Joseph MacRory facts for kids
Quick facts for kids His Eminence Joseph Cardinal MacRory |
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| Cardinal, Archbishop of Armagh Primate of All Ireland |
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| See | Armagh |
| Enthroned | 1928 |
| Reign ended | 1945 |
| Predecessor | Patrick Cardinal O'Donnell |
| Successor | John Cardinal D'Alton |
| Other posts | Bishop of Down and Connor 1915–1928 |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 13 September 1885 (Priest) |
| Consecration | 14 November 1915 (Bishop) |
| Created Cardinal | 16 December 1929 |
| Rank | Cardinal priest of San Giovanni a Porta Latina |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 March 1861 Ballygawley, County Tyrone |
| Died | 13 October 1945 (aged 84) Armagh, Northern Ireland |
| Buried | St Patrick's Cathedral Cemetery, Armagh |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| Parents | Francis MacRory and Rose Montague |
| Motto | Fortis in Fide |
Joseph Cardinal MacRory (Irish: Seosamh Mac Ruairí; 19 March 1861 – 13 October 1945) was an important Irish Cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the Archbishop of Armagh from 1928 until he passed away. He became a cardinal in 1929. Many people saw him as the main Catholic leader in Ireland during major events like the 1916 Rising, the division of Ireland, and World War II.
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Early Life and Education
Joseph MacRory was born on 19 March 1861 in Ballygawley, County Tyrone. He was one of ten children born to Francis MacRory, a farmer, and his wife, Rose.
He went to school at St. Patrick's College, Armagh and later at Maynooth. He became a priest on 13 September 1885.
His first job was as the first president of St. Patrick's Academy, Dungannon from 1886 to 1887. After that, MacRory taught about the Bible and modern theology at St Mary's College, Oscott in England until 1889. Then, he became a professor of scripture and Oriental languages at Maynooth College, where he had studied.
He helped start the Irish Ecclesiastical Review in 1902. In 1912, he was made vice-president of Maynooth.
Bishop of Down and Connor
On 9 August 1915, Pope Benedict XV chose MacRory to be the Bishop of Down and Connor. He officially became a bishop on 14 November, with Michael Cardinal Logue leading the ceremony. He chose the motto Fortis in Fide, which means "Strong in Faith."
From 1917 to 1918, he was one of four church members in the Irish Convention. He wrote that he attended this meeting to oppose the division of Ireland "with all his heart." He was one of the delegates who supported the idea of Ireland becoming a fully self-governing country, like a Dominion.
Archbishop of Armagh
On 22 June 1928, MacRory became the Archbishop of Armagh. This also made him the Primate of All Ireland, which is a very important position. He took over from Patrick Cardinal O'Donnell.
The next year, on 16 December 1929, Pope Pius XI made him a Cardinal Priest.
Cardinal MacRory led the 31st International Eucharistic Congress, a big Catholic event held in Dublin from 20 to 26 June 1932. This was a very important moment for the Catholic Church in the new Irish Free State. As a cardinal, he also took on other special roles. For example, he was the papal legate (the Pope's representative) at the start of building Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral in 1933. The next year, he traveled to Australia as a legate for their National Eucharistic Congress.
He was one of the cardinals who voted in the 1939 papal election, which chose Pope Pius XII. Cardinal MacRory strongly disagreed with the division of Ireland.
Wartime Actions
During the Spanish Civil War, MacRory suggested that Eoin O'Duffy create an Irish Brigade. This group went to Spain to help one of the sides in the conflict. Many members of the Brigade were blessed by the Archbishop of Tuam before they sailed from Galway.
In 1940, during World War II, he strongly spoke out against plans to force people to join the army in Northern Ireland. These plans were eventually dropped.
Other Interests
MacRory was a supporter of the Gaelic League, which promotes the Irish language and culture. Errigal Ciaran, a famous GAA sports club in Ireland, plays at Cardinal MacRory Park. This park, located in Dunmoyle, was named in his honor in 1956.
Death
Cardinal MacRory passed away at the age of 84 from a heart attack after a short illness. He died at Ara Coeli, his home in Armagh. He was buried in St Patrick's Cathedral Cemetery, Armagh.
