Remembered as a healing and holy priest across Ireland, Father John Sullivan SJ., was born into a prominent family on May 8, 1861. His father, Edward, was born in Mallow, Co. Cork, and was a brilliant barrister who would later become Lord Chancellor of Ireland. His mother, Elizabeth Bailey, was born in Passage West, Co. Cork, to a land owning family. Typical of the time for well-to-do families, in 1872 John was sent to Portora Royal School. The excellent student then attended Trinity College, Dublin, where he studied the classics. He later studied law and for a time practiced as a barrister.
Edward Sullivan died suddenly in 1885. John's share in his father's inheritance gave him a measure of financial independence. John liked to dress well, and was considered at the time the best dressed man in Dublin. During this period he traveled Europe extensively, especially spending time taking walking tours of Macedonia, Greece, and Asia Minor. He spent several months in one of the Orthodox monasteries on Mount Athos, even contemplating entering as a monk.
To the surprise of his family, John Sullivan was received into the Catholic Church in 1896. His decision to become Catholic led to a change in lifestyle, exemplified by John stripping his room of anything that appeared luxurious. Sullivan's fancy clothes disappeared in favor of the most ordinary garb.
On September 7, 1900 at the age of 40, Sullivan entered the Society of Jesus. After seven years of study, he was ordained to the priesthood on July 28, 1907. Next came an appointment to the teaching staff of Clongowes Wood College, where he spent most of the rest of his life.
Sullivan's priestly life was one of prayer, personal sacrifice, care for his students, and, most especially, concern for the ill and the poor. Sullivan spent hours in prayer on his knees before the Blessed Sacrament or in his room praying the Rosary. Many more hours were spent walking the roads of Ireland to pray for the sick, especially those with incurable illnesses. From the 1920's until his death in 1933, there were many instances of spiritual and physical healing through the mediation of his prayers.
Father Sullivan passed away at St. Vincent's Nursing Home in Leeson Street on February 19, 1933. Revered by many as a saint, his remains, originally interred at the Jesuit Cemetery of the Clongowes Cemetery, were moved to the church of St. Francis Xavier of the Jesuit Fathers on Gardiner Street, Dublin, in 1960, where they lie in repose to this day at the chapel of the Sacred Heart.
Pope Francis authorized the promulgation of his decrees, declaring him venerable on June 14, 2016. His beatification, the first ever to take place Ireland, eventually took place in Dublin on May 13, 2017.
Edward Sullivan died suddenly in 1885. John's share in his father's inheritance gave him a measure of financial independence. John liked to dress well, and was considered at the time the best dressed man in Dublin. During this period he traveled Europe extensively, especially spending time taking walking tours of Macedonia, Greece, and Asia Minor. He spent several months in one of the Orthodox monasteries on Mount Athos, even contemplating entering as a monk.
To the surprise of his family, John Sullivan was received into the Catholic Church in 1896. His decision to become Catholic led to a change in lifestyle, exemplified by John stripping his room of anything that appeared luxurious. Sullivan's fancy clothes disappeared in favor of the most ordinary garb.
On September 7, 1900 at the age of 40, Sullivan entered the Society of Jesus. After seven years of study, he was ordained to the priesthood on July 28, 1907. Next came an appointment to the teaching staff of Clongowes Wood College, where he spent most of the rest of his life.
Sullivan's priestly life was one of prayer, personal sacrifice, care for his students, and, most especially, concern for the ill and the poor. Sullivan spent hours in prayer on his knees before the Blessed Sacrament or in his room praying the Rosary. Many more hours were spent walking the roads of Ireland to pray for the sick, especially those with incurable illnesses. From the 1920's until his death in 1933, there were many instances of spiritual and physical healing through the mediation of his prayers.
Father Sullivan passed away at St. Vincent's Nursing Home in Leeson Street on February 19, 1933. Revered by many as a saint, his remains, originally interred at the Jesuit Cemetery of the Clongowes Cemetery, were moved to the church of St. Francis Xavier of the Jesuit Fathers on Gardiner Street, Dublin, in 1960, where they lie in repose to this day at the chapel of the Sacred Heart.
Pope Francis authorized the promulgation of his decrees, declaring him venerable on June 14, 2016. His beatification, the first ever to take place Ireland, eventually took place in Dublin on May 13, 2017.
