John Almond (martyr)

For other people named John Almond, see John Almond (disambiguation).
John Almond
Born ca. 1577
Allerton near Liverpool
Died 5 December 1612(1612-12-05)
Tyburn, London
Venerated in Catholic Church
Beatified 1929, Rome by Pope Pius XI
Canonized 1970, Rome by Pope Paul VI, as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales
Feast 5 December
(25 October as part of the 40 Martyrs)

Saint John Almond (c. 1577 5 December 1612) was an English Catholic priest. He was ordained in 1598 and martyred in 1612. Canonized in 1970, John Almond is one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.

Early years and life as a skilled debater

John Almond was born around 1577 at Allerton (near Liverpool), and passed his childhood there and at Much Woolton, Lancashire until at the age of eight, he was taken to Ireland.[1] He went to the English College in Rome, at the age of twenty, where he was ordained as a priest, returning to England as a missionary in 1602.[2] He concluded his term there by giving the 'Grand Act' -- a public defence of theses which cover the whole course of philosophy and theology—and was warmly congratulated by Cardinals Caesar Baronius and Francesco Maria Tarugi, who presided.[3]

Return to England and martyrdom

He returned to the dangers of England in 1602 as a secular priest and administered to the faithful there. He was arrested in 1608, and then again in 1612. In November of 1612, seven priests escaped from prison. John Almond was hanged, drawn, and quartered on 5 December 1612 at Tyburn, London, England.

References

  1. Pollen SJ, John Hungerford, Acts of the English Martyrs, Burns & Oates, Ltd., London, 1891
  2. Townships: Speke, A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 3 (1907), pp. 131-140
  3. Ryan, Patrick W.F. "Ven. John Almond." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 2 Feb. 2013
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