(Also known as Oileabhéar Pluincéad)
Today is the memorial of Saint Oliver Plunkett, who was the first Irish martyr to be beatified.
Arrested in Ireland and found guilty in London of “high treason” for promoting the Catholic faith, he was hanged, drawn, and quartered on July 1, 1681.
He was born into Irish nobility. His family supported King Charles I, and the fight for national freedom.
He was educated by Jesuits at the newly established Irish College. He also went on to study in Rome where he was ordained into the preisthood in 1654.
Among many accomplishments, Saint Oliver Pluckett was a professor of theology from 1654 through 1669, procurator for Irish bishops, served as Bishop of Meath in Ireland, and became Archbishop of Armagh, Ireland in 1669.
From there he went on to establish and run a school for boys, as well as a college for theology students, taking a special interest in extending his ministry to the Gaelic speaking Catholics of the highlands and the isles of Scotland.
During the penal times in Ireland he bravely conducted a covert ministry (despite the grave risk to his own life) during the suppression of Catholic priests and faithful.
He was arrested and tried at Dundalk in 1679 for allegedly conspiring against the state by plotting to bring 20,000 French soldiers into the country, and for allegedly leveling a tax on his clergy to support 70,000 men for rebellion.
Lord Shaftesbury knew that Oliver would never be convicted in Ireland, and had him moved to Newgate prison in London. The first grand jury found no true bill, but he was not released. The second trial was a kangaroo court; Lord Campbell, writing of the judge, Sir Francis Pemberton, called it a disgrace to himself and his country.
Plunkett was found guilty of high treason "for promoting the Catholic faith," and was condemned to a gruesome death. He was the last Catholic to die for his faith at Tyburn.
The whole incident of Dr. Plunkett's arrest and trial was recognised as such a travesty of justice that many English Protestants had a change of heart. The Earl of Essex, the former Viceroy of Ireland, petitioned King Charles to pardon Plunkett before the execution, assuring him of Plunketts innocence. The King is said to have lost his temper and replied "Why did you not attest this at the trial? It would have done him some good then. I dare not pardon anyone. His blood be upon your head not mine." It was Essex who had Plunkett arrested on the 6th of December.
The Earl of Shaftesbury, who had contrived Plunkett's downfall, was arrested and imprisoned in the Tower of London the day after Plunkett's execution. Elizabeth Shelton, from a highly regarded Catholic family, succeeded in petitioning the King to recover the remains immediately after the execution. She, and others with her, got the head and other 'quarters' after the bowels had been cast into the fire. Some parts were buried in the north wall of St. Giles cemetary. She saved the head and two forearms, keeping them in two tin boxes, and had them certified by John Ridley, a surgeon acquaintance. These items were eventually entrusted to the Sienna Nuns (of the Dominican Convent at Drogheda). They are presently on view, enshrined in St. Peter's Catholic Church in Drogheda, as is the door of the cell he occupied at Newgate.
Additional information
Born: September 30 1629 at Loughenew, County Meath, Ireland
Died: As he was hanged, drawn, quartered, as per his sentence which was carried out on July 1 1681 at Tyburn, England.
His body was initially buried and laid to rest in two tin boxes next to five other Jesuits.
His head is currently in Saint Peter’s Church at Drogheda, Ireland.
His remains are also currently kept at Downside Abbey in England.
Other relics of Saint Oliver Plunkett are scattered amongst various churches in Ireland.
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Venerated March 17, 1918
Beatified May 21, 1920 by Pope Benedict XV at Rome, Italy
Canonized Octobe 12, 1975 by Pope Paul VI at Rome, Italy
Paronage: Archdiocese of Armagh, Ireland
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