The name of today's saint is especially familiar to the Irish and
the English—and with good reason. The English martyred Oliver Plunkett for
defending the faith in his native Ireland during a period of severe
persecution.
Born in County Meath in 1629, he studied for the
priesthood in Rome and was ordained there in 1654. After some years of teaching
and service to the poor of Rome he was appointed Archbishop of Armagh
in Ireland. Four years later, in 1673, a new wave of anti-Catholic persecution
began, forcing Archbishop Plunkett to do his pastoral work in secrecy and
disguise and to live in hiding. Meanwhile, many of his priests were sent into
exile; schools were closed; Church services had to be held in secret and
convents and seminaries were suppressed. As archbishop, he was viewed as
ultimately responsible for any rebellion or political activity among his parishioners.
Archbishop Plunkett was arrested and imprisoned in Dublin Castle
in 1679, but his trial was moved to London. After deliberating for 15 minutes,
a jury found him guilty of fomenting revolt. He was hanged, drawn and quartered
in July 1681.
Pope Paul VI canonized Oliver Plunkett in 1975.
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