Two English martyrs

Today is the feast of two great English martyrs, St John Fisher and St Thomas Moore. I was reminded of this when I saw a little shrine to them with several candles burning brightly in their honour.

Fisher was the Bishop of Rochester - the poorest diocese in the country. He was deposed from his see and charged with treason for refusing to accept the king as the supreme head of the Church of England. The Pope tried to help him by making him a Cardinal, but this seemed to antagonise the King even more. Rather than having the Cardinal's hat sent to England, Henry said he would send the head of Fisher to Rome.

Thomas Moore was a lawyer and statesman who achieved the dizzy heights of Lord Chancellor. He was also deeply devout. He wore a hair shirt and at one point contemplated joining the Carthusian order. Like Fisher, he refused to accept the Act of Supremacy and payed for it with his life. On the scaffold he declared that he was the King's good servant but God's first.

Fisher and Moore were caught up in the most intense spiritual upheaval this country has ever witnessed. I increasingly wonder if something of their heroism will be needed in our own era. It is becoming more difficult to be a public Catholic these days. Many of the laws that were enacted by the previous governement left no room for religious liberty. Every single Catholic adoption agency was forced to close down rather than infringe the new equality legislation. The Church is condemned in many quarters for remaining true to its belief in marriage and family life.

I wonder how long it will be before we see another Moore or another Fisher? How long before a Catholic in public life is sent to prision because their faith is considered unaccpetable to modern sensibilities? It is ironic that we live in a supposedly liberal society. And yet it is one that is increasingly intolerant of ideas different to its own.

The entire meaning of Christian baptism is expressed in the act of martyrdom. Nothing greater can be done for Christ than to suffer for him. Great men like St John Fisher and St Thomas Moore can give us strength. But it is a strength that may be needed sooner than we think.