BL. CHRISTOPHER BALES, PRIEST AND MARTYR

BL. CHRISTOPHER BALES, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 4 MARCH

BLESSED CHRISTOPHER BALES, PRIEST AND MARTYR

Christopher Bales (Bayles, aka Evers), a priest and martyr, was born at Coniscliffe near Darlington, County Durham, England, about 1564 and executed on March 4, 1590.

He entered the English College at Rome, October 1, 1583, but owing to ill-health was sent to the College at Reims, where he was ordained March 28,1587. Sent to England November 2, 1588, he was soon arrested, racked, and tortured by Topcliffe, and hung up by the hands for twenty-four hours at a time; he bore all most patiently.

At length he was tried and condemned for high treason, on the charge of having been ordained beyond seas and coming to England to exercise his office. He asked Judge Anderson whether St Augustine, Apostle of the English, was also a traitor. The judge said no, but that the act had since been made treason by law.

He suffered March 4, 1590, "about Easter", in Fleet Street opposite Fetter Lane. On the gibbet was set a placard: "For treason and favouring foreign invasion". He spoke to the people from the ladder, showing them that his only "treason" was his priesthood. On the same day Venerable Nicholas Horner suffered in Smithfield for having made Bales a jerkin, and Venerable Alexander Blake in Gray's Inn Lane for lodging him in his house.

[Fr Christopher Bales was beatified by Pope Pius XI on December 15, 1929.]

Source: Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913

⬅️ The Holy Martyrs of England and Wales

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that we who know how courageously your holy martyr Christopher 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.

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