Dia dhuit,
Today we celebrate TWO great English saints and martyrs.
St John became bishop of Rochester.
When King Henry VIII divorced Catherine of Aragon, and married Anne Boleyn, and constituted himself the supreme head of the Church of England, John Fisher refused to consent.
He was imprisoned in the Tower of London and executed in 1535. He was the only bishop to oppose Henry VIII’s actions.
St Thomas Moore also was executed in 1535. He was a judge and close friend of King Henry VIII, who made him Lord Chancellor – the highest office in England.
St Thomas resigned his position, and opposed the king’s divorce. He refused to sign an oath repudiating the Pope’s authority.
He was also imprisoned and then executed.
These two great men paid the ultimate price for defending the truth.
They also received the ultimate reward however.
May we too have the courage and faith to defend the truth.
God bless you,
Fr Marius