England, Ireland: 1 Jul
Arundel & Brighton: 2 Jul
Oliver Plunkett was born in County Meath in 1625, and
died at Tyburn in 1681.
Little is known about his early life except that
he was educated privately by a Cistercian cousin, Dr. Patrick Plunkett,
who eventually became Bishop of Meath. Ordained in Rome in 1654, he was
professor at the college of Propaganda Fidei until 1669, when he was
appointed Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of all Ireland. He held
synods and visitations and promoted the reforms initiated by the Council
of Trent. It was a time when persecution was less severe, though he
would often have to dress as a layman.
In
1673 the English Parliament
forced the king, Charles II, to behave more strictly towards Catholics,
and edicts were issued banning bishops and all religious from Ireland.
For the next few years he was able to continue his work clandestinely
and was even able to hold a provincial synod. Despite the danger he went
to visit his uncle, Bishop Plunkett, who was dying. He was arrested and
imprisoned in Dublin Castle in 1679, he was tried on the extraordinary
charge of having planned to bring seventy thousand French troops into
Ireland. There was clearly no hope of a successful conviction in
Ireland. He was taken to London and duly found guilty of the charge. He
was
executed in London, the final victim of the ‘Popish Plot’ and the last
person to be executed for the faith in England. He is remembered for his
pastoral zeal and for the friendly relations he established with those
who did not share the Catholic faith. His body rests at Downside Abbey,
his head at Drogheda.
universalis.com
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