Dominic Collins
Encyclopedia
The blessed Dominic Collins, born in 1566 in Youghal
, County Cork
, Ireland
, and executed on the 31 October 1602 in Youghal, was a Jesuit
brother, ex-army man, who died for his Catholic faith. He was beatified as a martyr by John-Paul II on the 27 September 1992.
, France
, in 1586 where he worked for three years as a servant. In 1589 he joined the ‘Catholic league' army of Philippe-Emmanuel de Vaudémont
, at war against the Huguenots of Brittany
. He was soon promoted to the rank of captain (under the name of La Branche).
After nine years of service in France he went to Spain with a recommendation letter for King Philip II
, at whose service he entered. At the castle of La Coruna, in 1598, he met Thomas White, an English Jesuit. Somewhat dissatisfied with his military life, Collins entered the Society of Jesus
as a Jesuit brother on the 8 December 1598. During his noviciate at Santiago de Compostela
he spent much time at the service at those affected by the plague in the city of Compostella.
Collins was chosen to accompany James Archer
, the chaplain of the Spanish fleet sent to the help of the Catholics of Ireland. But they travelled on different boats and in fact never met. Collins was made prisoner subsequent to the disastrous battle of Kinsale (24 December 1601). While James Archer returned to Spain to ask for help, Collins stayed at Dunboy Castle
to attend to the spiritual needs of the Irish forces. Dunboy fell into the hands of the English on 18th June 1602. Even though Collins was the unarmed spokesman of the rendition party, he was made prisoner by the English.
Relishing the prospect of having a Jesuit abjure his faith in his very home town, the English took Dominic Collins to Youghal, a distance of 173km. There, he was tortured. This had no effect on Collins’ resolve: he expressed anew, and publicly, his Catholic faith. Without any formal judgment, he was condemned to death and finally hanged on the 31 October 1602.
Liturgically
his feast is celebrated on the 20th June, or the 30th of October (in the Society of Jesus
).
Youghal
Youghal is a town in County Cork, Ireland. Sitting on the estuary of the River Blackwater, in the past it was militarily and economically important. Being built on the edge of a steep riverbank, the town has a distinctive long and narrow layout...
, County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, and executed on the 31 October 1602 in Youghal, was a Jesuit
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
brother, ex-army man, who died for his Catholic faith. He was beatified as a martyr by John-Paul II on the 27 September 1992.
Life
Born of an Irish noble family, Collins went to NantesNantes
Nantes is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the 6th largest in France, while its metropolitan area ranks 8th with over 800,000 inhabitants....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, in 1586 where he worked for three years as a servant. In 1589 he joined the ‘Catholic league' army of Philippe-Emmanuel de Vaudémont
Vaudémont
Vaudémont is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department...
, at war against the Huguenots of Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
. He was soon promoted to the rank of captain (under the name of La Branche).
After nine years of service in France he went to Spain with a recommendation letter for King Philip II
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
, at whose service he entered. At the castle of La Coruna, in 1598, he met Thomas White, an English Jesuit. Somewhat dissatisfied with his military life, Collins entered the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
as a Jesuit brother on the 8 December 1598. During his noviciate at Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain.The city's Cathedral is the destination today, as it has been throughout history, of the important 9th century medieval pilgrimage route, the Way of St. James...
he spent much time at the service at those affected by the plague in the city of Compostella.
Collins was chosen to accompany James Archer
James Archer (Jesuit)
James Archer was an Irish member of the Society of Jesus and played a controversial role in the Nine Years War, during the Tudor conquest of his native country...
, the chaplain of the Spanish fleet sent to the help of the Catholics of Ireland. But they travelled on different boats and in fact never met. Collins was made prisoner subsequent to the disastrous battle of Kinsale (24 December 1601). While James Archer returned to Spain to ask for help, Collins stayed at Dunboy Castle
Dunboy Castle
Dunboy Castle was a stronghold of the O'Sullivan Bere, a Gaelic clan leader and 'Chief of Dunboy'. The castle is located on the Beara Peninsula in south-west Ireland near the town of Castletownbere and was built to guard and defend the harbour of Berehaven...
to attend to the spiritual needs of the Irish forces. Dunboy fell into the hands of the English on 18th June 1602. Even though Collins was the unarmed spokesman of the rendition party, he was made prisoner by the English.
Relishing the prospect of having a Jesuit abjure his faith in his very home town, the English took Dominic Collins to Youghal, a distance of 173km. There, he was tortured. This had no effect on Collins’ resolve: he expressed anew, and publicly, his Catholic faith. Without any formal judgment, he was condemned to death and finally hanged on the 31 October 1602.
Beatification
Dominic Collins was beatified - along with Francis Taylor and 13 other Irish martyrs - on the 27 September 1992, by Pope John-Paul II.Liturgically
Liturgy
Liturgy is either the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to its particular traditions or a more precise term that distinguishes between those religious groups who believe their ritual requires the "people" to do the "work" of responding to the priest, and those...
his feast is celebrated on the 20th June, or the 30th of October (in the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
).