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Douai Martyrs

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Saints, Blesseds, and Venerables

The Douai Martyrs
Priests and Martyrs
BornVarious
Died29 November 1577 (Saint Cuthbert Mayne) - 23 October 1680 (Blessed Thomas Thwing)
Various, many at Tyburn
Venerated inRoman Catholic Church
(6 were declared Venerable by Pope Leo XIII in 1886)
Beatified14 beatified on 29 December 1886 by Pope Leo XIII

62 beatified on 15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI

56 beatified on 22 November 1987 by Pope John Paul II
Canonized20 canonized on 25 October 1970 by Pope Paul VI
Feast29 October[1]
4 May (all English Martyrs)
25 October (those from the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales group)
22 November (those from the Eighty-five martyrs of England and Wales group)
Various feast days for individual martyrs
AttributesMartyr's palm
Knife in chest
Noose around neck
Book or Bible
Crucifix
Chaucible
Eucharist
Various religious habits
Crown of martyrdom

The Douai Martyrs is a name applied by the Catholic Church to 158 Catholic priests from Great Britain who studied at the English College, Douai and were subsequently executed by the Kingdom of England between 1577 and 1680.[2]

History

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Having completed their training at Douai, many Catholic priests returned to England and Wales with the intent to minister to the Catholic population there. Under the Jesuits, etc. Act 1584 the presence of a Catholic priest within the realm was considered high treason. Missionaries from Douai were looked upon as a papal agents intent on overthrowing the state. Many were arrested under charges of treason and conspiracy, resulting in torture and execution. In total, 158 members of Douai College were martyred between the years 1577 and 1680.[1] The first was Cuthbert Mayne, executed at Launceston, Cornwall on the 29 November 1577. [3] The last was Thomas Thwing, hanged, drawn, and quartered at York in October 1680.[4] Each time the news of another execution reached the College, a Solemn Mass of thanksgiving was sung.

Many people risked their lives during this period by assisting them, which was also prohibited under the Act. A number of the "seminary priests" from Douai were executed at a three-sided gallows at Tyburn near the present-day Marble Arch. A plaque to the "Catholic martyrs" executed at Tyburn in the period 1535 - 1681 is located at 8 Hyde Park Place, the site of Tyburn convent.[5]

They were beatified between 1886, 1929 and 1987, and only 20 were canonized in 1970. Today, British Catholic dioceses celebrate their feast day on 29 October.[1]

The Douay Martyrs School in Ickenham, Middlesex is named in their honour.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "The Martyrs of Douai", Diocese of Westminster
  2. ^ "Catholic Saint of the Day | uCatholic". Archived from the original on 18 February 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  3. ^ Rowse, A.L., Tudor Cornwall, New York, 1969
  4. ^ Kenyon, John Philipps. The Popish Plot, 1972
  5. ^ "City of Westminster green plaques". Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
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