Beneath Mary's Mantle: Bl. Robert Nutter (c. 1557 - 1600)
St. Dominic once had a dream in which he saw all the saints of the Order safely beneath the mantle of Mary, Protectress of the Order of Preachers. In this blog series, we’ll introduce our beloved Dominican Saints, learn about their lives and work, and come to see how they still inspire and pass on their gifts to today’s faithful.
Priest and Martyr
Born: not later than 1557 in Lancashire, England
Died: July 26, 1600 in Lancaster, England
Feast Day: July 27
Icon of Bl. Robert Nutter with the hangman’s noose.
Throughout history, there have been those in power who have tried to suppress the Catholic faith with violence and aggression. But the Church has always stood firm, answering with great saints whose lives (and often deaths) give heroic witness to the truth and power of her teachings. Today, let’s turn to England to meet Blessed Robert Nutter, a priest and martyr from the 16th century.
The date of Blessed Robert’s birth is not precisely known; we know it was no later than 1557 in Lancashire, England. He also had an older brother, John, whose life would parallel Robert’s in more ways than one. By the time Robert reached college age, the two brothers were determined to become priests. The brothers had to look abroad to attain that goal; England was at that time a hotbed of anti-Catholic persecution. Thus, the brothers traveled to France to attend Douai College at Rheims. Robert was ordained in 1581.
This painting in Ushaw College commemorates the Catholic Martyrs of the English Reformation. Among them, shown on the right panel, are the seminary priests of Douai College who were martyred between 1577 and 1680, and of which Bl. Robert Nutter was one.
(Photography: Fr. Lawrence Lew, OP (c) 2014)
Returning to England after ordination marked the beginning of almost two decades of priestly ministry filled with danger and persecution under Elizabeth I’s anti-Catholic reign. According to some sources, Robert spent 16 of the next 18 years in various English prisons. This included extended time in the Tower of London, where at one point in 1584 he was manacled and tortured for forty-three days. (As if the physical torture weren’t enough, it was during this stretch that Robert learned of the martyrdom of his brother, John.) Eventually, Robert was released and banished from England under threat of death. He was not dissuaded from his calling, however, and returned to England by 1586. While we don’t know the exact date of Robert’s entry to the Dominican Order, it took place while he was imprisoned at Wisbech Castle, where he made his solemn profession to a prior provincial from Portugal.
The site of the infamous ‘Tyburn Tree’, where 105 Catholic martyrs were killed between 1535 and 1681.
(Marble Arch, London.)
Later, after an escape from one of his various stints in prison, Robert was caught—for good this time. He was then hanged, drawn and quartered on July 26, 1600. Blessed Robert was beatified by Pope St. John Paul II on November 22, 1987, along with 84 other martyrs from England, Scotland, and Wales.
Every time we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we petition God: “Thy kingdom come; thy will be done.” Some of us have prayed those words so many times that we may even forget to think about what they mean! Blessed Robert Nutter, however, laid down his life in pursuit of those two objectives. Despite the persecution of an earthly kingdom, he put his faith and his energy into bringing about the kingdom of God. Furthermore, he did not count the cost when the prayer “thy will be done” meant loss of freedom, family, and life. As we reflect on the life of Blessed Robert Nutter, let us pray an Our Father for those who face persecution for their beliefs today. Finally, through Blessed Robert’s intercession and following his example, let us ask God that our faith may be strengthened so that we may love Him above all else.
Blessed Robert Nutter, pray for us!
