BL. EDWARD WATERSON, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 7 JANUARY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JANUARY

Saints celebrated on the 8th of January

WELCOME!

BLESSED EDWARD WATERSON, PRIEST AND MARTYR

Edward Waterson was born at London; and being come to man's estate, travelled, with certain merchants, into Turkey, to see those eastern regions. Here, a rich Turk taking a liking to him, offered his daughter in marriage, if he would renounce the Christian religion: but this condition, Mr Waterson, though at that time no catholic, rejected with horror.

Coming back from Turkey, he took Rome in his way homewards, and there, was instructed and reconciled to the Catholic Church by the means of Mr Richard Smith, (afterwards bishop of Chalcedon,) then living in the English college, in that city. From Rome, he went to Rheins, where the college was, at that time, which is now at Douay. Here he was admitted a student, and here he lived, for some years, a great pattern of humility, penance, and other virtues. 

He had a most ardent zeal for the salvation of souls; and, upon that account, though he was but indifferently learned, he was desirous to be made priest, and to be sent upon the English mission. He had his desire, and was ordained priest the Saturday after Mid-lent Sunday, 1592, and was sent into England, the Whitsuntide following: on which occasion, he declared to his companions, That if he might have the kingdom of France, to stay there till the next Midsummer, he would rather choose to go for England, as he did; such was his desire of being serviceable to the souls of his countrymen.

Mr Waterson was but a short time in England, before he was apprehended, tried, and condemned for being made priest by Roman authority, and coming into England, and remaining here. He received the sentence of death, with joy, and suffered with constancy. The Reverend archdeacon Trollop relates, from the testimony of virtuous catholics who were eyewitnesses, and related it to him, that whilst this blessed martyr was drawn upon the hurdle to his execution, upon a sudden, the hurdle stood still; and the officers, with all their whipping, and striving, could not make the horses to move it and fresh horses passing by, they took them, and put them to the hurdle; yet they could not, (though they broke the tresses,) any way move him, or the hurdle; who, seeing their attempts to be frustrated, were forced to take the martyr from the hurdle, aud to lead him on foot, to the place of execution, saying, it would be a note to the papists, which had happened that day.

Dr Champney adds, that being upon this occasion taken off the hurdle, he walked cheerfully towards the gallows, not as to a punishment, but as to a crown. And, that coming to the place, and recommending himself by a short prayer to God, as he was offering to go up the ladder, it was violently agitated of itself, without any visible hand, till the confessor made the sign of the cross, and then, the ladder stood still; and he ascending, was shortly after turned off; and according to sentence, cut down, bowelled, and quartered. I find Dr Champney was Mr Waterson's contemporary at the college, and received clerical tonsure, with about forty others, on the same day as Mr Waterson was made deacon, February 24, 1591.

Mr Waterson suffered at Newcastle, upon Tyne, January 7, 1593 [January 8].

From Dr Champney's manuscript history, and from a MS. relating of his death, sent over to Douay by Cuthbert Trollop, archdeacon.

Source: Bishop Richard Challoner, Memoirs of Missionary Priests, Volume 1

⬅️ The Holy Martyrs of England and Wales

PRAYER:

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