Robert Whitty
Encyclopedia
Father Robert Whitty, S. J. (January 7, 1817-September 1, 1895) was an Irish
Jesuit priest
.
Born at Pouldarrig, near Oylgate, he entered Maynooth College in his fourteenth year. Having added two years on the Dumboyne Establishment to his college course, he was still too young for ordination. He offered his services to Dr. Griffiths, Vicar
Apostolic of the London
District, who ordained him priest at St. Edmund's, Ware, 19 September 1840. From the first he showed a warm sympathy with the Oxford
convert
s and formed a friendship with John Henry Newman and Frederick Oakeley
before they had become Catholic
s. Nicholas Patrick Wiseman showed his appreciation of his priestly zeal
by making him provost of the newly appointed metropolitan chapter and his vicar-general in 1850. In this capacity he was responsible for the publication of the famous pastoral "From the Flaminian Gate", in which English bigotry pretended to discover papal aggression. "The Cardinal never blamed me", he wrote long afterwards, "but others did." In 1857 Father Whitty obtained leave to resign his position, and entered the noviceship of the Society of Jesus at Verona
. On his return to England he was appointed professor of canon law
in St. Beunos College, North Wales
. After labouring for some time in Scotland
, he was appointed provincial. Subsequently he was assistant to the Father-General Anthony Maria Anderledy. He filled other important offices, and worked until the end, giving ecclesiastical retreats even in the last summer of his life. He died at the age of 78 years, of which he had spent 38 as a Jesuit.
Whitty was brother to Ellen Whitty.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
Jesuit 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...
.
Born at Pouldarrig, near Oylgate, he entered Maynooth College in his fourteenth year. Having added two years on the Dumboyne Establishment to his college course, he was still too young for ordination. He offered his services to Dr. Griffiths, Vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
Apostolic of the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
District, who ordained him priest at St. Edmund's, Ware, 19 September 1840. From the first he showed a warm sympathy with the Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
convert
Convert
The convert or try, in American football known as "point after", and Canadian football "Point after touchdown", is a one-scrimmage down played immediately after a touchdown during which the scoring team is allowed to attempt to score an extra one point by kicking the ball through the uprights , or...
s and formed a friendship with John Henry Newman and Frederick Oakeley
Frederick Oakeley
Frederick Oakeley was born in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England the sixth son of Sir Charles Oakeley, second baronet, and educated at Christ Church, Oxford. He was ordained in 1828 and in 1845 converted from Church of England to Catholicism, whereupon he became Canon of Westminster in 1852....
before they had become Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
s. Nicholas Patrick Wiseman showed his appreciation of his priestly zeal
Zeal
Zeal may refer to:* Zeal, Zeal * Diligence, the theological virtue opposite to acedia.* Zealotry, excessive ideological zeal* Zeal , an internet directory* Kingdom of Zeal, a kingdom in the Chrono Trigger video game...
by making him provost of the newly appointed metropolitan chapter and his vicar-general in 1850. In this capacity he was responsible for the publication of the famous pastoral "From the Flaminian Gate", in which English bigotry pretended to discover papal aggression. "The Cardinal never blamed me", he wrote long afterwards, "but others did." In 1857 Father Whitty obtained leave to resign his position, and entered the noviceship of the Society of Jesus at Verona
Verona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
. On his return to England he was appointed professor of canon law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
in St. Beunos College, North Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. After labouring for some time in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, he was appointed provincial. Subsequently he was assistant to the Father-General Anthony Maria Anderledy. He filled other important offices, and worked until the end, giving ecclesiastical retreats even in the last summer of his life. He died at the age of 78 years, of which he had spent 38 as a Jesuit.
Whitty was brother to Ellen Whitty.