BL. HENRY HEATH, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 17 APRIL

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN APRIL

Saints celebrated on the 17th of April

WELCOME!

BLESSED HENRY HEATH, PRIEST AND MARTYR 

The Manner of Execution at Tyburn 

Henry Heath O.S.F. was born at Peterborough about the year 1600. His parents were protestants, who brought him up to learning, and sent him to St Bennett's college in Cambridge, where he remained about five years. The life he led here, whilst yet a protestant, was far more religious than that of his companions; and his ardour for learning was so great, that he rose at two in the morning winter and summer to his studies being now made batchelor of arts, and chosen librarian of the college, and having before observed, as he thought, some defects in the principles of his religion, he was resolved, having gotten books and opportunity, to examine the matter more thoroughly. Wherefore being willing to hear both sides speak in their own cause, he first read Bellarmine, and then Whitaker against him. But behold, instead of satisfying his doubts by this inquiry, he discovered another defect, riz. the unfair dealing of Whitaker in citing his authors, whereas he found Bellarmine always faithful in his quotations. This made him think better of the catholic religion, and eager to look farther into it. Upon this he read the ancient fathers, and finding them to deliver the catholic faith, he was inflamed with the love of the old religion, and sought to communicate the same sentiments to his fellow collegians; four of whom by his means not only left the college, but soon after the world too, and all became religious men, three in the holy order of St Francis, and the fourth in the Society of Jesus. Mr Heath upon those proceedings perceived that Cambridge would quickly be too warm for him, and therefore quitted the university, and came up to London in order to be reconciled to the catholic church. With this view he applied to the Spanish ambassador but met with no countenance. Then he addressed himself to a catholic gentleman (Mr George Jarnagan) who also rejected him, suspecting his sincerity. In these straights, not knowing how to meet with a priest, or which way to turn himself, he remembered what he had read of the devotions of catholics to the saints, and especially to the blessed Virgin, and what help they received by applying to her for her intercession, and was resolved to make a trial of this devotion; when behold, on a sudden the same Mr Jarnagan, who had a little while before rejected him with reproach, met with him, treated him most courteously, and conducted him to George Muscott, a strenuous labourer in the Lord's vineyard, afterwards president of Douay College, who heard his confession, reconciled him to God and his church and sent him over to Douay, recommending him to Dr Kellison, then president of the college: who received him kindly, and admitted him amongst the convictors of that community. 

Colleges at the University of Douai,
16th century 

Mr Heath had not been long at Douay, when seeing at the college some of the English friars who had been lately established in that city, and being informed of their rule and manner of life, he found a strong call to embrace that penitential institute. He communicated his desires to his confessor, and by him to the president and seniors: who approved of his vocation, and recommended him to the superiors of the English Franciscans; who willingly received him, first to the habit, and then after a year's noviceship, in which he gave great proofs of most solid virtues to his religious profession. In religion he took the name of Brother Paul of St Magdalen, and for about nineteen years that he lived in the convent, he led a life of extraordinary perfection. He fasted four or five of the seven days of the week for many years together, upon bread and small beer; he constantly wore a rough hair-cloth, and an iron chain or girdle under his habit; he used frequent disciplines besides those of the order; when he slept, he seldom indulged himself even the poor convenience of the straw-bed allowed by the rule, but spreading a blanket on the floor, laid himself down in his habit upon it; and after rising at midnight with the rest of the community to matins, he frequently prolonged his prayer till prime in the morning. As to his interior, it appears by certain regulations which he made for himself, and which were found, written in his own hand, after his death, that he obliged himself constantly to make meditation after matins, to practice aspirations of the love of Jesus a hundred times in the day; to mortify upon every occasion his eyes, his tongue, his passions and affections; to suffer the defects of all without murmur; to suffer incommodities, and want of necessaries, with a pure resignation; to regard God and his service only, and not to seek the affection and esteem of creatures; to abstain from recreations; to retrench all unnecessary discourse, &c. to which he added these three rules: 

1. Of renouncing all right and authority in everything whatsoever, even in my good name, and corporal conveniences; that I may willingly suffer myself to be despoiled of all things for God's sake. 

2. Offering myself as a servant to every creature, that I may do him all good, expecting no profit thereby, although I may, but crosses and afflictions. 

3. To live as absolutely dead to the defects of others, that I may continually find out and lament my own defects.

His constant attention to God did not hinder him from making great progress in the sciences both human and divine; for the attaining to which, he had both good opportunities, and great abilities: no less than thirty treatises, on different subjects, of his compiling, are still preserved in his own handwriting, in his convent, as lasting monuments of his learning. 

