St. Alban is regarded as the Protomartyr, or First Martyr of Britain, for he was the first, as far as we know, to lay down his life for the Catholic Faith in this Island.
The Martyrdom of St. Alban
It was during the fiercest of the Roman persecutions, under the Emperor Diocletian, that St. Alban, then a Roman soldier, is said to have sheltered a priest by the name of Amphibalus. Amphibalus had baptised Alban. When the soldiers came to capture the Priest, St. Alban exchanged clothes with him, in order to allow Amphibalus to escape. Out of love for Christ and the Catholic Priesthood, St. Alban took the Priest’s place and suffered martyrdom in the town of Verulamium, known today as the cathedral city of St. Alban’s in Hertfordshire, England.
Veneration of the Saint and the Reliquary Shrine of St. Alban
On the spot of the martyrdom, King Offa of the Mercians built a monastery, which was later expanded by the Normans. At the Reformation, the Relics of St. Alban, which had been carefully venerated since the first church was built, were scattered by those who claimed it was idolatrous to honour the saint’s body.
By Providence, before the desecration took place, Relics from St. Alban’s body had been given to the Benedictine Monks of Cologne, Germany. After the Second World War, some of St. Alban’s Relics were returned to Britain. In 2021, the Lord Abbot of Farnborough — who had received the returned relics — translated one of these to Cardiff so it could be entrusted to the care of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri. On 20th June 2021, the Relic of St. Alban was solemnly carried through the streets of Cardiff, and the Lord Abbot of Farnborough consecrated the Oratory’s Reliquary Shrine.
Today, the Reliquary Shrine of St. Alban at the Cardiff Oratory is the only place in Britain where a First-Class Relic of St. Alban is exposed for the Veneration of the Faithful year-round (the shrine may be visited seven days per week, from 7 am to 6 pm).
St. Alban’s feast day is celebrated on 20th of June in the modern calendar and on the 22nd in the 1962 calendar, along with his companions of Sts. Julius and Aaron, who were martyred at Caerleon, in Wales.
The Oratory has published a Novena to St. Alban, which may be downloaded as a PDF. The novena is prayed annually from 11-19 June, in preparation for the earlier feastday; it may also be prayed throughout the year, especially for some intention.
St. Alban and the Oratory Church
St. Alban served in the Roman army and his statue in the Oratory Church shows him dressed as a Roman soldier.
Above the high altar is a stained glass window depicting his martyrdom, and in the niche above the main doors to the church, a statue of St. Alban rests where he is shown wearing the priests robes that he swapped with Amphibalus.
As has already been described, one of the greatest treasures in the Oratory Church is the Reliquary Shrine of St. Alban, where his First-Class Relic may be venerated year-round.
The Short Litany of St. Alban
Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy,
Lord have mercy,
Christ hear us,
Christ graciously hear us,
God the Father of Heave, have mercy on us,
God the Son Redeemer of the word, have mercy on us,
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us,
Holy Mary, Pray for us,
Holy Michael the Archangel, pray for us,
Saint Alban, pray for us,
First Martyr of these shores, pray for us,
Friend of Travellers, pray for us,
Protector of persecuted Christians, pray for us,
Sure support of those fleeing persecution, pray for us,
Devout presence at Holy Mass, pray for us,
Silent adorer of the Blessed Sacrament, pray for us,
Unfeigned in the face of the mob, pray for us,
Defender of the Catholic Priesthood, pray for us,
Soldier of Christ, pray for us,
Lamb of God You take away the sins of the world, Spare us O Lord,
Lamb of God You take away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us O Lord,
Lamb of God You take away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.
Let us pray.
O St. Alban, my glorious patron, whose life is a hymn of praise to the Most Holy and Undivided Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, help me to live this day like you as a true soldier of Jesus Christ, ready to lay down my life for the Mass and Catholic Priesthood, we ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Cum permissu superioris, Orat. S. Ph. Neri Cardiffense : 20 Jun. 2021.