Robert Drury (priest) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids BlessedRobert Drury |
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| Priest and Martyr | |
| Born | c. 1567 Buckinghamshire, England |
| Died | 26 February 1607 (aged 39 - 40) Tyburn, London, England |
| Honored in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 22 November 1987 by Pope John Paul II |
| Feast | 26 February (individual) 22 November (one of the Eighty-five martyrs of England and Wales) 29 October (one of the Douai Martyrs) |
| Attributes | martyr's palm |
Robert Drury (born around 1567, died 1607) was an English Roman Catholic priest. He was put to death because of his religious beliefs and actions, which were seen as going against the government at the time. The Catholic Church honors him as a martyr, which means someone who died for their faith. He was officially recognized as "Blessed" in 1987.
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Robert Drury's Early Life
Robert Drury was born in Buckinghamshire, England. When he was about 21 years old, in 1588, he went to study at the English College in Reims, France. This college was a place where English Catholics could train to become priests. Later, in 1590, he moved to a new college in Valladolid, Spain, to finish his studies.
Becoming a Priest
After completing his training, Robert Drury became a priest. He returned to England in 1593. At that time, being a Catholic priest in England was very dangerous. The government had made it illegal to practice the Catholic faith openly. Despite the risks, Father Drury worked mainly in London, serving the Catholic community in secret.
Challenges with the Government
During this period, there was a lot of tension between the English government and Catholics. The government wanted all citizens to be loyal to the Queen. Many Catholic priests, including Father Drury, wanted to show their loyalty to the Queen while also staying true to their faith.
Showing Loyalty to the Queen
In 1603, Father Drury and other priests signed an important letter. In this letter, they promised to be loyal to Queen Elizabeth I of England. They said they would defend her and would not support any plots against the government. However, they also asked for the freedom to practice their Catholic faith. They wanted to obey the Queen in worldly matters but also follow the Pope in religious matters.
The New Oath of Allegiance
After Queen Elizabeth I died, James I of England became king. King James I introduced a new "Oath of Allegiance" in 1606. This oath was very strict. It required people to say that the Pope had no power to remove a king from his throne. It also called the Pope's power to do so "wicked and against faith."
Robert Drury was arrested around this time. He was told he could live if he took this new oath. However, Father Drury believed that taking the oath would go against his conscience and his Catholic faith. The Pope himself, Pope Paul V, had also condemned this oath.
Martyrdom
Because Robert Drury refused to take the oath, he was condemned. He died as a Catholic martyr at a place called Tyburn in London on February 26, 1607. He chose to give up his life rather than go against his religious beliefs.
A report from that time mistakenly said he was a Benedictine monk. However, the clothes he wore during his execution were actually the usual clothes of a secular priest (a priest who is not part of a monastic order).
See also
