ST PHILIP HOWARD, MARTYR - 19 OCTOBER

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN OCTOBER

Saints celebrated on the 19th of October

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SAINT PHILIP HOWARD, MARTYR 

Saint Philip Howard, Earl of Arundel, was born at Arundel House, London, June 28, 1557. He was the grandson of Henry, Earl of Surrey, the poet, executed by Henry VIII in 1547, and son of Thomas, Duke of Norfolk executed by Elizabeth 1572. Philip II of Spain, then King of England, was one of his godfathers. He was educated at Cambridge. 

Anne, Philip’s wife, Countess of Arundel and Surrey, who survived to 1630, was a woman of remarkable generosity and courage, and became after her conversion the patroness of Father Southwell and of many priests, and eventually founded the novitiate of the Jesuits at Ghent. 

Philip succeeded, February 24, 1580, to the Earldom of Arundel, and this may be considered the highest point of his worldly fortunes. He frequented the Court, entertained the queen, and was restored in blood, 1581, though not to his father’s dukedom. 

Towards the close of the year he was present at the disputations of Blessed Edmund Campion in the Tower and this proved the first step in his conversion, though, like most of Elizabeth’s courtiers, his life was then the reverse of virtuous, and for a time he deserted his wife.

But the Howards had many enemies and Elizabeth was of their number. As the Catholic revival gained strength, the earl found himself suspected and out of favour, and his difficulties were increased by his wife’s conversion. He was now reconciled, indeed devoted, to her, and September 30, 1584, was received into the Church by Father William Weston, S.J., and became a fervent Catholic. 

The change of life was soon noticed at Court, on which Philip, seeing the queen more and more averse and dangers thickening, resolved to fly, which he did (April 14, 1585), after composing a long and excellent letter of explanation to Elizabeth. But he was captured at sea, probably through treachery, and confined in the Tower of London (April 25) where he remained till death. 

He was at first sentenced to a fine of 10,000 pounds, and imprisonment at the queen’s pleasure. Later on (March 14 - April 14, 1589), during the bloodthirsty mood which caused the death of so many English martyrs after the Armada, he was tried for having favoured the excommunication of the queen, and for having prayed for the invaders. 

As usual at that time, the trial was a tirade against the prisoner, who was of course condemned. Philip was left to die in prison. His last prayer to see his wife and only son, who had been born after his imprisonment, was refused except on condition of his coming to the Protestant [government] Church, on which terms he might also go free. 

With this eloquent testimony to the goodness of his cause he expired, at the early age of thirty-eight, in the Tower of London, October 19, 1595, and was buried in the Tower Church. In 1624 his bones were translated by his widow to Long Horsley, and thence to Arundel, where they still rest.

His "Epistle of Christ to the Faithful Soul" was printed at Antwerp, 1595; St-Omer, 1610; London, 1867; his "Fourfold Meditations of Four Last Things", London, 1895; his "Verses on the Passion", by the Catholic Record Society. 

Source: Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913

[St Philip is a patron saint of the falsely accused and for people going through trouble in their marriage.]

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that we who know how courageously your holy martyr Philip confessed the faith, may experience his goodness as he intercedes for us with you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.