Saint Who?
Saints Who Studied Law
Blessed Dermot O’Hurley
Bishop and martyr († 1584) Feast: June 20
Dermot was born in 1530 into a wealthy, noble family in Ireland and was sent to the continent for university studies. He obtained degrees in philosophy, canon law, and civil law in Louvain, Belgium; taught law at Rheims, France; and then went to Rome, probably to continue his academic career.
During most of Dermot’s life, the Catholics of Ireland had been persecuted by English monarchs due to King Henry VIII’s decision to declare himself the head of the Church. When outright rebellion erupted in Ireland in 1579, the see of Cashel was vacant, and Pope Gregory XIII wanted a strong, diplomatic shepherd to guide the Irish people. He convinced Dermot, who was still a layman, to accept ordination and consecration as the archbishop of Cashel.
Dermot quietly returned to his native Ireland, knowing that an underground Catholic bishop was a major target for the Protestant authorities. After serving the Catholic faithful for two years in secret, Dermot surrendered himself to protect a baron who had tried to protect him. Although he was almost tortured to death, Dermot refused to implicate other Catholics. He was quickly tried and executed, even though that was contrary to Irish law, which Dermot pointed out in his final speech before his martyrdom. Documents written by his torturers were used in proceedings which declared him a martyr and a blessed.
Christ, our Good Shepherd, bless all the shepherds
of the Church with courage and a hunger for justice.
