Catholic Saints

Blessed Robert Dalby was born in Hemingbrough, in the East Riding of Yorkshire.  He was a Protestant minister that became intrigued with Catholicism.  He studied the faith and became Catholic.  He went to study at the English College at Rheims in September 1586.  While there he studied for the priesthood.  He was ordained a Priest at Chalons on April 16, 1588.  

On August 25, of that same year, he set out for England.  He was arrested almost immediately upon landing at Scarborough on the Yorkshire coast, and was imprisoned in York Castle.  There was a law in England that made it a capital offence to be a Catholic Priest in England, with a sentence of hanging, drawing and quartering.  This was a very torturous martyrdom for those that this law was imposed on.  

A fellow Priest, Fr. John Amias, accompanied him.  The remained imprisoned from August 25, until March 16, 1589.  The sentence was carried out for both of them, and upon the arrival at the place of execution, the two Priests prostrated themselves in prayer.  Fr. John was chosen to be executed first, so Robert Dalby had to watch his fellow Priest be hanged and quartered before his own turn came, but he displayed no hesitation in going to his death for the faith of the Church.  Those that venerated these young Priests, shortly after their deaths, reported many miracles.  Both Priests were declared blessed by Pope Pius XI on December 15, 1929.  

Practical Take Away

Blessed Robert Dalby was a Protestant Minister that became Catholic. He studied the faith at the English College of Rheims and became ordained.  He and a fellow young Priest went to England after their Ordination, and almost immediately were arrested.  There was a law on the books that did not allow Catholic Priests to be in England, and if caught the punishment was to be hanging, drawn and quartered.  Nearly six months of being in prison, they were both executed for not denouncing the faith.  His life reminds us just how precious our faith is, and that we should never take it for granted.