Forty Martyrs of England and Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Forty Martyrs of England and Wales"Cuthbert Mayne and Thirty-Nine Companion Martyrs" |
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| Died | between 4 May 1535 (John Houghton and three companions) – 27 August 1679 (David Lewis), within England and Wales, many at Tyburn |
| Martyred by | Monarchy of England |
| Means of martyrdom | Two died in prison, One was pressed to death, The rest were hanged, drawn and quartered |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church 3 were also honored in the Anglican Communion |
| Beatified | 11 were beatified on 29 December 1886 by Pope Leo XIII 29 were beatified on 15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI |
| Canonized | 25 October 1970, Saint Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, by Pope Paul VI |
| Feast | 4 May (England) 25 October (Wales) Various dates for individual martyrs |
| Attributes | martyr's palm knife in chest noose in neck book or bible crucifix chaucible Eucharist various religious habits crown of martyrdom |
| Patronage | United Kingdom |
| Notable martyrs | Edmund Campion, S.J. Margaret Clitherow |
The Forty Martyrs of England and Wales are a special group of 40 Catholic people. They were men and women, some priests or monks, and some regular people. They were executed (put to death) between 1535 and 1679. This happened because of laws passed by the English Parliament during a time called the English Reformation. They were accused of "treason," which means going against the king or queen. These martyrs were later recognized as saints by the Catholic Church.
Contents
Why Were They Executed? Understanding the Background
The first executions happened during the time of King Henry VIII. He wanted to divorce his wife, but the Pope would not allow it. So, King Henry VIII decided to become the head of the Church in England himself.
The Act of Supremacy and Its Impact
In 1534, King Henry VIII passed the Act of Supremacy. This law said that the King, not the Pope, was the supreme head of the Church of England. Many people, especially Catholic monks and priests, did not agree with this. They believed the Pope was the true head of the Church. Those who refused to accept the King as the head of the Church were seen as traitors. Some, like the Carthusian monk John Houghton, were executed for this reason.
New Laws and Growing Tensions
Later, in 1570, Pope Pius V took a strong action. He "excommunicated" Queen Elizabeth I. This meant he declared her no longer part of the Catholic Church. He also told Catholic subjects they no longer had to be loyal to her.
The Queen and Parliament responded with even stricter laws. These were called "penal laws."
- The Treason Act 1571 made it a serious crime (high treason) to say that the Queen should not rule. It was also treason to call her a heretic (someone who believes things against official church teachings).
- The Jesuits, etc. Act 1584 made it treason for any Jesuit (a member of a Catholic religious order) or seminary priest (a priest trained in a special school) to even be in England. It was also a crime to help or hide them.
Most of the martyrs suffered under these laws. Many were hanged, drawn, and quartered. This was a very harsh form of execution used for treason.
Who Were the Forty Martyrs? A List of Names
- Saint John Almond
- Saint Edmund Arrowsmith
- Saint Ambrose Barlow
- Saint John Boste
- Saint Alexander Briant
- Saint Edmund Campion
- Saint Margaret Clitherow
- Saint Philip Evans
- Saint Thomas Garnet
- Saint Edmund Gennings
- Saint Richard Gwyn
- Saint John Houghton
- Saint Philip Howard
- Saint John Jones
- Saint John Kemble
- Saint Luke Kirby
- Saint Robert Lawrence
- Saint David Lewis
- Saint Anne Line
- Saint John Lloyd
- Saint Cuthbert Mayne
- Saint Henry Morse
- Saint Nicholas Owen
- Saint John Payne
- Saint Polydore Plasden
- Saint John Plessington
- Saint Richard Reynolds
- Saint John Rigby
- Saint John Roberts
- Saint Alban Roe
- Saint Ralph Sherwin
- Saint Robert Southwell
- Saint John Southworth
- Saint John Stone
- Saint John Wall
- Saint Henry Walpole
- Saint Margaret Ward
- Saint Augustine Webster
- Saint Swithun Wells
- Saint Eustace White
Becoming Saints: The Canonization Process
Before 1970, many martyrs from England and Wales were already "beatified." This is an important step before becoming a saint. The bishops in England and Wales chose 40 more names for sainthood. They picked people from different social backgrounds and parts of the country.
What is Needed for Sainthood?
For someone to become a saint, the Catholic Church usually looks for miracles. A miracle is a special event that cannot be explained by science. However, for martyrs, a miracle is not always needed. A martyr is someone who dies for their faith. The Pope can declare them a saint if they died willingly as a witness to their faith.
In this case, the Church looked at 20 possible miracles. One case, the healing of a young mother from a serious illness, was chosen as the clearest example. Pope Paul VI decided that this one miracle was enough for the whole group of 40 martyrs to become saints.
The Canonization Ceremony
The special ceremony where they were declared saints happened in Rome. It took place on October 25, 1970. This was a very important day for Catholics in England and Wales.
Celebrating Their Lives: Liturgical Feast Days
A "feast day" is a special day when saints are remembered and honored in the Church.
Feast Days in England
In England, these martyrs used to be celebrated on October 25. Now, they are honored along with all other canonized or beatified martyrs from the English Reformation on May 4.
Feast Days in Wales
In Wales, the Catholic Church still celebrates October 25 as the feast day for the Six Welsh Martyrs and their friends. The Welsh Martyrs include priests like Philip Evans and John Lloyd and David Lewis. The "companions" are the 34 English Martyrs listed above. Wales also keeps May 4 as a separate feast day for other beatified martyrs from England and Wales.
See also
- Saint Thomas More
- Saint John Fisher
- List of Catholic martyrs of the English Reformation
- English Saints and Martyrs of the Reformation Era, a Church of England commemoration-day for all martyrs of the English Reformation era
- Catholic Church in England and Wales
- Eighty-five martyrs of England and Wales, a list of eighty-five beatified by the Pope to represent those executed during the English Reformation
- Carthusian Martyrs of London
- Irish Catholic Martyrs
