tied to the tails of horses and dragged along until they were dead.

And so all triumphed on the 25th, of June, 1539.

‘The other convents of the Order,’ says Moran, Cork, Kilkenny, Ross, Dundalk, Galway, and Cashel, showed the same fortitude. All were plundered of whatever they possessed, And there was not one of them but was adorned with the palm of martyrdom. So universal was the ruin of this religious Order, that all vestige of it has disappeared from the subsequent history of our Church.[1]

[1] Archbishops of Dublin, p.26. It is very probable that Lopez had his information through F. Richard Goldie, native of Limerick, who died at Madrid in 1652. See Noticias, p.521. O’Sullevan derived his knowledge from the same source.

Please pray for final perseverance for all of us!
May the martyrs of old inspire us all.