He was for many years first reader, or professor of divinity, and gained great esteem in the university. He was also twice guardian, or superior of his convent, and was preferred to other honourable employs in his order, as that of custos custodum, commissary provincial in the parts of Flanders, &c. of all which he acquitted himself with great prudence and vigilance. In the meantime, his charity for his poor countrymen that were gone astray from the fold of Christ, was very remarkable; and he laboured with great zeal and success in reclaiming as many of them as came in his way, from their errors and sins.

It was in the year 1641, that Father Heath seemed to have taken the resolution of quitting his convent and entering upon the English mission and this in hopes of meeting there with the crown of martyrdom.

Two priests had been put to death in 1641, and seven more were sentenced to die for the same cause, that is, for their being in orders and exercising their functions in England. Amongst the latter was Father Colman, a Franciscan, a contemporary of Father Heath, and his close friend. It was in the month of December, 1641, that these confessors: received the sentence of death, and the news no sooner reached Douay, but Father Heath took up his pen, and wrote an excellent letter to these seven condemned priests, who daily looked for the dead warrant. Take here a part of the letter in his own words, which clearly demonstrate the spirit of the writer, and the desire he had of bearing part in their sufferings.

"O ye most glorious men! most noble friends, and most courageous soldiers of Christ Jesus! How great is my unhappiness, that I am not permitted to come to you, that I may be partaker of your chains, and offer myself to be consumed with that ardent love of Jesus Christ, which in your trials hath made you so constant and victorious over human fears. O good Jesus! what is the crime I am guilty of, for which I am not to be permitted to enjoy your company, seeing there is nothing in this world I desire more nor indeed is it possible that any thing can satisfy me, so long as I am kept from you. Wherefore I humbly beseech you, for the love of God, to pray for me, that I may come to you, and never be separated from you."

About the same time, he wrote to his provincial for his consent, that he might go upon the mission. This letter runs in much the same strain as the former. "Alas! most dear sir," says he, "I only require this; your obedientials; after this, nothing stays me; if I can get your consent but in one word, I will not endure to be kept from you a moment's time. Why, sir, you cannot allow that soldier to be a man of courage, who, hearing that the army is drawn up in battle array, the drums and trumpets sounding to the charge, and yet shall indulge himself at home in sloth and cowardice, I am unfit, I deny not, and altogether unworthy to discharge this apostolic duty or presume to suffer for the name of Christ; but his apostle has assured us, that virtue is perfected in infirmity, and that God has chosen the foolish, that he may confound the wise. Our most benign Lord, inspire you to hasten your consent, and I shall eternally remain your poor child."

Paul Magd.

16th century houses, painted by Auguste Mayer

His provincial returned him an answer, that after some time he might be permitted to leave his convent, and go upon the mission, but that as yet he could not be spared. Upon this he applied himself to Father Angelus Mason, the commissary provincial residing in Flanders, and casting himself upon his knees with abundance of tears besought him to send him away, for that he found such strong desires of going upon the mission, that he perfectly languished away, and could not rest night or day and that he thought the likeness of the hangman putting the rope about his neck was always before his eyes; which last words (says this superior, page 99) he spoke with such a feeling, and with such an emphasis in their delivery, that had you seen him, you would have said the man did verily think himself standing under the gallows, in the hands of the executioner. But though Father Mason, (who afterwards wrote the life and martyrdom of Father Heath, in his Certamen Seraphicum) was very much affected with his words, yet he could not be induced to yield, for the present, to Father Heath's petition: who being strongly persuaded, that his desire to go to England was a call from God, was resolved to try one other expedient, which, as we shall see, procured what he desired. He was wonderfully devoted to the blessed Virgin, and had seldom or never failed to obtain of God Almighty, what he had particularly recommended to her prayers and intercession¹. Of this my author alleges these wonderful instances when he was guardian of the convent, a pestilential fever had taken root there, and had carried off some of the religious; others were ill, and himself not without some suspicion of having contracted the infection; but what added to his affliction, was, that the wants of the community were at the same time extraordinary great, with little prospect of relief from any quarter. Here he applied himself to this Mother of Consolation, and immediately his tears were dried up, and his fears dissipated; his sick brethren recovered, and a plentiful and seasonable supply of necessaries for the support of his convent (reduced at that time almost to the extremities of want) was brought in by the citizens. 

His father had hitherto continued protestant, proof against all arguments, and now upon the brink of his grave; Father Heath recommended his almost desperate condition to the care of the Virgin Mary; when behold, on a sudden, the feeble old man, aged fourscore, crossed the sea, and unexpectedly called for his son in his convent at Douay, there to abjure his errors, and to be taken into the catholic church. 

