Beesley, George, Bl.
BEESLEY, GEORGE, BL.
Priest, martyr; b. c. 1563 at The Hill in Goosnargh (Goosenoor) parish, Lancashire, England; d. July 2, 1591, hanged, drawn, and quartered on Fleet Street in London. As with the scions of many ancient Catholic families of England, he was sent to Rheims, where he was ordained in 1587. On Nov. 1, 1588, he returned to his native land, where he labored primarily in London and in the north of England. He was a strong, robust young man when captured by Topcliffe late in 1590, but reduced to a skeleton by torture. He endured all with invincible courage and could not be induced to betray his fellow Catholics. His last words were "Absit mihi gloriari nisi in cruce Domini nostri Jesu Christi" and, after a pause, "Good people, I beseech God to send all felicity." Beesley was beatified by Pope John Paul II on Nov. 22, 1987 with George Haydock and Companions.
Feast of the English Martyrs: May 4 (England)
See Also: england, scotland, and wales, martyrs of.
Bibliography: r. challoner, Memoirs of Missionary Priests, ed. j. h. pollen (rev. ed. London 1924). j. h. pollen, Acts of English Martyrs (London 1891).
[k. i. rabenstein]