Thread by @DouayRheims1

1st JULY: ST OLIVER PLUNKET

~thread~
1. St Oliver Plunket - Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of all Ireland - was born at Loughcrew near Oldcastle, County Meath, Ireland, 1629; he died 11 July, 1681. Ordained to the priesthood in 1654,
#StOliverPlunket #Ireland #SaintofTheDay

2. St Oliver was deputed by the Irish bishops to act as their representative in Rome. He was appointed to the primatial see of Armagh, and was consecrated, 30 November 1669, at Ghent, in Belgium, by the Bishop of Ghent.

In March, 1670 he entered on his apostolate in Armagh.

3. From the very outset he was most zealous in the exercise of the sacred ministry. Within three months he had administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to about 10,000 of the faithful. He opened schools, held frequent ordinations, celebrated two Provincial Synods,
#Irish #saint

4. and was untiring in rooting out abuses and promoting piety.

The storm of persecution burst with renewed fury on the Irish Church in 1673; the schools were scattered, the chapels were closed. St Oliver, however, would not forsake his flock.

#Bishop #CatholicTwitter

5. His palace thenceforward was some thatched hut in a remote part of his diocese. In company with the Archbishop of Cashel, he lay concealed in the woods or on the mountains, and with such scanty shelter that through the roof they could at night count the stars of the sky.
#God

6. Writs for the arrest of St Oliver were repeatedly issued by the Government. At length he was seized and cast into prison in Dublin Castle, 6 Dec., 1679, and a whole host of perjured informers were at hand to swear his life away. In Ireland the character of those witnesses

7. was well known and no jury would listen to their perjured tales,but in London it was not so, and accordingly his trial was transferred to London. There was no secret as to the fact that his being a Catholic bishop was his real crime.

Sentence of death was pronounced
#London

8. as a matter of course, to which the primate replied in a joyous and emphatic voice: "Deo Gratias".

On Friday, 11 July (old style the 1st), 1681, St Oliver, surrounded by a numerous guard of military, was led to Tyburn for execution. Vast crowds assembled at Tyburn.

9. All were edified and filled with admiration, "because he displayed such a serenity of countenance, such a tranquillity of mind and elevation of soul, that he seemed rather a spouse hastening to the nuptial feast, than a culprit led forth to the scaffold".
#catholicsaint

10. (Excerpts from Catholic Encyclopedia)

PRAYER TO ST OLIVER PLUNKET

Glorious martyr, St Oliver, who willingly gave your life for your faith, help us also to be strong in faith. May we be loyal like you to the See of Peter...
(cont'd)

#CatholicChurch

11. By your intercession and example may all hatred and bitterness be banished from the hearts of Irish men and women. May the peace of Christ reign in our hearts, as it did in your heart, even at the moment of your death. Amen.
#JesusChrist