Thank you. I knew St. Margaret Clitherow's name and fate only generally.
Many years ago, I picked up a copy of Evelyn Waugh's biography of St. Edmund Campion and was deeply moved. I was a new Catholic - having converted just a few years prior.
The news of the Catholic martyrs of England shook me - in part because the modernist Catholic sea I swam in, bore no mention of these faithful witnesses, at least none I had come across. They had seemingly disappeared without a trace.
One of the interesting things I read in your post was St. Margaret's heroic refusal to even pray with her Protestant accusers.
How many Catholics today realize that Holy Mother Church has always barred Catholics from taking part in joint Catholic-Protestant worship? And yet, even Pope Pius XII spoke against it as recently as the 1950's, if memory serves.
Yes, the English martyrs of that time especially are amazing witnesses, especially for today's Catholic. The story of her refusing to pray struck me too! Thanks for reading my essay!
In 2000, my youngest son arrived 7-8 weeks early. It was so unexpected that my wife and I had not yet picked out a name for him.
As we discussed it in the hospital room, I told her "I want to name him after a martyr."
She agreed and asked "What did you have in mind?"
I'd just finished reading Waugh's biography of Campion, and wanted to name him after this priest-martyr, but was afraid she would find "Campion" too unusual.
"Polycarp" I told her.
"WHAT? We are NOT naming this child POLYCARP!" she shot back to me.
" Alright. Well what do you think about Campion?" springing the trap.
Today John (Fisher) Campion is a US Marine NCO, and more importantly my most pious offspring. I credit Sts. John Fisher & Edmund Campion for their intercession for him.
Thank you. I knew St. Margaret Clitherow's name and fate only generally.
Many years ago, I picked up a copy of Evelyn Waugh's biography of St. Edmund Campion and was deeply moved. I was a new Catholic - having converted just a few years prior.
The news of the Catholic martyrs of England shook me - in part because the modernist Catholic sea I swam in, bore no mention of these faithful witnesses, at least none I had come across. They had seemingly disappeared without a trace.
One of the interesting things I read in your post was St. Margaret's heroic refusal to even pray with her Protestant accusers.
How many Catholics today realize that Holy Mother Church has always barred Catholics from taking part in joint Catholic-Protestant worship? And yet, even Pope Pius XII spoke against it as recently as the 1950's, if memory serves.
Where is John Fisher, indeed?
Yes, the English martyrs of that time especially are amazing witnesses, especially for today's Catholic. The story of her refusing to pray struck me too! Thanks for reading my essay!
In 2000, my youngest son arrived 7-8 weeks early. It was so unexpected that my wife and I had not yet picked out a name for him.
As we discussed it in the hospital room, I told her "I want to name him after a martyr."
She agreed and asked "What did you have in mind?"
I'd just finished reading Waugh's biography of Campion, and wanted to name him after this priest-martyr, but was afraid she would find "Campion" too unusual.
"Polycarp" I told her.
"WHAT? We are NOT naming this child POLYCARP!" she shot back to me.
" Alright. Well what do you think about Campion?" springing the trap.
Today John (Fisher) Campion is a US Marine NCO, and more importantly my most pious offspring. I credit Sts. John Fisher & Edmund Campion for their intercession for him.
That is a great and hilarious story! Couldn’t have two more perfect intercessors for a Marine!