Walsh, Richard FitzRobert, 1582-1644, Jesuit priest

Person

Walsh, Richard FitzRobert, 1582-1644, Jesuit priest

• Valsius
• Robert Walsh
• Richard Walsh
• Walesius
• Valons
• Valesius
• Walsh FitzRobert
• Valesius
• Richardus Valloys
• Walshe

1582-13 March 1644

Born: 1582, Waterford City, County Waterford
Entered: 20 April 1599, Santiago de Compostella, Spain - Castellanae Province (CAST)
Ordained: 1607, Valladolid, Spain
Final Vows: 06 April 1614
Died: 13 March 1644, Waterford Residence, Waterford City, County Waterford

Educated at Irish College Douai, studying Philosophy and Theology
1606-1607 At Valladolid College Age 23 Soc 7 (Rector was Luis de la Puente, and William Morgan was also there)
1611 At Salamanca Professor of Arts Age 30 Soc 12
1614 At Logroño College Age 38 Soc 16
1617 “Valesius” in CAST age 35 Soc 19
1619 At Burgos CAST Age 38 Soc 20
1625 At Ávila College Age 42 Soc 24. professor of Philosophy and Preacher in Spain
1637 Good in all - fit to preach or be Superior
A letter from Richard Walsh SJ to Fr Luke Wadding November 1642 may be seen in Franciscan MS p78 (says he was Soc 24)
Was he a fellow novice of Dominic Collins?

◆ Fr Edmund Hogan SJ “Catalogica Chronolgica” :
Brother of Dr Thomas Walshe, Archbishop of Cashel, and was born at the time when his parents were imprisoned for the faith
1617 In CAST and a distinguished Preacher (Irish Ecclesiastical Record August 1874)
He is honourably mentioned in a letter from James Comerford, dated Madrid 21 September 1607 (Oliver, Stonyhurst MSS)
Father St Leger says he was celebrated as a Preacher in Spain and Ireland

Note from Bl Dominic Collins Entry
About a year after he arrived in Spain, he met Fr Thomas White, Rector of Salamanca, and by his advice entered the Society. Two of his fellow novices were Richard Walsh and John Lee

◆ Fr Francis Finegan SJ :
Son of Robert and Anastatia née Strong. Elder Brother of Archbishop Thomas Walshe of Cashel
1601-1607 After First Vows he was sent for Philosophy to Compostella and then for Theology to St Ambrose, Valladolid where he was Ordained 1607
1607-1613 After his studies he was sent to teach Philosophy at the Royal College Salamanca.
1613-1623 It was noticed that he possessed a special aptitude for preaching and he was now assigned to that ministry which he exercised successively at Logroño, Burgos, Pamplona and Ávila. He became known to court circles but was warned by the General that his proper vocation was teaching or preaching and not political intervention for his country.
In 1624/25, Walshe corresponded with the celebrated Franciscan, Luke Wadding whom he asked to use his influence to have him received into the Franciscan Order where he could help his country, something he could not do in the Society. Wadding's replies letters Walshe have not survived, nor is there any evidence that Wadding betrayed to the General the confidences of Walsh but he could quite honourably have suggested to the General that Spain was no place for the Waterford Jesuit.
1626 Sent to Ireland and Waterford and became Superior of the Residence in 1641, and died in Office 13 March 1644

◆ George Oliver Towards Illustrating the Biography of the Scotch, English and Irish Members SJ
WALSH, RICHARD. In a letter of F. James Quemerford, dated Madrid, the 28th of September, 1607, I read “F. Richard Walsh hath ended his studies, and is gone to his third Probation : it is likely he shall begin a course of Philosophie in the Seminarie of Salamanca, if the Spaniards prevaile not, that procured to have him for themselves. The Englishe of Valladolid hath sought him, and many others cast an eye upon him. I hope such as need him most, and unto whom he may doe the greater good, shall have him. He was liken to go with F. Padilla to Rome, and he was appointed for it; but the Spaniards fearing our F. Generall, if he did once see him, could not suffer him to com back to Spaine, stayed him”. I meet with this Father at Waterford in April, 1642, in a declining and hopeless state of health.

◆ Henry Foley - Records of the English province of The Society of Jesus Vol VII
WALSHE, RICHARD FITZROBERT, Father (Irish); born in Waterford 1582; entered the Society 1598, and was a Professed Father. (Hogan's list.) He was son of Robert Walshe; joined the Society at St. James', Galicia ; was in the Province of Castile in 1617, and becanie a distinguished preacher. (Irish Ecclesiastical Record, August, 1874) He is honourably mentioned in a letter of Father James Comerford, dated Madrid, September 21, 1607. (Oliver, from $tonyhurst MSS.) Father St. Leger says that he was celebrated as a preacher in Spain and in Ireland. He was brother of Dr. Thomas Walshe, Archbishop of Cashel, born during the time that his parents were imprisoned out of hatred for the faith. (Communicated by Father Hogan.) He died before 1617. (Hogan's list.)

◆ Menology of the Society of Jesus: The English Speaking Assistancy

Father Richard Walshe was born in W'aterford, in the year 1582, at the time when his parents were confined in prison out of hatred against the Faith. He was the elder brother of Dr. Walshe, Archbishop of Cashel, and nephew to the Bishop of Ossory. He entered the Society in 1598, at St. James's, in Galicia, and in due time was made a professed Father. In 1617 he was employed in the Province of Castile, and taught philosophy at Salamanca. He was a man of oreat abilities, was highly celebrated throughout Spain, and as he was at the same time a man of erudition, his services as a Professor were eagerly sought for by different communities, the College at Valladolid being amongst the number. He was at one time appointed to go to Rome, but the Spanish Fathers, fearing that if he went he would not be allowed to return, succeeded in getting the order rescinded. He shone chiefly as a preacher both in Spain and in Ireland. Early in 1642 he is mentioned as being at Waterford in a declining and hopeless state of health, and he died there .soon after the 24th of April, in the .same year.

IE IJA