BLESSED JOHN ROCHE

John Roche was born in Ireland and, as a young man, he went to London where he found work as a servant and a waterman.  As was common at that time, Catholics often worked under an alias and Roche sometimes used the name of John Neale.  A devout Catholic, he became involved with Margaret Ward and others who were aiding persecuted priests.  One such priest was Fr William/Richard Watson.  

Blessed John Roche

Fr Watson had been arrested and tortured and, upon learning of this, Margaret Ward began visiting the priest in Bridewell Prison.  Eventually she devised a plan to help the priest escape.  She smuggled a length of rope into the priest and , at a prearranged time, he was to let himself down from his cell at the top of the prison.  She found two Catholic watermen who would be waiting nearby with a boat to spirit the priest away.  However, the two watermen lost their nerve and backed out.  Margaret did not give up!  John Roche readily agreed to assist the priest.  Disastrously, the rope was too short and the priest had to jump the remaining distance.  He crashed down onto a shed below, breaking his right arm and leg.  Immediately, John Roche ran to his assistance and carried him to the boat. 

Of course, the clatter had alerted the jailor and others and the rope, still dangling from the cornice, was discovered.  Margaret Ward, being Fr Watson's only visitor, was swiftly arrested.  

John had managed to get the priest to safety and he was recuperating in John's house.  When he had recovered, John swapped clothes with him and the priest got safely away.  Sadly, John, in the priest's clothes, was spotted by the jailor who arrested him. He was vigorously interrogated and  eventually admitted his role in the escape of Fr Watson.  He was charged with treason and condemned to death.  Offered a full pardon if he would seek the Queen's forgiveness and attend a Protestant service, John Roche refused both!

On 30th August 1588, John Roche and Margaret Ward were hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn. Four other Catholics, including Welshman Richard Flowers, were executed with them that day.  

On 15th December 1929, Pope Pius XI beatified John Roche. He is counted among the English Martyrs and is also venerated in Ireland where his feast is celebrated on 20th June. 

OUR AMAZING PRIESTS

Throughout this awful Covid 19 pandemic, our amazing priests have been there for us.  Here in Wales, as well as in the rest of the U K, our priests have used YouTube, Facebook and all the modern technology to bring us the comforts of our Catholic Faith.  Such devoted pastoral care is not confined to this country either as priests all over the world are doing their very best for their parishioners.  Just as our priests are doing, priests everywhere are live streaming Holy Mass, Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament,  the Rosary and Stations of the Cross.  

Holy Mass, live streamed

God has blessed us with wonderful priests and we owe them so very much. So, we say a heartfelt "Thank You" to priests everywhere.  May God shower blessings galore upon you all and keep you safe.

SAINTS JULIUS AND AARON

We are on home ground with these two pre-reformation martyrs.  Ss Julius and Aaron were martyred at Caerleon, which is just 7 miles from Usk, where our own St David Lewis died for the faith in 1679.

Most of what is known about Ss Julius and Aaron we glean from the writings of Bede.  In his 'History of the English Church and Peoples', Bede writes "In the same persecution (as Alban) suffered Aaron and Julius, citizens of the City of Legions."  Not too much else is known about the two martyrs.  Some legends maintain that that were Roman soldiers who were converted by the priest, Amphibalus, after his escape from Verulamium.  Some hold the belief that Aaron was a native Briton, and Julius a Roman.  It is thought that, dying soon after Alban, they were probably victims of the Diocletian persecution.  

Catholic Church of Saints Julius, Aaron

and David, Caerleon

The Catholic Church in Caerleon is dedicated to Ss Julius and Aaron.  In Wales, their feast day is celebrated with St Alban on 20th June. 

THE PROTOMARTYR

In the month of June several martyrs are commemorated.  Over the next few weeks it might be good to take a look at some of them. So far, this blog has dealt only with Reformation Martyrs, mainly St David Lewis, but the beginning is usually the best place to start! So we will start with St Alban, thought to be the first Briton to shed his blood for the faith, and as such, the Protomartyr.  

The martyrdom of St Alban

Alban was a pagan who lived in Verulamium circa third/fourth century.  A Christian priest, possibly named Amphibalus, was fleeing persecution and Alban gave him shelter. Alban was impressed by the priest's holiness and experienced a conversion. Consequently he sought instruction in the faith from the priest.

Discovering where the priest was hiding, the authorities sent soldiers to apprehend him. They found Alban, dressed in the priest's cloak, and thinking him to be Amphibalus, they arrested him.  Alban was brought before a judge who became furious when he realised that this man was not the priest.  He ordered that Alban should receive the punishment that the priest would have been given unless he worshipped pagan gods.  Alban replied that he would never again worship such false gods and said, "If you want to know the truth about my religion, know that I am a Christian, and carry out Christian rites". The judge demanded to know to what family Alban belonged but Alban bravely replied "My parents named me Alban, and I worship and adore the living and true God, who crated all things".  The judge had Alban flogged, tortured, and  beheaded.  On the way to the place of execution, Alban converted the soldier who was to be his executioner and another had to be found to carry out the beheading.  

According to St Bede, the martyrdom took place on 22nd June but the year is uncertain.  St Alban's feast is celebrated on 20th June. 

JUNE, MONTH OF THE SACRED HEART

The month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart.  The Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the Friday following the second Sunday after Pentecost.  This year, 2020, the Feast occurs on Friday, 19th June.

"Sacred Heart of Jesus, we place our trust in Thee"

St Margaret Mary Alacoque, a Religious of the Visitation Order,  was born at Lhautecour, France, on 22 July 1647.  In the 1670s she experienced visions of Our Lord in which He made know to her His desire to be loved by men and to manifest His Heart with all its treasures of love, mercy and salvation.  In one of the many private revelations that Jesus gave to her, Our Lord made twelve promises to those who honour His Sacred Heart.

1.  I will give to them all the graces necessary for their state in life.

2.  I will establish peace in their families.

3.  I will comfort them in their trials.

4. I will be their secure refuge during life, and, above all, in death.

5. I will shed abundant blessings on all their undertakings.

6.  Sinners will find in my Heart an infinite ocean of mercy.

7. Lukewarm souls will become fervent.

8. Fervent souls will rapidly grow in holiness and perfection.

9. I will bless every place where an image of my Heart shall be exposed and honoured.

10. I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.

11. The names of those who promote this devotion will be written in my heart, never to be blotted out.

12. I promise them in the excessive mercy of My Heart, that my all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months, the grace of final penitence.  They shall not die in My disgrace nor without receiving their Sacraments.  My Divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.

Love of the Sacred Heart was the fire which consumed St Margaret Mary Alacoque.  She died at Paray-le-Monial on 17 October 1690.  She was canonised by Pope Benedict XV in 1920 and her feast is kept on 16 October.

This June, as the world is still struggling in the grip of the deadly Covid 19 pandemic,  let's turn once more to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, remembering especially the third promise; "I WILL COMFORT THEM IN THEIR TRIALS".

"Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us".