Wednesday 23 November 2016

Saint John Southworth - Westminster's Priest

Saint John Southworth

Saint John Southworth came from a Lancashire family. He lived at Samlesbury Hall.
Saint John Southworth was born in 1592. His life was filled with grace and guidance during a time of danger and persecution for England's recusant Catholics.
In 1618, Saint John Southworth was ordained a Roman Catholic priest at the English College, Douai (Douay) in Northern France. He was determined to minister the Catholic Faith to the persecuted people of England despite the threat of imprisonment for Catholic priests.
After returning to England, Father Southworth was arrested and condemned to death in Lancashire in 1626, and imprisoned first in Lancaster Castle, and afterwards in the Clink Prison, London.


Saint John Southworth ministering to a plague victim
© 2014 Mary's Dowry Productions
 
On 11 April, 1630, he and other priests were delivered to the French Ambassador for transportation abroad, but in 1636, he was released from the Gatehouse, Westminster, and lived at Clerkenwell. From there Saint John Southworth frequently visited the plague-stricken dwellings of Westminster to administer the sacraments and comfort the sick and the dying. This he did with Saint Henry Morse, a fellow priest, risking their lives to bring the outlawed Catholic Sacraments to the sick and dying.
 
Fr. Henry Morse and Fr. John Southworth
© 2012 Mary's Dowry Productions
 
In 1637, Saint John Southworth was been based in Westminster. He and Saint Henry Morse wrote a letter to the Catholics of England, asking for their assistance. Finally, he was arrested on 28 November, before being again sent to the Gatehouse. From there he was transferred to the Clink and, in 1640, was brought before the Commissioners for Causes Ecclesiastical. On 16 July, St. John Southworth was again freed and daringly continued to assist the persecuted Catholics, despite the continued threat to his own life. By 2 December he was once more imprisoned in the Gatehouse by the anti-Catholic government. After his final apprehension on 19 June 1654, Saint John Southworth was tried at the Old Bailey, where he insisted on pleading guilty to being a priest. He was condemned to be hung, drawn and quartered at the infamous Tyburn gallows in London.
 
St. John Southworth in prison
© 2014 Mary's Dowry Productions
 
His death was a brave witness to the Catholic Faith and the holy Catholic priesthood.
The Spanish ambassador bought Saint John Southworth's body from the executioner and, in 1655, returned it to Douai after the body had been sewn together and embalmed. It was taken from England.
When England and France went to war in 1793 St John Southworth's body was buried in an unmarked grave below the college for its protection. The grave was discovered in 1927 and his remains were returned to England. In 1930, his major relics - the only complete body of a Reformation martyr - were brought to Westminster Cathedral, where a shrine was prepared for them.
 
St. John Southworth's body in Westminstr Cathedral
© 2014 Mary's Dowry Productions
 
 
Saint John Southworth was beatified in 1929 and was canonised in 1970 by Pope Paul VI, as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales. St John Southworth's feast day is 27 June, which is observed as a Solemnity at the Cathedral.
 
Our film about Saint John Southworth captures his spirit of prayer and sacrifice during a time of danger, persecution and mission in 17th Century England.
This is an informative yet spiritual way to spend half an hour absorbed in the mission and message of one of England's inspiring Catholic priests.
 
Available on DVD through AMAZON and
 
 
Visit Westminster Cathedral to pray before the relic of this wonderful English Martyr.
 

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