ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN AUGUST
Saints celebrated on the 7th of August
BLESSED JOHN WOODCOCK, PRIEST AND MARTYR
Blessed John Woodcock was an English Franciscan martyr. He was born at Leyland, Lancashire, in 1603; he suffered at Lancaster, August 7, 1646.
His parents, Thomas and Dorothy Woodcock, the latter a Catholic, were of the middle class. He was converted about 1622, and after studying at Saint-Omer for a year was admitted to the English College, Rome, October 20, 1629. On May 16, 1630, he joined the Capuchins in Paris, but soon afterwards transferred himself to the English Franciscans at Douai.
HE RECEIVED THE FRANCISCAN HABIT
He received the habit from the Venerable Henry Heath in 1631 and was professed by the Venerable Arthur Bell a year later. For some years he lived at Arras as chaplain to Mr Sheldon.
HE WAS ARRESTED ON THE FIRST NIGHT HE SPENT IN LANCASHIRE
Late in 1643 he landed at Newcastle-on-Tyne, and was arrested on the first night he spent in Lancashire. After two years’ imprisonment in Lancaster Castle, he was condemned, on his own confession, for being a priest, together with Edward Bamber and Thomas Whitaker, August 6, 1646.
HE WAS HUNG TWICE
When he was flung off the ladder the rope broke. Having been hanged a second time, he was cut down and disembowelled alive. The Franciscan nuns at Taunton possess an arm-bone of the martyr.
Source: Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913
Blessed Fr Woodcock, pray for us.
➡️ 85 Martyrs of England and Wales
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