Blessed Adrian Fortescue

Memorial

• 9 July

Profile

Born to the English nobility, the son of Sir John Fortescue, and a cousin of Anne Boleyn. Made a Knight of Bath in 1503, frequently serving in the royal court of King Henry VIII. Fought for England in France in 1513 and 1522. Married twice, and father of seven. Made a Knight of Saint John in 1532. He collected several lists of proverbs and folk sayings, often writing them in the margins of his Book of Hours. On 29 August 1534, for reasons never explained, he was arrested by the king‘s order, and imprisoned for several months. Arrested again on 3 February 1539, and sent to the Tower of London. Without trial, he was condemned to death in April for treason, though no specific act was alleged, only general “sedition and refusing allegiance”, a consquence of his loyalty to Rome. Martyr.

Born

• 1476 in Punsborne, Hertfordshire, England

Died

• beheaded on 9 July 1539 on Tower Hill, London, England

Beatified

• 13 May 1895 by Pope Leo XIII (cultus confirmation)

Canonized

• if you have information relevant to the canonization of Blessed Adrian, contact
     Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales
     39 Eccleston Square
     London SW1V 1BX, UNITED KINGDOM

Additional Information

• Biographisch-Bibliographischen Kirchenlexikons [german]
• Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
• Catholic Encyclopedia, by J H Pollen
• Catholic Online
• Dictionary of National Biography
• Hagiography Circle
• New Catholic Dictionary
• Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
• Sovereign Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta

Readings

O God, since all things are within your power, grant through the prayers of blessed Adrian, your martyr, that we who keep his feast today may become stronger in the love of your name and hold to your holy Church even at the cost of our lives. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. - Missal with readings of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes, and of Malta, London 1997

O God, you specially strengthened Blessed Adrian with a wonderful spirit of holiness and courage. Hear the prayers of your people and from his renowned example may we learn to be obedient to you rather than to human authority. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. - General Calendar of the Order of Preachers

MLA Citation

• “Blessed Adrian Fortescue“. Saints.SQPN.com. 9 June 2013. Web. 19 June 2013. <>