Today in History: Manchester Martyrs

It was a day like today.

On November 23, 1744 was born Abigail Adams, the wife of President John Adams, the second chief executive of the United States. Abigail was also the mother of John Quincy Adams, the sixth president of the republic. This is also the birthdate of comedian Harpo Marx, who was born in 1893.

On this date in 1867 were executed the so-called Manchester Martyrs, Michael O'Brien, William Philip Allen and Michael Larkin –members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood who had been found guilty of the murder of a police officer while effecting the escape of one of their confreres earlier that year. Their defenders had claimed in court that the death of Police Sergeant Charles Brett had been unintended but jurors, and public opinion were unswayed. Some 10,000 people came to watch their execution singing “Rule Britannia” and “Champagne Charlie” as mounted troops stood guard. Their death by hanging was botched by the executioner, who had pull on the legs of one of the trio to effect his death. A Catholic priest at the scene barred the executioner from doing the same to the third, holding his hand and praying with him until the end.

Many prominent people who, while deploring the death of Officer Brett, were equally appalled by the injustice meted out to the Irish in the native country by the British and by their treatment in Old Blighty itself. One of these was philosopher John Stuart Mill. The Daily Telegraph newspaper called Brett’s death “a vulgar, dastardly murder", nevertheless supported reform in Ireland, adding "we may hang convicted Fenians with good conscience, but we should also thoroughly redress those evils distinctly due to English policy and still supported by English power." Masses were said for the three dead Fenians throughout Ireland and many memorials to them remain standing on the Auld Sod.
On the Byzantine calendar of saints, today is commemorated St. Amphilochius who died in 400 AD. A close friend of his cousin St. Gregory Naziazen and St. Basil, Amphilochius was appointed bishop of Iconium in 374. A notable opponent of the Arian heresy, he also opposed the Arians during the Council of Constantionple in 381. He also opposed the Messalians and their belief that only prayer is necessary for salvation.

Words of Wisdom

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen wrote in the Seven Virtues, “It is one of the paradoxes of Christianity that the only things that are really our own when we die is what we gave away in His name. What we leave in our wills is snatched from us by death; but what we give away is recorded by God to our eternal credit, for only our works follow us. It is not what is given that profits unto salvation; it is why it is given.