September 7 | Blessed Ralph Corby

Welcome, young history buffs and curious minds, to My Daily Saint, the podcast that digs deep into the incredible lives of the saints, those remarkable people who shaped history and continue to inspire us today. Forget dusty old portraits and boring stories. Today, imagine a world where your family's deepest beliefs are completely outlawed. Just attending a church service could get you thrown in prison, and leading one could get you killed. If you want to practice your faith, you have to do it in the shadows.

You have to meet in hidden rooms, use secret codes, and constantly look over your shoulder for spies and government hunters. You are a wanted fugitive, dodging the law, Every single day. This is the story of Blessed Ralph Corby.

Ralph was born on March 25, 1598, into a family that took their faith incredibly seriously. Both of his brothers grew up to become Jesuit priests. After Ralph and his brothers were all grown up, his father became a lay Jesuit brother, and his mother became a Benedictine nun.

Following right in the footsteps of his older brothers, Ralph was also ordained as a Jesuit priest. But Ralph didn't just want a quiet, safe life. He wanted to go where he was needed most, even if it meant walking right into a trap. He volunteered to serve as a missionary in England.

Now, to understand how brave this was, you have to understand what was happening in England at the time. It was an era of intense Catholic persecution. The government had made the celebration of the Mass entirely illegal. Even worse, simply being a Catholic priest was considered a massive crime. If you were caught, you weren't just given a fine, you were treated as a traitor to the country.

So, Ralph sneaks into England. For twelve years, he carried out a completely secret, underground ministry. Twelve years! He was hiding out, secretly traveling to families, whispering prayers, and celebrating Mass behind locked doors with the curtains drawn tight. Every single day for twelve years, he risked his life.

But eventually, the luck of this secret agent priest ran out. His secret ministry was finally discovered by the authorities. When he was captured, you might expect him to lie or beg for mercy to save his own life. But not Ralph Corby. When questioned, he bravely confessed, in writing, that he was indeed a Catholic priest. Because of this bold confession, He was immediately sentenced to death. On September 7, 1644, Ralph's final day arrived. Before facing his executioners, he managed to celebrate one last powerful mass.

He was then taken to the gallows, the place where he would be executed. Most people would be terrified, crying, or fighting back. What did Ralph do? He actually kissed the gallows before his execution began. He embraced his fate like a true hero.

The execution was incredibly brutal. He was subjected to a terrifying punishment. He was hung, drawn, and quartered. After his death, the authorities were so afraid that his followers would keep pieces of his clothing or body to honor his memory that they burned his body and his priest's cassock to eliminate any chance of people collecting relics.

Many years later, in 1929, Pope Pius XI beatified him. Blessed Ralph Corby's attributes in art often include the martyr's palm of victory, a crucifix, a noose around his neck, and a knife in his chest, a gritty, intense reminder of his absolute fearlessness.

Today, it can still be really scary to stand out. Your challenge today is to be undeniably brave about who you are, just like Ralph. Don't hide your faith to fit in. If someone asks you what you believe, or if you have to choose between doing what is popular and doing what is right, remember the courage of blessed Ralph Corby. Stand tall, speak the truth, and never be ashamed. Thank you for joining us on My Daily Saint. We look forward to sharing another incredible story of faith and courage with you tomorrow.