Remembered as a healing and holy priest across Ireland, Father John Sullivan SJ., was born into a prominent family on May 8, 1861. His father, Edward, was born in Mallow, Co. Cork, and was a brilliant barrister who would later become Lord Chancellor of Ireland. His mother, Elizabeth Bailey, was born in Passage West, Co. Cork, to a land owning family. Typical of the time for well-to-do families, in 1872 John was sent to Portora Royal School. The excellent student then attended Trinity College, Dublin, where he studied the classics. He later studied law and for a time practiced as a barrister.
Edward Sullivan died suddenly in 1885. John's share in his father's inheritance gave him a measure of financial independence. John liked to dress well, and was considered at the time the best dressed man in Dublin. During this period he traveled Europe extensively, especially spending time taking walking tours of Macedonia, Greece, and Asia Minor. He spent several months in one of the Orthodox monasteries on Mount Athos, even contemplating entering as a monk.
To the surprise of his family, John Sullivan was received into the Catholic Church in 1896. His decision to become Catholic led to a change in lifestyle, exemplified by John stripping his room of anything that appeared luxurious. Sullivan's fancy clothes disappeared in favor of the most ordinary garb.
On September 7, 1900 at the age of 40, Sullivan entered the Society of Jesus. After seven years of study, he was ordained to the priesthood on July 28, 1907. Next came an appointment to the teaching staff of Clongowes Wood College, where he spent most of the rest of his life.
Sullivan's priestly life was one of prayer, personal sacrifice, care for his students, and, most especially, concern for the ill and the poor. Sullivan spent hours in prayer on his knees before the Blessed Sacrament or in his room praying the Rosary. Many more hours were spent walking the roads of Ireland to pray for the sick, especially those with incurable illnesses. From the 1920's until his death in 1933, there were many instances of spiritual and physical healing through the mediation of his prayers.
Father Sullivan passed away at St. Vincent's Nursing Home in Leeson Street on February 19, 1933. Revered by many as a saint, his remains, originally interred at the Jesuit Cemetery of the Clongowes Cemetery, were moved to the church of St. Francis Xavier of the Jesuit Fathers on Gardiner Street, Dublin, in 1960, where they lie in repose to this day at the chapel of the Sacred Heart.
Pope Francis authorized the promulgation of his decrees, declaring him venerable on June 14, 2016. His beatification, the first ever to take place Ireland, eventually took place in Dublin on May 13, 2017.
Edward Sullivan died suddenly in 1885. John's share in his father's inheritance gave him a measure of financial independence. John liked to dress well, and was considered at the time the best dressed man in Dublin. During this period he traveled Europe extensively, especially spending time taking walking tours of Macedonia, Greece, and Asia Minor. He spent several months in one of the Orthodox monasteries on Mount Athos, even contemplating entering as a monk.
To the surprise of his family, John Sullivan was received into the Catholic Church in 1896. His decision to become Catholic led to a change in lifestyle, exemplified by John stripping his room of anything that appeared luxurious. Sullivan's fancy clothes disappeared in favor of the most ordinary garb.
On September 7, 1900 at the age of 40, Sullivan entered the Society of Jesus. After seven years of study, he was ordained to the priesthood on July 28, 1907. Next came an appointment to the teaching staff of Clongowes Wood College, where he spent most of the rest of his life.
Sullivan's priestly life was one of prayer, personal sacrifice, care for his students, and, most especially, concern for the ill and the poor. Sullivan spent hours in prayer on his knees before the Blessed Sacrament or in his room praying the Rosary. Many more hours were spent walking the roads of Ireland to pray for the sick, especially those with incurable illnesses. From the 1920's until his death in 1933, there were many instances of spiritual and physical healing through the mediation of his prayers.
Father Sullivan passed away at St. Vincent's Nursing Home in Leeson Street on February 19, 1933. Revered by many as a saint, his remains, originally interred at the Jesuit Cemetery of the Clongowes Cemetery, were moved to the church of St. Francis Xavier of the Jesuit Fathers on Gardiner Street, Dublin, in 1960, where they lie in repose to this day at the chapel of the Sacred Heart.
Pope Francis authorized the promulgation of his decrees, declaring him venerable on June 14, 2016. His beatification, the first ever to take place Ireland, eventually took place in Dublin on May 13, 2017.
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