From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
March 25th - Saint Margaret Clitherow
Also known as
Margaret Clitheroe
Margaret Middleton
Margarita Clitherow
Margherita Clitherow
Marguerite Clitherow
the Pearl of York
=C2 (1555-1586)
.. Saint Margaret lived and died during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I,
and a time of great persecution of Catholics in England. At that time,
priests were not allowed to reside within the country, and those
sympathetic to the Catholic faith, celebrating Mass, or providing
shelter to priests were found guilty of treason. For many, however,
the faith continued undaunted, the celebration of Mass held more
important than the danger of discovery.
Margaret was born in Middleton, England, to faithful Protestant
parents. Intelligent, funny, and attractive, Margaret grew up in the
Protestant faith, and was married at 18 to a butcher, John Clitherow.
Together, they had three children, and were content to live a
respectable middle-class life. Margaret demonstrated a keen mind for
business, and frequently assisted her husband in the butcher shop. She
was known for her kind heart and warm smile.
Margaret found herself dissatisfied with the Protestant faith, and
eventually converted to Catholicism, instructing her children in the
way of the Church. Her confessor, after her death, wrote of her
conversion that Margaret "found no substance, truth nor Christian
comfort in the ministers of the new church, nor in their doctrine
itself, and hearing also many priests and lay people to suffer for the
defense of the ancient Catholic Faith." Margaret's husband did not
convert, but was respectful of her faith, and allowed the children to
be raised Catholic. Their eldest son left England, and moved to France
to enter the seminary.
Despite the risk of discovery, Margaret had a =E2=80=9Cpriest hole=E2=80=9D=
built in
her home, where visiting clergy could hide if a raid should occur. She
further built a hidden cupboard to hide vestments, missals, Eucharist
and blessed wine. In Margaret's attic, still preserved for the
visiting faithful to see, a hole was cut between her home and the
neighbor's home, to allow an escape route for priests, should it co=
me
to that. Margaret stated, in defiance of the laws of the time, =E2=80=9Cby God's grace all priests shall be more welcome to me than ever they
were, and I will do what I can to set forward God's Catholic service."
She organized celebrations of Mass, and hired a Catholic tutor for
neighborhood children of the faith. It was through this tutor that she
came to be discovered.
One afternoon, while the tutor was instructing the children, the
police raided the house. The tutor escaped, and the authorities found
children studying, but convinced of treason, they questioned the
children until one broke down in tears, revealing the cupboard of
hidden items. Margaret was immediately arrested, and the children were
removed from their homes, placed with devout Protestant families.
Margaret would never see her children again. Moved by her life,
however, her younger son became a priest, and her daughter, a nun.
Margaret was taken before the court and accused of treason. It was
customary for those accused to plead guilty, resulting in a less
severe penalty. Margaret, however, refused to plead, both out of
conviction that she had done nothing wrong and concern that her
children might have to testify in a trial. She stated, "I know of no
offense whereof I should confess myself guilty. Having made no
offense, I need no trial." The court was outraged, and sentenced her
to the maximum penalty for failing to plead guilty--death via
crushing. Margaret was informed, =E2=80=9CYou must return from whence you
came, and there, in the lowest part of the prison, be stripped naked,
laid down, your back on the ground, and as much weight laid upon you
as you are able to bear, and so to continue for three days without
meat or drink, and on the third day to be pressed to death, your hands
and feet tied to posts, and a sharp stone under your back.=E2=80=9D Ten day=
s
from the sentencing, Margaret was executed.
Prior to her execution, visited by a friend in prison, Margaret
remained faithful and eager to meet her Maker. She said to her friend,
"The sheriffs have said that I am going to die this coming Friday; and
I feel the weakness of my flesh which is troubled at this news, but my
spirit rejoices greatly. For the love of God, pray for me and ask all
good people to do likewise."
The night before her execution, Margaret sewed her own death shroud.
She prayed through the night, for the Church, for the pope, for all
the persecuted clergy, the faithful, and her accusers. In the morning,
she was led to dungeon, had a cloth tied around her face, and was laid
down on a sharp rock approximately the size of a fist. A heavy door
was placed upon her, and then rocks were piled atop the door until the
weight broke her spine. She never cried out, but was heard to
continually pray, =E2=80=9CJesu, Jesu, Jesu, have mercy upon me.=E2=80=9D S= aint
Margaret Clitherow died after approximately 15 minutes of torture.
Following her death, her executioners were reprimanded by Queen
Elizabeth I, who insisted that women should not be executed.
Margaret's body was buried with common criminals, but not before he=
r
hand was severed. It remains today, incorrupt, in the chapel of the
Bar Convent in York.
Saint Margaret Clitherow was a practical woman, remembered for her
humility, hospitality and her humanity. She was a wife and mother, she
worked in her husband's butcher shop, she was concerned with the
education of her children. Margaret was also a fearless protector of
the faith, risking her life to instill in her children the message of
Christ. Her courage and unwavering faith inspires, reminding us how
quick we are to doubt, to take the easy way, to bow before pressures
in our lives. We look to Margaret Clitherow as a model of steadfast
love and obedience to the Lord. Can we say the same of ourselves?
--by Jacob
Bible Quote:
For neither did his brethren believe in him. 6 Then Jesus said to them:
=C2 My time is not yet come; but your time is always ready.
7 The world can not hate you; but me it hateth: because I give testimony of=
it,
that the works thereof are evil. (John 7:5-7)
<><><><>
Annunciation, by John Donne
Salvation to all that will is nigh;
That All, which always is All everywhere,
Which cannot sin, and yet all sins must bear,
Which cannot die, yet cannot choose but die,
So, faithful Virgin, yields himself to lie
In prison, in thy womb; and though he there
Can take no sin, nor thou give, yet he'll wear
Taken from thence, flesh, which death's force may try.
Ere by the spheres time was created, thou
Wast in his mind, who is thy Son and Brother;
Whom thou conceiv'st, conceiv'd; yea, thou art now
Thy Maker's maker, and thy Father's mother;
Thou hast light in dark, and shut'st in little room
Immensity, cloistered in thy dear womb.
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)