From the Martyrologium Romanum
7. Olomucii in Moravia, sancti Ioannis Sarkander, presbyteri et martyris, qui parochus Holesovienses, cum arcana confessionum tradere renuisset, rotae supplicio datus est et adhus spirans in carcerem deictus post mensem obiit.
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He is a patron saint of confessors. Every conceivable torture was used on him in order to force him to betray the seal of confession.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Sarkandrova_kaple_-_freska_muceni.jpg
“The memorial of St. John Sarkander, priest and martyr, at Olmuetz in Moravia. When had refused to reveal secrets of confessions as a priest in Holeschau, he was given over to torture on the wheel. Though he survived, he passed away in prison after a month.”
Salutationes omnibus.
Although the Martyrology gives ‘rotae supplicio’ he was in fact tortured on the rack, the wheel being a method of execution. The year was 1620. When most of my compatriots are out getting drunk to celebrate a Romano-British bishop about whom little is known, they might like to give some thought to St John Sarkander.
Fr. Z – ALL saints are wonderful. Each is a unique jewel from which we can learn. Thank you for reminding us of St. John Sarkander an exemplar for priests indeed. I hope though that he would not begrudge being overshadowed by St. Patrick, of whom, contra John Nolan, we know quite a lot. He suffered exile, persecution, from the British church it seems as much from Irish pagans, to bring the light of the Catholic faith to this little island on the edge of the world as it was. Above all he gave us the Sacraments, not least that of Confession, which Irish missionaries were to take back to Britain, Europe and around the world and which they still do today. No mean fruit from such a small tree.
While I dislike the ‘St. Paddy’s Day’ term and the accompanying nonsense (green beer is not Irish) I wish you all Beannachtaí Lá Fhéile Phádraig!
Happy St. Patrick’s day Fr. Z. Saol fada agus breac – shlainte chugat.