Saints celebrated on the 1st 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. THOMAS MAXFIELD, PRIEST AND MARTYR
Bl. Thomas Maxfield (Macclesfield) was an English priest and martyr, born in Stafford gaol. He was one of the younger sons of William Macclesfield of Chesterton and Maer and Aston, Staffordshire (a firm recusant, condemned to death in 1587 for harbouring priests, one of whom was his brother Humphrey), and Ursula, daughter of Francis Roos, of Laxton, Nottinghamshire. William Macclesfield is said to have died in prison.
HE WAS ORDAINED A PRIEST
Thomas arrived at the English College at Douai on March 16, 1602-3, but had to return to England May 17, 1610, owing to ill health. In 1614 he went back to Douai, was ordained priest, and in the next year came to London.
HE WAS ARRESTED
Within three months of landing he was arrested, and sent to the Gatehouse, Westminster. After about eight months' imprisonment, he tried to escape by a rope let down from the window in his cell, but was captured on reaching the ground. This was at midnight June 14, 1616.
HE WAS PLACED IN THE STOCKS
For seventy hours he was placed in the stocks in a filthy dungeon at the Gatehouse, and was then on Monday night (June 17) removed to Newgate, where he was set amongst the worst criminals, two of whom he converted. On Wednesday, June 26, he was brought to the bar at the Old Bailey, and the next day was condemned solely for being a priest, under 27 Eliz., c, 2.
The Spanish ambassador did his best to obtain a pardon, or at least a reprieve; but, finding his efforts unavailing, had solemn exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in his chapel during the martyr's last night on earth.
THE PROCESSION TO TYBURN
The procession to Tyburn early on the following morning (Monday, July 1, 1616) was joined by many devout Spaniards, who, in spite of insults and mockery, persisted in forming a guard of honour for the martyr. The Tyburn-tree itself was found decorated with garlands, and the ground round about strewn with sweet herbs. The sheriff ordered the martyr to be cut down alive, but popular feeling was too strong, and the disembowelling did not take place till he was quite senseless. Half of his relics are now at Downside Abbey, near Bath.
["Blessed" has been added afterwards. His beatification took place on December 15, 1929.]
(From Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913)
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