Optional Memorial of St John Fisher (1469-1535)

Optional Memorial of St John Fisher (1469-1535)

St John Fisher was born in 1469. He had a brilliant intellect and mixed in the circle of learned men such as Erasmus. He was made Bishop of Rochester at the age of 35 in 1504. He was an accomplished preacher and writer and sought to raise the standard of preaching in his Diocese and beyond. Before his martyrdom his sermons on the penitential psalms were reprinted seven times. He also wrote eight books against heresy when the church was facing the Reformation in Europe.

In 1527 he was asked to examine and study the problem of Henry VIII’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon. St John Fisher upheld the validity of their marriage and resolutely refused to accept Henry VIII’s claim as the supreme head of the Church in England and would not take the oath to the new Act of Succession.

St John Fisher was then sent to the Tower of London without trial and remained there for over a year. While in prison Pope Paul III made him a Cardinal which further infuriated Henry VIII. St John Fisher was executed on the 22^nd of June 1535. This is what Erasmus said of him.

“He is the one man at this time who is incomparable for uprightness of life, for learning and for greatness of soul”.

 

St Thomas More (1478-1535)

St Thomas More was born in 1478. He was a scholar of literature, a prominent lawyer who became Lord Chancellor of England in 1529. He was married with four children and was a deeply spiritual man. St Thomas like St John Fisher would not swear to the Act of Succession and the Oath of Supremacy and would not compromise his own moral conscience to please Henry VIII. He resigned from his office as Lord Chancellor as he could not acknowledge Henry VIII as supreme head of the Church in England, breaking with Rome and denying the Pope as head of the Church.

St Thomas More was put in the Tower of London and found guilty of High treason and executed on the 6^th of July 1535. St Thomas More said “ I am the King’s good servant but God’s first”.