Saint John Roberts
![[portrait of Saint John Roberts]](saintjae.jpg "9kb jpg detail of a painting of Saint John Roberts, date unknown, artist unknown; if you information on this image, please email me; please do not write to ask about the image")
- Memorial
- 9 December
- Profile
- Son of John and Anna Roberts; his ancestors were princes of Wales.
Raised Protestant, but always felt an affinity for Catholicism.
Studied at Saint John's College, Oxford from 1595-1597, but left without a degree.
Studied law at the Inns of Court at age 21.
In 1598, while travelling in France, he joined the Church of Rome at Notre Dame in Paris.
Entered the English College at Valladolid on 18 October 1598.
Left the College in 1599 to join the Abbey of Saint Benedict, Valladolid.
Benedictine novice at the Abbey of Saint Martin at Compostela in 1600.
Ordained there.
Returned to England as a missioner, leaving on 26 December 1602, and entering the country in April 1603.
Arrested in May 1603, and exiled.
Returned to England in 1604, worked with plague victims in London; arrested and banished again.
Returned to England in 1605.
During a search for suspects involved in the Gunpowder Plot, John was found in the home of Mrs Thomas Percy, and was arrested.
Though he had no connection to the Plot, he spent seven months in prison, and was exiled again in July 1606.
Founded a house in Douai for exiled English Benedictines; this house became the monastery of Saint Gregory at Douai.
Responsible for the conversion of Blessed Maurus Scott.
Returned to England in October 1607, was arrested in December, and sent to Gatehouse prison.
He escaped, and spent a year working in London, but was again arrested.
His execution was scheduled for May 1609, but the intercession of the French ambassador led to a reduction in sentence; he was exiled again.
Returned to England a few months later, getting arrested during Mass on 2 December 1610.
Convicted on 5 December 1610 of the crime of priesthood.
Martyred with Blessed Thomas Somers.
One of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.
- Born
- 1577 at Trawsfynydd, Merionethshire, Gwynedd, northern Wales
- Died
- hanged, drawn, and quartered on 10 December 1610 at Tyburn, England;
body taken to Saint Gregory's in Douai, France, but disappeared during the French Revolution;
two fingers are preserved at Downside Abbey and Erdington Abbey
- Name Meaning
- God is gracious; gift of God (John)
- Beatified
- 1929 by Pope Pius XI
- Canonized
- 25 October 1970 by Pope Paul VI
- Additional Information
-
Catholic Encyclopedia: Downside Abbey
Catholic Encyclopedia: John Roberts
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