Feb 18 John Pibush b. ~1560 d. 1601 bl. 1929 [see also saintsandsons 2-18-09]

Jack and Thom,
Good Morning, I love you
110209, 1957

On the way out of the Church tonight, a woman on her way in stopped to say hello. She also very kindly thanked me for how I “proclaimed the Word” at Mass on Saturday. There’s no way of knowing what difference it makes to read, literally, two or three sentences to the congregation: to the individuals listening to the Word proclaimed. This past Saturday it apparently made a difference to one person in addition to me. Deo Gratias.

In this coming Sunday’s (2-13) NY Times Magazine, online today, there’s an article ‘The Irish Affliction’ claiming to be about the effects of the sexual abuse scandal in Ireland. No doubt our having the Twelve Apostles of Ireland plus Columba and Patrick – and Brigid and Maeve et al. – would be a plus for us, both in Ireland and in our Church universal. One question the article addresses is ‘how much Vatican dominate’ the Irish Church should be? Of course, grandpa would remind us that we are the Roman Catholic Church, so get over yourself, Whitby was fourteen hundred years ago. At the same time, if a bishop is king in his diocese, does not universal mean as much the assimilation of each of our differences without losing the uniqueness?

Ken wrote me a note after the funeral for Uncle Frank: “Your effort to be at my Dad’s services was greatly appreciated and a real tribute to the ‘Nolan’ family. The last few years have been difficult but the support of family and friends at the end made the farewell a beautiful sendoff. …. Love, Ken Chris, and family.” Amen and Deo Gratias. The sendoff is important for the senders than the sendee. I hope you have a plan for yourselves. Oro pro vobis.


February 18

John Pibush b. ~1560 d. 1601 bl. 1929

[see also saintsandsons 2-18-09]

The dates tell you the man’s story in a nutshell – English Martyr. This John was the son of a Thomas. Solid English names y’all have. And Irish. And original with the Apostles. Find yourselves in the namesakes and patron saints and family members who have proceeded you.

At about twenty, John Pibush came to Reims on 4 August, 1580. John Pibush received minor orders and subdiaconate in September, and diaconate in December, 1586. John Pibush was ordained on 14 March, 1587. About two years later, John Pibush was sent on the English mission on 3 January, 1588-9.

That’s about how it worked at that time. The twenty year old arrives in exile at the Catholic seminary in northern France. Remember when you were twenty – you were still in town tied to your mother’s apron strings. [and still?] Try to imagine going off on your own, pursuing your faith and vocation, contrary to the wishes of family and against the law of the land. Not on your own so much when you arrived into the community of the faithful, especially of men with the same English mission calling. Man up. Discern your vocation. Make it so.

The training for priesthood requires not only a grounding in academics but a maturity of faith and person. Today, a college graduate and then some; someone past adolescence with a degree of maturity of life and spirituality.

The brief period from ordination to being sent on the English mission is not hard to understand. Reims and the other English seminaries across the channel were training bases for Englishmen dedicated to returning home as soon as possible to serve faith, family, community, and country. Whom do you aspire to serve? What is the foundation of your service? Better, Who is the foundation of your service?

John Pibush made it about four years before he was arrested at Morton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, in 1593. We never know how much time God gives us to serve. Some of the English martyrs were caught and killed within days of their return home. Some after twenty plus years. You do not have a promise of tomorrow. Let tonight be a full dedication to service to your vocation.

He was sent to London, where he arrived before 24 July 1593. The Privy Council committed him to the Gatehouse at Westminster, where he remained a year. How will you stand up under the withering imprisonment of those who oppose you because of your faith? The get out of jail free card is to renounce our faith and Jesus’ followers. Better that you stay in jail and be happy in the confidence of your faith than risk your immortal soul and the happiness on earth we are promised for sticking close to our faith, one another, Jesus.

After that year in prison, John Pibush was then tried at the Gloucester Assizes for being a priest. John Pibush was not sentenced but was returned to Gloucester gaol. John Pibush escaped the Gloucester gaol on 19 February (1594-5).

The next day John Pibush was recaptured at Matson and taken back to Gloucester gaol. John Pibush was then sent to the Marshalsea, London. In London, John Pibush was again tried for the same crime at Westminster on 1 July, 1595.

The man would not quit! No matter what. What made him so strong in living his faith, proselytizing our religion? God loves you! It’s the secret of A Father’s Love. How can you deny someone who loves you unconditionally, infinitely, no matter what? It is a miserable existence for those who reject that love.

John Pibush was sentenced to suffer the penalties of high treason at St. Thomas's Waterings. John Pibush, in the meantime, was to be returned to the Marshalsea. However, by the end of the year he was in the Queen's Bench prison, where John Pibush remained for more than five years. The sentence was carried out after one day's notice.

Add them up. The years in prison. His persistence in faith. His constant sacrifice of himself for the Love of God and Church and family and country. No matter what anyone said – there is no greater crime than treason, a secular version of a sin against the Holy Spirit. John Pibush professed his loyalty to the Crown, his love of country, AND his One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Faith.

I love you,
Dad
2030