John of Cologne
Encyclopedia
John of Cologne was a Dominican order
priest born at Cologne, Germany, parish
priest
of Horner, Holland.
and Calvinism
had spread through a great part of Europe
. In the Netherlands
this was followed by a struggle between the two doctrines in which Calvinism was victorious. In 1571 the Calvinists held their first synod, at Embden. On 1 April of the next year Calvinists and a group called the Watergeuzen (Sea-beggars) conquered Briel and later Vlissingen.
In June of that year, Dortrecht and Gorkum also fell into their hands. There they arrested all the clergy and held them in confinement, in an attempt to get them to deny the Catholic belief on the Eucharist and Papal succession.
As John became aware of what had happened to his fellow priests, he disguised himself and attempted to bring them the comfort of the sacraments. He secretly ministered to the captives and brought them the sacraments but was eventually found out and taken captive. Meanwhile, a letter from William the Silent
, Prince of Orange
, enjoined all those in authority to leave priests and religious unmolested. Nevertheless Lumey, the commander of the Watergeuzen, ordered them to be hanged in the night of 9 July, in a turfshed amid cruel mutilations.
They are referred by the RCC as the Gorkum Martyrs
.. John of Cologne was canonized by Pope Pius IX
in 1867.
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
priest born at Cologne, Germany, parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
of Horner, Holland.
Biography
As of 1572, LutheranismLutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
and Calvinism
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
had spread through a great part of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. In the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
this was followed by a struggle between the two doctrines in which Calvinism was victorious. In 1571 the Calvinists held their first synod, at Embden. On 1 April of the next year Calvinists and a group called the Watergeuzen (Sea-beggars) conquered Briel and later Vlissingen.
In June of that year, Dortrecht and Gorkum also fell into their hands. There they arrested all the clergy and held them in confinement, in an attempt to get them to deny the Catholic belief on the Eucharist and Papal succession.
As John became aware of what had happened to his fellow priests, he disguised himself and attempted to bring them the comfort of the sacraments. He secretly ministered to the captives and brought them the sacraments but was eventually found out and taken captive. Meanwhile, a letter from William the Silent
William the Silent
William I, Prince of Orange , also widely known as William the Silent , or simply William of Orange , was the main leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish that set off the Eighty Years' War and resulted in the formal independence of the United Provinces in 1648. He was born in the House of...
, Prince of Orange
Prince of Orange
Prince of Orange is a title of nobility, originally associated with the Principality of Orange, in what is now southern France. In French it is la Principauté d'Orange....
, enjoined all those in authority to leave priests and religious unmolested. Nevertheless Lumey, the commander of the Watergeuzen, ordered them to be hanged in the night of 9 July, in a turfshed amid cruel mutilations.
They are referred by the RCC as the Gorkum Martyrs
Martyrs of Gorkum
The Martyrs of Gorkum were a group of 19 Dutch Catholic clergy and friars who suffered martyrdom in the sixteenth century for their faith in the town of Gorinchem .-Events:...
.. John of Cologne was canonized by Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
in 1867.