The English Martyrs are a great example of what Jesus promised to his disciples in today’s gospel.
St. John Houghton was the first English Martyr of the Reformation. He was a Carthusian hermit, priest and martyr.
“John was the first man since pagan times to suffer death in England for being a Catholic. After lovingly embracing the executioner, who craved his pardon, the holy martyr entered the cart which stood beneath the gallows; and there, in the sight of the multitude, he was asked once again whether he would submit to the king’s laws before it was too late. Nothing daunted, he replied: “I call Almighty God to witness, and I beseech all here present to attest for me on the dreadful danger of judgement, that, being about to die in public, I declare that I have refused to comply with the will of His Majesty the King, not from obstinacy, malice, or a rebellious spirit, but solely for fear of offending the supreme Majesty of God. Our holy Mother the Church has decreed and enjoined otherwise than the king and Parliament have decreed. I am therefore bound in conscience, and am ready and willing to suffer every kind of torture, rather than deny a doctrine of the Church. Pray for me, and have mercy on my brethren, of whom I have been the unworthy Prior.” He asked for time to say his last prayer, which he took from the 30th Psalm: “In thee, O Lord, have I hoped; let me never be confounded: deliver me in Thy justice…. Into Thy hands I commend my spirit; for Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, the God of truth”.” (This account is taken from “The Carthusian Martyrs” by L. Hendricks, London, 1931.)
However, John Houghton’s final words, according to Catholic tradition, relates that when he was about to be quartered, as the executioner tore open his chest to remove his heart, he prayed, “O Jesu, what wouldst thou do with my heart?”
Let us pray that in our own time we might be inspired by the Martyrs to appreciate the importance of our faith and be able to profess it like the disciples to the Sanhedrin when we are called to.
Gospel Matthew 10:17-20 ©
Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Beware of men: they will hand you over to sanhedrins and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the pagans. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to speak or what to say; what you are to say will be given to you when the time comes; because it is not you who will be speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you.’