John Jones (martyr) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids SaintJohn Jones aka "Godfrey Maurice" OFM |
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A detail from a stained glass depiction of Franciscan Saints above the high altar at the former Chilworth Friary of the Holy Ghost
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| Martyr | |
| Born | c. 1530 Clynnog Fawr, Wales |
| Died | 12 July 1598 Southwark, England |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI |
| Canonized | 25 October 1970 by Pope Paul VI |
| Major shrine | Pontoise |
| Feast | 12 July, 25 October (with the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales) |
| Attributes | rope, Franciscan habit, martyr's palm |
John Jones (around 1530 – July 12, 1598) was a Franciscan friar and a Catholic priest. He is known as a martyr because he died for his faith. He was also called John Buckley, John Griffith, Godfrey Maurice, or Griffith Jones. John Jones was born in Clynnog Fawr, Wales. He was executed in Southwark, England. He is one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.
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Life of Saint John Jones
John Jones was born in Clynnog Fawr, Wales. His family were recusants. This means they remained Catholic during the Protestant Reformation in England. He became a priest. From 1582 to 1585, he was put in prison. This happened because he helped Catholics practice their faith.
In 1590, John Jones left England. He joined the Franciscan order in Pontoise, France. Later, he went to Rome. There, he met Pope Clement VIII. The Pope gave him his blessing. After this, his leaders sent him back to England. His job was to help Catholics there.
Return to England and Arrest
John Jones arrived in London around 1592. He stayed in a house that helped missionary priests. He worked with Catholics in the English countryside. In 1596, he was arrested. A person who hunted priests, named Richard Topcliffe, caught him.
John Jones was accused of saying Mass in a Catholic home. Even though the people he supposedly visited were in prison, he was still arrested. He faced very harsh treatment and questioning. Topcliffe even had a special room in his house for this.
Imprisonment and Trial
After his arrest, John Jones was in prison for almost two years. While there, he helped another prisoner, John Rigby, stay strong in his faith. John Rigby also became one of the Forty Martyrs.
On July 3, 1598, John Jones was put on trial. He was accused of a serious crime against the ruler. This was because he became a priest outside England. He then returned to England, which was against the law at that time. He was found guilty and sentenced to death.
Execution of Saint John Jones
The execution was set for early in the morning. This was because people were getting tired of these public deaths. The place was St. Thomas's Watering, a bridge in Southwark. This spot was a boundary for London. It was also a place where executions happened.
The execution was delayed for about an hour. The person in charge of the hanging forgot the rope. John Jones used this time to speak to the crowd. He answered their questions. When it was time, the horses pulling the cart were held back. This allowed him to finish speaking.
After his death, John Jones's body parts were placed on poles. These were put on roads leading to Newington and Lambeth. Later, some Catholic Englishmen secretly took his remains. One of them was imprisoned for this. Some of his remains eventually reached Pontoise, France. This was where he had joined the Franciscans.
Veneration
John Jones is honored as a saint. Pope Leo XIII declared him "Venerable." In 1929, Pope Pius XI beatified him. His feast day is July 12. On October 25, 1970, Pope Paul VI made him a saint. He is one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales, who are remembered on that date.
