St John Wall, August 22

St John Wall, Priest and Martyr

+ Worcester, England, August 22, 1679

Born in England he was ordained a priest at Douai, France and

professed the Rule of the Friars Minor. He exercised his priestly

ministry in England for 22 years until he was captured and

sentenced to death. He ascended the scaffold at Worcester

August 22, 1679.

Roman Martyrology: At Worcester in England ever, St John Wall, a priest of the Order of Friars Minor and martyr, who, after exercising in secret for more than twenty years his ministry as pastor, for his priesthood, died hanging in a snare and gutted with his sword during the reign of Charles II.

Born of good and wealthy family in 1620 perhaps chiral Hall, near

Prestnn in Lancashire, John Wall in 1641 came the English College

at Douai, where he received the sacred ordination in 1645. After a

short mission to England, he returned to Douai to wear the

Franciscan habit in the convent of S. Bonaventure (1651), taking

the religious name of Brother Joachim St. Anna, much appreciate

d for its excellent quality, has the functions of vicar of the convent

and master of novices, and in 1656 he left again for the English

mission, going to establish, built the fictitious name of Francis

Webb, for Harvingion Hall in phonics Worcester, and here he coul

d carry undisturbed for over twenty-two pastoral ministry with

great uiililà of local Catholics.

“ Capture unexpectedly in December 1678, to around

Bromsgravc Rushock Court at the time of presumed papist

conspiracy mounted by the notorious Tiius Oatcs Wall decided

ly refused to take the oath of supremacy, so he was locked up in

prisons in Worcester, where he remained for five months between

immature suffering, borne with great fortitude. On April 25 1679

Atkins was tried by the court and sentenced to death on charges

of high treason, as a priest in the kingdom riemraro order one

abroad and to undertake activities of priests.

“ Nonetheless, he was sent to London to be examined by Oatcs,

Bcdloe, Dugdale and Prance, from which, however, cleared of any

involvement lu the Popish plot, despite being again sentenced to

death for his status as a priest, which was returned in Worcester

for the execution, which took place some time more lard, or 22 ag

. 1679. Shortly before boarding the scaffold VP. wrote a long

speech, in which features of his trial and his conviction and handed

it to a friend why he did it to print, as it was (Lond 1679).

“ The only victim who should suffer martyrdom for the faith in

Worcester, Wall was witnessed in the last days of his existence

from brother William Leveson (brother of martyr well Franciscan

VCN. Lcvcsoi Francis), who died in prison in that city at

thirty-four On the Feb. 1680). The mortal remains of the heroic

confessor of the faith were buried in the cemetery adjoining the

church of S. Oswald of Worcester, while the head was taken to

the Franciscan monastery of Douai, in which the martyr belonged,

where it is still preserved and venerated.

“ Honor of the altars, erected by Pope Pius XI December

15 1929 (ci. AAS, XXII [19,301, p. 18, n. CXXX1I), Blessed Wall is

commemorated on 22 August.

Source: Santi e Beati