BL. NICHOLAS HORNER, MARTYR - 4 MARCH

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MARCH

Saints celebrated on the 4th of March

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BLESSED NICHOLAS HORNER, MARTYR

On the day Fr Christopher Bayles [Bales], a Catholic priest, was executed by the agents of the English government (March the 4th, 1589-90), also were hanged Nicholas Horner, a layman, born at Grauntley, in Yorkshire, for relieving and assisting the said Mr Bayles; and Alexander Blake, also a layman, for the same cause. Of all these, thus writes Mr Stow, in his chronicle, "Christopher Bayles, made priest beyond the seas, was convicted of treason, for remaining in this realm contrary to a statute: Also, Nicholas Horner, and Alexander Blake, convicted of felony, for relieving of Bayles, contrary to the like statute. These were all executed on the 4th of March. Bayles was hanged, bowelled, and quartered, in Fleet Street; Horner was hanged in Smithfield; Blake, in Grays-inn-lane."

The bishop of Tarrasona, in his History of the English persecution, book 11, chap. 18, Numb. 3 and 4, relates of Mr Horner, that he was apprehended once before, for harbouring priests, and at that time, was kept so long in a filthy dungeon, that, with the dampness of the lodging, one of his legs was mortified, so that he was obliged to have it cut off. But that, whilst the surgeon was at work, God was pleased to favour him with a vision, which so strongly drew his attention, and so sweetly entertained him, that he was not at all sensible of so painful an operation. After this, the persecutors having some compassion for him, set him at liberty. Till, being accused a second time, of relieving priests, and convicted of this felony, and not consenting to save his life by going to the protestant [government] church, he was condemned to die. 

The night before his execution, finding himself overwhelmed with anguish and fear, he betook himself to his prayers, and then seemed to perceive a crown hanging over his head; and lifting up his hands to take hold of it, to see what it should be, he could feel nothing. Afterwards rising from his prayers, he perceived the same crown still over his head, and that, as he moved or changed his place, it still moved with him, and this for the space of above an hour. Which vision afforded him unspeakable comfort, and caused him to die the next day with extraordinary marks of joy. This vision was related by the confessor himself to a friend, who was with him in prison, a little before he was carried out to execution; who wrote the whole account to Father Robert Southwell , on the 18th of March, of the same year, which letter, says my author, I have seen. The same is confirmed by Father Ribadaneira and Dr Champney, in their histories.

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 Nicholas  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.