These, with other great favours, Father Heath had received from the hand of God, by the prayers of the Virgin Mary, and therefore was resolved to try this expedient in the present exigency; and to make a pilgrimage for this purpose to our Lady of Montacute, a place of great devotion in Brabant. He took Gand in his way, where he applied himself to father Marchant, the commissary general of his order, but all in vain: so to Montacute he went, and there made his supplication to the blessed Virgin. Now see the fruit of these devotions: he took his journey back by Gand, and there again applied himself to Father Marchant, humbly entreating him for leave to go upon the English mission, to labour there in the conversion of his country, and lay down his life in defence of the truth. What rhetoric he employed now with the commissary (who had before given him a flat denial) the compiler of his life has not acquainted us. But certain it is, that he expressed himself to him in a most pathetic manner, and with such vigor, that the good old Father was glad to capitulate, and surrender at last upon terms. We have here Father Marchant's relation in his own words: "This man," says he, "inebriated with the Spirit, some months since came to our presence, desiring, according to his rule, to go to the English that were gone astray from the faith, alleging no other reason than this: that he might shed his blood, that he might be slain with and for the English, his brethren according to the flesh. I was against it; I commended indeed his spirit, though moved with too much fervour. At last I signed his obedientials, upon condition his immediate superior would join his approbation." Now this was the English commissary Father Mason, to whom Father Heath had formerly applied, and had been refused. He went to him therefore now again, and showed him his letter of leave signed by Father Marchant, but was still answered, that he cannot be spared. However, the commissary promised to take the matter into consideration, and recommend it to God. He did so; and though he had resolved to refuse his consent, yet after all (and he calls God to witness, that what he says is the real truth) he felt a secret impulse, strongly determining him to join his approbation.

Father Heath having now gained his point, made haste back to his convent to bid adieu to his brethren, and to set forward upon his journey to England with all convenient speed. His friends were surprised to see what a change the joy of his heart had now made in his very looks, by an unusual gaiety and cheerfulness which shone in his countenance. They would have provided him secular apparel, and money for his journey, but this he modestly refused, and set out from Douay penniless and barefoot in his friar's habit. 

When he came to Dunkirk, he procured a taylor to metamorphose his friar's weed into a coat, waistcoat and breeches, and to turn his capuche into a kind of a sailor's cap, in which he sewed up some writings in defence of the catholic religion; and thus equipped he went on board. Here he met with a German gentleman, who being much taken with the modest and humble deportment of the good man, not only paid for his passage, and provided him necessaries during his voyage, but also kindly offered him money to bear his charges from Dover to London, which Father Heath modestly refused, and so made the best of his way barefoot, begging a bit of bread for God's sake, when hunger compelled him to it.

16/17th century London Bridge 

At London he arrived wearied, as well he might, having travelled barefoot forty miles that day, and it being the winter season. It was now time to take up his quarters, and give some little rest and refreshment to the body. But how should this be done, for money be had none, nor acquaintance? However he ventured to call at the Star Inn, near London Bridge, but the people of the house, finding he had no money, turned him out of doors at eight o'clock, in a cold winter night; and where to put his head, and what course to take till morning, he knew not. At length wearied with standing in the streets, he resolved to lie down at some citizen's door, where he might meet with some little shelter from the cold air; and accordingly he laid himself down, and composed himself to rest, designing in the morning to call upon Father Colman, in Newgate.

After some time the master of the house coming home, stumbled upon him, and taking him to be a shoplifter, calls the watch, sends for a constable, and upon a strict search discovers the writings that were concealed in his cap. Upon this he is committed to the Compter, and the next day is carried before my lord mayor, where his writings and himself being examined, he owned himself to be a priest, and so was sent to Newgate. 

Fr Heath is taken by the watchmen
- Woodcut c/o Memoirs of Missionary Priests &.c., Ven. and Rt. Rev. R. Challoner, New Edition, Thomas Jones, London, Paternoster Row, 1842

After some days he was examined by a committee of the parliament, to whom he also owned himself a priest; and being asked to what intent he came into England, he frankly told them, he came upon a very lawful and commendable business, viz. the conversion of his countrymen from sin and heresy. What heresy! said they. Even the Protestant heresy, said he, the Puritan heresy, the Anabaptist heresy, the heresy of the Brownists, and many others. 

Being told that his coming over was against the laws of the nation, he answered, that the preaching of the apostles was also against the laws of the nations to which they preached; and that his coming over to preach the gospel in England could no more be treason than the preaching of Christ and his apostles.

