this week's feasts
Sts. Thomas More and John Fisher
St. Thomas More
Thomas More and John Fisher were both martyrs under the persecution of the Church by King Henry VIII. St. John Fisher was a Catholic bishop when Henry decided to make himself the head of the Church, so that he could grant himself an annulment and could marry Anne Bolyn. He was in fact, the only bishop in England to stand up to Henry and denounce his takeover of the Church. Because of this, Henry had Fisher beheaded.
We are more familiar with Thomas More, especially considering that our diocesan university is known as Thomas More University. Thomas was a brilliant lawyer and worked his way up in the private sector, and then throughout the government sector. Eventually he would become the Chancellor of England, essentially the second in command in England, after the King. When Henry rebelled against the pope, declared himself the head of the English Church, and annulled his marriage to Queen Catherine of Aragorn, he insisted that Thomas More sign a statement endorsing the King’s decision. He refused. And for this, he was also beheaded.
These are the two saints of the Church who demonstrated heroic virtue in standing up to King Henry and to the entire government, on behalf of the Catholic Church.
Their feast day is June 22, the anniversary of St. John Fisher’s martyrdom.
We are more familiar with Thomas More, especially considering that our diocesan university is known as Thomas More University. Thomas was a brilliant lawyer and worked his way up in the private sector, and then throughout the government sector. Eventually he would become the Chancellor of England, essentially the second in command in England, after the King. When Henry rebelled against the pope, declared himself the head of the English Church, and annulled his marriage to Queen Catherine of Aragorn, he insisted that Thomas More sign a statement endorsing the King’s decision. He refused. And for this, he was also beheaded.
These are the two saints of the Church who demonstrated heroic virtue in standing up to King Henry and to the entire government, on behalf of the Catholic Church.
Their feast day is June 22, the anniversary of St. John Fisher’s martyrdom.
St. John Fisher
The Nativity of St. John the Baptist
In the beginning of the Gospel of Luke, we learn of the angel appearing to Zechariah, John’s father, in the Temple. It was his turn to offer sacrifice in the Holy of Holies of the Temple, when the angel appeared and announced that he and his elderly wife, Elizabeth, would have a child. Zechariah laughed at the very idea and was struck mute until the day of the baby’s birth. The family members were prepared to name him after his father, but Elizabeth said that his name was to be John, the name given to him by the angel. They ignored her and asked the father. He wrote, “His name is John,” and he instantly regained his voice.
The child would become a great prophet, who would announce the arrival of Jesus, would baptize Jesus in the Jordan River, and would die a martyr’s death.
The Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist is June 24.
The child would become a great prophet, who would announce the arrival of Jesus, would baptize Jesus in the Jordan River, and would die a martyr’s death.
The Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist is June 24.