Dominic Collins

See also: Dominic Collins (swimmer)

The blessed Dominic Collins, born in 1566 in Youghal, County Cork, Ireland,^[1] and executed on the 31 October 1602 in Youghal,^[2] was a Jesuit brother, ex-army man, who died for his Catholic faith. He was beatified as a martyr by John-Paul II on the 27 September 1992.

Life

Born of an Irish noble family, Collins went to Nantes, France, in 1586 where he worked for three years as a servant. In 1589 he joined the ‘Catholic league' army of Philippe-Emmanuel de Vaudémont, at war against the Huguenots of Brittany. He was soon promoted to the rank of captain (under the name of La Branche).

After nine years of service in France he went to Spain with a recommendation letter for King Philip II, at whose service he entered. At the castle of La Coruna, in 1598, he met Thomas White, an English Jesuit. Somewhat dissatisfied with his military life, Collins entered the Society of Jesus as a Jesuit brother on the 8 December 1598. During his noviciate at Santiago de Compostela he spent much time at the service at those affected by the plague in the city of Compostella.

Collins was chosen to accompany James Archer, the chaplain of the Spanish fleet sent to the help of the Catholics of Ireland. But they travelled on different boats and in fact never met. Collins was made prisoner subsequent to the disastrous battle of Kinsale (24 December 1601). While James Archer returned to Spain to ask for help, Collins stayed at Dunboy Castle to attend to the spiritual needs of the Irish forces. Dunboy fell into the hands of the English on 18th June 1602.^[3] Even though Collins was the unarmed spokesman of the rendition party, he was made prisoner by the English.

Relishing the prospect of having a Jesuit abjure his faith in his very home town, the English took Dominic Collins to Youghal, a distance of 173km. There, he was tortured. This had no effect on Collins’ resolve: he expressed anew, and publicly, his Catholic faith. Without any formal judgment, he was condemned to death and finally hanged on the 31 October 1602.^[4]

Beatification

Dominic Collins was beatified - along with Francis Taylor and 13 other Irish martyrs - on the 27 September 1992, by Pope John-Paul II.^[5]

Liturgically his feast is celebrated on the 20th June, or the 30th of October (in the Society of Jesus).

References

1. ^ Forristal p.5
2. ^ Forrestal, p24
3. ^ Forrestal, p. 21
4. ^ Forrestal p. 24
5. ^ http://www.irishmartyrs.com/irishmartyrs.php

Bibliography

• Finegan, F.: The Beatified Martyrs of Ireland, in Irish Theological Quarterly, vol. 65, 2000, 157-167.
• Forristal, D.: Dominic Collins: Irish martyr, Jesuit brother, Dublin, 1992.

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Name
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Date of birth	1566
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Date of death	1602
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