Bl. Francis Page Biography
Bl. Francis Page Profile. Born: 1575 AD in Belgium, Europe. Worked in Belgium, London, England. Died: April 20 1602 in London, England. Feast Day is celebrated on April 20 or October 29.
Bl. Francis Page Biography, Feast Day, Date of Birth, Country of Birth, Profession, Place of Work, Date of Death, Place of Death, Beatification Date, Canonization Date |
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Date of Birth | 1575 AD |
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Country of Birth | Belgium in Europe |
Matrimony/Holy Orders | Blesseds who were Priests |
Profession | Priest |
Place of Work | Belgium, London, England |
Date of Death | April 20 1602 |
Place of Death | London, England |
Feast Day | April 20 or October 29 |
Beatification | Beatified by Pope Pius XI on December 15 1929 |
Canonization | Canonized by N/A |
Patron Saint of |
Blessed’s Biography
Blessed Francis Page belonged to an aristocratic and wealthy family but born in Belgium in 1575 AD. He was raised in Protestantism and studied law in London where he began his career as a lawyer at a well-known law firm, where he fell in love with his employer’s Catholic daughter.
The young woman told him he would marry him only if he converted to Catholicism. Bl. Francis Page accepted the proposal. His fiancee introduced him to (Jesuit Giovanni Gerard) her spiritual director so he could get the religious requirements.
Jesuit Giovanni Gerard and Blessed Francis Page became fast friends, and the teaching and example of the teacher and the zeal of the neophyte were such that Francis not only converted but became a priest. Thus, her proposed marriage went up in smoke and he also renounced all his possessions.
Blessed Francis Page liked to visit the prison and led to his arrest. After being released he asked to be admitted to the English College of Douai in 1598.
In 1600 Francis Page was Ordained a priest and returned to his homeland, where, waiting to go to Flanders to do the novitiate having been having accepted his request to enter the Society of Jesus, Francis Page could secretly exercise his ministry in London for two years thanks to the hospitality of the pious widow Anna Line who died a martyr and was celebrated on 27 February. Anna made her home for father Giovanni Gerard and other priests.
Bl. Francis Page Arrest
While Blessed Francis Page celebrated Mass in Anna’s house, the anti-Catholic persecutors suddenly broke in. He barely escaped and resumed his preaching by hiding elsewhere, but a woman who had joined for money led to her arrest.
Francis Page was locked up in Newgate prisons on charges of being a Catholic priest and celebrating Mass in England. he was tried almost immediately and sentenced to death. While in prison he was accepted among the Jesuits.
Death
Bl. Francis Page died on April 20 1602 at Tyburn, London, England.
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