Soon after this he was brought to the bar, being indicted upon the 27th of Elizabeth for being a priest, and returning into England, and therefore guilty of high-treason. The trial was soon over, for as he had acknowledged himself a priest, he was brought in guilty of the indictment; and accordingly received sentence as in cases of high treason; which as soon as he had heard, making a low reverence to the bench, he said, "My lords, I give you thanks for the singular honour you have done me; for now I shall die for Christ."

During the short interval betwixt his condemnation and execution, the prison was continually thronged with crowds of visitants from all parts of the town, as well protestants as catholics; amongst the former were reckoned above 40 ministers, who came to confer with him in matters of religion; some of them seemed very much to pity him; and all in general spoke well of him, as a man of great parts and learning. As to the catholics, they came to confess to him, or to consult him in matters of conscience; so that with one and the other, he could scarce get a moment's time for a little repose.

Newgate Prison, where
Fr Heath was held

On the day of execution, being called for by the officers of justice, he readily obeyed the summons, and immediately went down into the street, where the sledge was placed, with a modest cheerfulness in his looks. He offered to lay himself down on the ground to be drawn in that manner over the stones and through the mire; but this was not allowed; so he was laid on the sledge, and drawn according to sentence to Tyburn when he came thither he readily and cheerfully got up into the cart under the gallows, saying with an audible voice, Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

The rope being about his neck, and having obtained leave to speak, he protested that his return into England was for no other design, but that he might spend his life and labours in the conversion of his country; and that this was the only cause for which he was brought to that place to suffer an ignominious death. But a minister interrupted him, saying, that he was not condemned for religion, but for seducing the people. Father Heath calmly replied, "With no other justice can I be called a seducer by you, than with what my Lord Jesus Christ was called a seducer by the Jews. 

Here he was commanded to be silent, and he readily obeyed; and not being able to obtain what he desired (viz. to hang naked like his crucified Saviour) joining his hands before his breast, his eyes shut, he employed about half an hour in profound recollection and silent prayer, without any other sensible motion but now and then a devout sigh After that he had recited aloud the church hymn for a martyr, Martyr Dei, qui unicum, &c. it being the day of St Anicetus, Pope and Martyr, for his last prayer, he made use of these short aspirations: My Jesus, pardon me my sins! Jesus, convert England! Jesus, have mercy on this country! O England turn thyself to the Lord thy God! After which the cart was drawn away, and he left hanging, his hands lifted up towards heaven, and his eyes cast down and in this posture he quietly expired. After his death he was cut down, bowelled and quartered; and his quarters fixed upon four of the city gates, and his head upon London Bridge.

N.B. He reconciled in the very cart one of the malefactors that were executed with him.

He suffered on the 17th of April, 1643, in the 43rd year of his age, and the 20th of his religious profession.

Father Heath a little before the sentence of death was passed upon him, wrote out of prison the following letter to a priest, his close friend.

"Very Reverend Father, "Your consolations have rejoiced my soul. The judges have not yet given sentence. I beseech the divine goodness that it may answer my desires, that I may suffer death for my Lord Jesus Christ. Alas, Father! what other thing can I desire than to suffer with Christ, to be reproached with Christ, to be crucified with Christ, to die a thousand deaths that I may live for ever with Christ? for if it be the glory of a soldier to be made like his lord, God forbid I should glory in any thing but in the cross of my crucified Lord. Let then the executioner come, let them tear my body in pieces, let them gnaw my flesh with their teeth, let them pierce me through and through, and grind me to dust. For I know, I know full well how profitable it will be for me to die for Christ. The moment of this suffering doth work an eternal weight of glory in heaven May your reverend paternity be pleased to pray for me, a miserable sinner, who will ever be in the wounds of Christ, until death be swallowed up in victory.

"Your Reverence's most humble servant,

"F. Paul of St. Magdalen.

It is also remarked of Fr Heath, in Mr Ireland's diary of Douay College, that he declared in prison, though he always was convinced that the martyrs found much joy and consolation when they were to suffer for Christ; yet he never could have imagined this delight to be so exceeding great, as he now found by his own experience.

It is likewise the tradition of the English Franciscans in Douay, that when Fr Heath was executed at Tyburn, the first that had the news of it In their convent, was his aged father, then a lay-brother amongst them, informed by a vision of his son.

¹From an epistle or prayer found in Father Heath's own hand.

From Certamen Seraphicum, p. 63, and from his Life printed in English at Douay, anno 1674.

Source: Bishop Richard Challoner, Memoirs of Missionary Priests, Volume 2 

⬅️ The Holy Martyrs of England and Wales

PRAYER:

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