Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Ss John Fisher and Thomas More

Today is the feast day of Saints John Fisher and Thomas More, martyred in the fallout over Henry VIII's desirre for a divorce from Catherine of Aragon.

St John Fisher was Bishop of Rochester and Chancellor of Cambridge University. He was created a cardinal while awaiting execution and remains the only member of the College of Cardinals to suffer martyrdom.

St Thomas More was a lawyer and Lord Chancellor of England.

Ultimately, both men were executed as a result of their obedience to the Pope, and their refusal to acknowledge Henry as head of the Church in England.

On a note of enormous irony both men are recognised as saints by the Anglican Church.

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