Blessed John Roche
Blessed John Roche (also John Neele; born in Ireland; died August 30, 1588 AD at Tyburn, London, England) was an Irish Catholic layman, a boatman by trade, who was executed during the persecution under Queen Elizabeth I for his part in helping a priest escape from prison. He was martyred together with Blessed Margaret Ward and is honored among the English Martyrs. His feast day is August 30.
John Roche assisted in the escape of a priest from Bridewell prison, exchanging clothes with him and drawing suspicion upon himself. Arrested and condemned, he refused to conform to the state religion and was hanged at Tyburn. He was beatified in 1929.
Stored in Cargo: Blessed John Roche
| Blessed John Roche | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | August 30 |
| Profession | Layman; boatman; martyr |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; English Martyrs |
| Patronage | Boatmen; those who aid persecuted priests; Ireland; the laity under persecution |
| Attributes | Palm of martyrdom; boatman's oar; hangman's rope |
| Birthplace | Ireland |
| Death Place | Tyburn, London, England |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom; hanged at Tyburn under Queen Elizabeth I for helping a Catholic priest escape from prison; Irish layman and boatman |
| Primary Shrine | Tyburn, London, England |
Biography
John Roche, sometimes recorded under the name Neele, was an Irishman who lived in London, where he worked as a boatman on the Thames during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
He became involved in the case of a Catholic priest, William Watson, who was imprisoned at Bridewell. Together with Blessed Margaret Ward, a gentlewoman who had brought the priest a rope, Roche helped him to escape. In the course of the escape John Roche exchanged clothes with the priest, so that the priest might get away, thereby drawing the pursuit and suspicion upon himself.
For this act of charity Roche was arrested. He and Margaret Ward were offered their freedom if they would ask the queen's pardon and attend Protestant worship, but both refused to conform against their Catholic conscience. They were condemned to death.
On August 30, 1588, John Roche was hanged at Tyburn together with Blessed Margaret Ward, dying for the Catholic faith and for his charity to a persecuted priest. He was beatified on December 15, 1929, by Pope Pius XI, among the English Martyrs. His feast is kept on August 30.
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Feast day
August 30
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