Saint Robert Southwell Biography
Saint Robert Southwell Biography, Feast Day, Date of Birth, Country of Birth, Profession, Place of Work, Date of Death, Place of Death, Beatification Date, Canonization Date |
|
| Date of Birth | 1561 AD |
|---|---|
| Country of Birth | The United Kingdom in Europe |
| Matrimony/Holy Orders | Saints who were Priests |
| Profession | Missionary |
| Place of Work | England |
| Date of Death | 21 February 1595 |
| Place of Death | Tyburn, London, England |
| Feast Day | February 21 |
| Beatification | Beatified by Pope Pius XI on 15 December 1929 |
| Canonization | Canonized by Pope Paul VI on 25 October 1970 |
| Patron Saint of | N/A |
Biography
Saint Robert Southwell was raised in a religious Catholic family. He got his education at Douai and in Paris, France. Later, he joined the Jesuits in 1580 and was selected the prefect of studies in the English College at Rome, Italy. Robert was ordained in 1584 and then returned to England in 1586 to minister to covert Catholics, working with Henry Garnett.
He then became the chaplain to Ann Howard, wife of Saint Philip Howard, in 1589 and Wrote a number of pamphlets on living a religious life. Robert was then arrested in 1595 for the crime of being a priest and was repeatedly tortured in hopes of learning the location of other priests. He was treated harshly in prison that his family petitioned for a quick trial, knowing that his certain death would be better than the conditions in which he treated in the prisons.
Robert spent three years imprisoned in the Tower of London and was tortured ten times. However, he studied the Bible and wrote poetry besides all these conditions. He was finally tried and convicted for treason, having admitted his accusations. He was one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.
Follow @ReadingCatholic
