BL. MARK BARKWORTH, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 27 FEBRUARY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN FEBRUARY

Saints celebrated on the 27th of February

BLESSED MARK BARKWORTH, PRIEST AND MARTYR

A page of one of Fortunatus Hueber's
Saints' books,
"Stammenbuch..." (1693)

➡️ Eighty-five Martyrs of England and Wales

Roger and Mark (Rogerius et Marcus, M.M.). These two martyrs suffered and died on the same day for the Catholic faith in London (in A.D. 1601). 

The former was a Jesuit and was surnamed Filcock, the latter Benedictine. They were found guilty of being Catholic priests, saying Mass and administering the Sacraments. This counted as treason. 

On the way to the place of execution they sang psalms and hymns. Both of them had their hearts and entrails ripped out before they died. During this barbaric execution the heroic martyrs could be heard praying in dying voices: "God, have mercy on me," and "Jesus, receive my spirit!".

These holy men are also commemorated on May 18.

[Mark Barkworth was beatified by Pius XI on December 15, 1929. Roger Filcock was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 22 November 1987. Anne Line, who suffered on the same occasion, is one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales who were canonised by Pope Paul VI in 1970.]

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 5, Augsburg, 1882, p. 123)

Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of the blessed Mark may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. 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.