Irish Catholic Martyrs

Irish Catholic Martyrs refers to the dozens of people who have been sanctified in varying degrees for dying for their Roman Catholic faith between 1537 and 1714 in Ireland.

Causes

Religious persecution of Catholics in Ireland began under King Henry VIII (then Lord of Ireland) after his excommunication in 1533. The Irish Parliament adopted the Acts of Supremacy, establishing the king’s supremacy over the Church. Some priests, bishops, and those who continued to pray for the pope were tortured and killed. Other acts caused any act of allegiance to the pope to be considered treason. Many were imprisoned on this basis.

Relations improved after the accession of Queen Mary in 1553, and in the early years of the reign of her sister Queen Elizabeth I. However, Elizabeth did not submit to the church as desired and was excommunicated by the papal bull "Regnans in Excelsis" in 1570. This led to a new round of conflict as Roman Catholics were obliged to repudiate Elizabeth's laws and the status of her officials.

From the Peace of Augsburg (1555) the doctrine Cuius regio%2C eius religio was adopted, whereby people had to take their ruler's religion. This was acceptable to Queen Mary and the Papacy, but not following Elizabeth's enactments.

The trial of the Wexford Martyrs at the time of the Second Desmond Rebellion (1579-83) was held as much for political as religious reasons, given the part played by Viscount Baltinglass in the English defeat at the Battle of Glenmalure.

Investigations

There was a long delay in starting the investigation into their causes. Further complicating the investigation is that the records of these martyrs were destroyed, or not compiled, due to the danger of keeping such evidence. After the Catholic Emancipation, the cause for Oliver Plunkett was re-visited. As a result, a series of publications on the whole period of persecutions was made.

The first to complete the process was Oliver Plunkett, Archbishop of Armagh, canonized in 1975 by Pope Paul VI. Plunkett was certainly targeted by the administration and unfairly tried.

Infobox Martyrs
name=Irish Martyrs
birth_era=
death_date=1537–1714
martyred_by=English monarchy
means_of_martyrdom=
feast_day=June 20
venerated_in=Roman Catholic Church


imagesize=
caption=
birth_place=
death_place=Ireland
beatified_date=September 27 1992
beatified_place=
beatified_by=Pope John Paul II
canonized_date=
canonized_place=
canonized_by=
attributes=
patronage=
major_shrine=
notable_members=Seventeen martyrs were beatified by Pope John Paul II on September 27 1992. They are known as Dermot O'Hurley, Margaret Bermingham Ball, Francis Taylor and their fourteen companions. [ [http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/homilies/1992/documents/hf_jp-ii_hom_19920927_xxi-beati_it.html Homily of John Paul II.] Vatican website.] Among them are:
*Patrick O'Hely, bishop (d. August 31, 1579)
*Wexford Martyrs (d. July 5, 1581) – Patrick Cavanagh, Matthew Lambert, and fellow sailors found guilty of aiding in the escape of Viscount Baltinglass
*Conor O'Devany, bishop (d. February 11, 1612) with Patrick O'Loughran, priest
*Terence Albert O'Brien, bishop (d. October 31, 1651)
*William Tirry, priest (d. May 12, 1654)

None were included subsequently on the List of saints canonised by Pope John Paul II.

Various churches have been dedicated to the martyrs, including:
*Church of the Irish Martyrs, Ballyraine, Letterkenny [ [http://www.irishmartyrs.com/irishmartyrs.php Church website] ]
*Church of the Irish Martyrs, Ballycane, Naas [ [http://kildare.ie/naasparish/church-of-irish-martyrs.htm Naas Parish website] ]

ee also

*English Reformation
*Christian martyrs

References

*Catholic|Irish Confessors and Martyrs
*"New Catholic Dictionary": [http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/ncd05034.htm Irish Martyrs]

External links

* [http://www.catholicireland.net/pages/index.php?nd=68&art=864 Catholicireland.net]