St David Lewis - Ora pro nobis

[Kate Jackson]

For the priests who are tired of the fight, keep courage and know that we fling ourselves prostrate before God together with all the saints so that you may save souls!

Memeontoes of the English Martyrs by Henry Sebastian Bowden

Reproached For Christ * Bd David Lewis, Jesuit

Imprimatur 12th July 1961

Pub. Burns & Oates Ltd., 1962

He was born at Abergavenny, a great-nephew of Father Augustine Baker, and became a Jesuit in Rome. He finally returned to Wales in 1648 and ministered in the borderland for 30 years, "a zealous seeker after lost sheep, fearless in dangers, patient in labours and sufferings, ....and commonly called the father of the poor."  He was taken up during the Oates "plot." While in the hands of his captors he was summoned to a dying priest, Father Ignatius Price, who was sinking under the hardships of a hunted life, but he could only send him best wishes for his passage into eternity, and after three days Father Price died. At Monmouth Father Lewis was sentenced for his priesthood; but was then sent up to London (with Bd John Kemble), where Lord Shaftsbury suggested to him to save his life and improve his fortune by revealing something of the plot or conforming in religion. He refused, for of any plot he knew nothing, and to conform would be against his conscience.  On the scaffold he told his Catholic hearers to  "fear God, honour the king.  Be firm in your faith; bear persecution patiently, always remembering St. Peter's words, that reproach borne, not for any evil thing but for Christ's sake, is a blessing."  He suffered at Usk on the 27th August 1679, near the site of the present Catholic church there, and was buried in the [now Anglican] parish churchyard [nearest the church entrance].

"If you be reproached for the name of Christ, you shall be blessed: for that which is thehonour, glory and power of God, and that which is his Spirit, resteth on you"  1 Peter 4, 14

[Flavia Talladen Schott]

St. David Lewis, pray for us.

[Kate Jackson]

"If you be reproached for the name of Christ, you shall be blessed: for that which is the honour, glory and power of God, and that which is his Spirit, resteth on you"  1 Peter 4, 14

Amen

[Kate Jackson]

St John Lloyd and Philip Evans - priests who died for the faith - pray for us. Amen.

[Kate Jackson]

St David Lewis pray for us. Amen.

Please pray for The Reformation Martyrs pilgrimage in Chideock meeting at 10:45am in the Church Our Lady Queen of Martyrs and St Ignatius on Sunday 24th September 2017.  Feel free to join us...I'm sorry we have no priest just a couple of interested lay people. 

The Chideock Martyrs

360 men and women are known to have died in England for their Catholic Faith between 1535 and 1681. Of these, eight are associated with Chideock. Seven were put to death and are known as the Chideock Martyrs. The eighth, John Jessop, died in prison. The eight brave men who died for their Catholic Faith:

Father Thomas Pilchard

Was a Jesuit and despite being banished, in 1586 he returned to England and became Chaplain at Chideock Castle where he was concealed. While he was there, he made many converts.

Blessed John Cornelius

Was a friend and Chaplain to the Arundells at Chideock Castle. Around Easter 1594, a servant betrayed his presence and he was arrested along with Thomas Bosgrave, a nephew of Lady Arundell, and two servants, John Carey and Patrick Salmon, all of whom had tried to save Fr. Cornelius. All four were executed at Dorchester on 4th July 1594 and beatified in 1929.  

Blessed Hugh Green

Blessed Hugh Green also became Chaplain to the Arundell family and was martyred in 1642 after being arrested at Lyme Regis as he tried to escape to France. He was beatified in 1929.

William Pike

A carpenter in Chideock. Was put to death in Dorchester and beatified, together with Jessop, in 1987.

Thomas Bosgrave

Nephew of Lady Arundell. Died trying to save Father Cornelius.

John Carey

Servant of Lady Arundell. Died trying to save Father Cornelius.

Patrick Salmon

Servant of Lady Arundell. Died trying to save Father Cornelius.

John Jessop

Put in prison for his faith and died there.

[Kate Jackson]

St Philip Evans, John Lloyd, John Kemble, David Lewis, Abbot Richard Whiting, Abbot Hugh of Reading. Pray for us.  Amen