Richard Blount (priest) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Richard Blount, S.J.
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| Born | 1565 Leicestershire, England
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| Died | 1638 London, England
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| Occupation | priest |
Richard Blount, S.J. (1565–1638) was an important English priest. He was the first leader of the Jesuits in England after new laws made being Catholic difficult. The Jesuits are a group of Catholic priests and brothers.
Contents
Richard Blount's Story
His Early Years
Richard Blount was born in Leicestershire, England, in 1565. He went to school at Balliol College, Oxford. Later, he started university studies at Trinity College. However, he left soon after because he became a Catholic.
He then traveled to the English College in Douai. This college was in the Spanish Netherlands. He arrived there on July 22, 1583. The college was temporarily in Rheims because of fighting in Douai. In 1584, he moved to the English College, Rome in Rome.
Becoming a Priest
After five years in Rome, Blount became a priest in 1589. In 1591, he worked with Father Robert Parsons, S.J. to secretly return to England. He pretended to be a sailor who was a prisoner of war. These sailors were returning from a failed trip against Spain.
He appeared before the Lord High Admiral, Howard of Effingham. Blount told his story. He knew enough about the events and sailing to be believed. So, he was allowed back into England.
He worked as a priest while hiding. One of his hiding places was Scotney Castle in Kent. Thomas Darrell, a Catholic who refused to follow the new laws, hid Blount there. Blount helped Roman Catholics from 1591 to 1598. Being Catholic was against the law in England then. During one police search, Blount had to jump over a wall into the moat to escape.
He also stayed at Mapledurham House in Oxfordshire. Richard Blount and another priest ran a successful mission from this house. They helped Catholics in Berkshire, Oxfordshire, and Northamptonshire. The house was searched many times, but no one was ever caught there. Blount used fake names like "Randall" and "R. Dagger."
In 1604, he went to a secret meeting at White Webbs. This house was near Enfield Chase. It was rented by Henry Garnet and used by the Jesuits for meetings.
Leading the English Jesuits
In 1617, Blount was chosen to be the Superior of the English mission of the Society of Jesus. This meant he became the leader of the English Jesuits. At that time, there were about 200 Jesuits. About 109 of them were hiding in England.
In 1619, the Pope made England a "trial province." This meant the area had become stable and permanent enough. Blount was made Vice-Provincial, the highest leader in a trial province. His job was to organize the province. This was to prepare it for full approval at the next meeting of the Jesuit leaders. Blount set up five "fictional colleges" in London, Lancashire, Suffolk, Leicestershire, and Wales. These were not real buildings but ways to organize the Jesuits.
His hard work was recognized by the Jesuit leaders. England became a full Province of the Society of Jesus. Blount was the first Provincial superior of this new province. He led the English Province until August 11, 1635. Henry More, S.J., then took over his role.
His Later Life and Death
Richard Blount, S.J., died in London on May 13, 1638. He had a special church service called a requiem. This service was held in the private chapel of Henrietta Maria. She was the Queen consort of England, Scotland, and Ireland. She was also a strong Catholic from France.
Published Works
Richard Blount wrote a paper in 1632. It was called "Objections answered touching Maryland." This paper discussed questions about the new colony of Maryland.
