Saints celebrated on the 24th of July
Prayer to the Angels and the Saints
Heavenly Father, in praising Your Angels and Saints we praise Your glory, for by honouring them we honour You, their Creator. Their splendour shows us Your greatness, which infinitely surpasses that of all creation.
In Your loving providence, You saw fit to send Your Angels to watch over us. Grant that we may always be under their protection and one day enjoy their company in heaven.
Heavenly Father, You are glorified in Your Saints, for their glory is the crowning of Your gifts. You provide an example for us by their lives on earth, You give us their friendship by our communion with them, You grant us strength and protection through their prayer for the Church, and You spur us on to victory over evil and the prize of eternal glory by this great company of witnesses.
Grant that we who aspire to take part in their joy may be filled with the Spirit that blessed their lives, so that, after sharing their faith on earth, we may also experience their peace in heaven. Amen.
BL. RICHARD SIMPSON, PRIEST AND MARTYR
It was as a Protestant minister that Richard Simpson, of Well, Yorkshire, came to question the tenets of Protestant opposition to Catholic teachings.
His decision to convert to the Catholic faith led to his imprisonment.
HIS DECISION TO BECOME A CATHOLIC LED TO HIS IMPRISONMENT
Upon being released, Richard studied for the priesthood in France. Following his ordination around 1578, he returned to England and spent nearly ten years serving the country’s Catholics persecuted under Queen Elizabeth I.
In 1587 Father Simpson was exiled, but he soon returned in secret. In 1588 he was re-arrested and condemned to death for his priesthood.
HE WAS CONDEMNED TO DEATH FOR HIS PRIESTHOOD
His execution, however, was postponed. It was at this time that Father Simpson’s courage began to fail. He was on the verge of apostatising when two fellow Catholic priests imprisoned with him, (Blesseds) Nicholas Garlick and Robert Ludlam, persuaded him to remain steadfast in the Catholic faith.
THEY PERSUADED HIM TO REMAIN STEADFAST
Deeply remorseful, Father Simpson spent the remaining days before his execution doing penance for his temporary lapse, fasting, keeping night watches of prayer, and wearing a hair shirt. On July 24, 1588, he was executed by drawing and quartering, suffering with great constancy.
(📷 Tower of London)
“For me you have changed my mourning into dancing, O Lord my God, I will thank you for ever.”
Comments
Post a Comment