17 Irish Martyrs Novena – Catholic Novena Prayer

The 17 Irish Martyrs, a group of devoted individuals who sacrificed their lives for their faith during the turbulent period of the Reformation, are revered for their unwavering commitment to the Catholic Church and their courageous witness to the Gospel.

About 17 Irish Martyrs

Irish Catholic Martyrs were dozens of people who have been sanctified in varying degrees for dying for their Roman Catholic faith between 1537 and 1714 in Ireland.

Irish Catholic Martyrs (Irish: Mairtírigh Chaitliceacha na hÉireann) were 24 Irish men and women who have been beatified or canonized for both a life of heroic virtue and for dying for their Catholic faith between the reign of King Henry VIII and Catholic Emancipation in 1829.

The more than three century-long religious persecution of the Catholic Church in Ireland came in waves, caused by an overreaction by the State to certain incidents and interspersed with intervals of comparative respite.

Even so, during the worst of times, the Irish people, according to Marcus Tanner, clung to the Mass, “crossed themselves when they passed Protestant ministers on the road, had to be dragged into Protestant churches and put cotton wool in their ears rather than listen to Protestant sermons.”

According to historian and folklorist Seumas MacManus, “Throughout these dreadful centuries, too, the hunted priest who in his youth had been smuggled to the Continent of Europe to receive his training tended the flame of faith.

He lurked like a thief among the hills. On Sundays and Feast Days he celebrated Mass at a rock, on a remote mountainside, while the congregation knelt on the heather of the hillside, under the open heavens.

While he said Mass, faithful sentries watched from all the nearby hilltops, to give timely warning of the approaching priest-hunter and his guard of British soldiers. But sometimes the troops came on them unawares, and the Mass Rock was bespattered with his blood, and men, women, and children caught in the crime of worshipping God among the rocks, were frequently slaughtered on the mountainside.”

The 1975 canonization of Archbishop Oliver Plunkett, who was hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn on 1 July 1681, as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales raised considerable public interest in other Irishmen and Irishwomen who had similarly died for their Catholic faith in the 16th and 17th centuries.

On 22 September 1992 Pope John Paul II beatified an additional 17 martyrs and assigned June 20, the anniversary of the 1584 martyrdom of Archbishop Dermot O’Hurley, as their feast day. Many other causes for Roman Catholic Martyrdom and possible Sainthood, however, remain under active investigation.

About 17 Irish Martyrs Novena

Praying the 17 Irish Martyrs Novena can provide strength and inspiration for those facing persecution or challenges in their faith, reminding believers of the courage and steadfastness exhibited by these martyrs. Their sacrifices highlight the importance of fidelity to one’s beliefs, encouraging individuals to stand firm in their convictions.

This novena also fosters a deeper connection to the rich history of the Catholic faith in Ireland, inviting participants to reflect on the virtues of bravery, resilience, and commitment to the Gospel in their own lives.

17 Irish Martyrs Novena Prayers

Novena to Irish Martyrs is a nine-day prayer experience designed to deepen your faith, strengthen your relationship with God, and seek the powerful intercession of Irish Martyrs.

You can pray the Irish Martyrs Novena for any intention!

17 Irish Martyrs Novena Day 1

Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

O God, we thank you for the example of Blessed Robert Meyler and his 16 companions who laid down their lives for love of you and your Church. Grant us, we pray that through their intercession we may receive the graces which we implore of you if it be your holy will….. We also pray that they will soon be raised to the altars for the glory of your name and the good of your Church. We make this prayer through Jesus Christ, your son, our lord. Amen.

(Mention your request here…)