Mementoes of the English Martyrs and Confessors: For Every Day in the Year

by Henry Sebastian Bowden

Fr. Henry Sebastian Bowden wrote this powerful book so we will never forget the sacrifices of those martyrs who preserved and bequeathed to us our Catholic Faith. The heroic witness of the English martyrs you meet in this superb volume of daily meditations will instill a greater piety and zeal in your heart. Each day features a captivating short story from the life of a martyr or an excerpt from his or her writings. Their testimonies, sometimes prophetic, always profound, impart urgent reminders to us about Catholic persecution as it has occurred through time. The period of the English martyrs opened with Henry VIII’s “Oath of Supremacy” and the suppression of monasteries and then continued into forced Protestantism by blood under Elizabeth, and from there to the age in which Puritans killed Catholics solely for their Faith. In these gripping pages ― increasingly relatable in our time ― you will encounter extraordinary examples of valor in the face of shocking danger and cruelty, including the consequences laypeople faced for harboring priests. Stirred by the selection of stories included, you will Most powerfully, these pages lay bare the thoughts the thoughts and feelings of martyrs such as Bl. William Hart, who wrote heartfelt letters to his Protestant mother and exhorted his spiritual children through his preaching to “Stand fast!” From famous saints such as John Fisher, the “saintly cardinal,” to Thomas More, the civil lawyer and illustrious chancellor, you will read about greater- and lesser-known heroes of the Faith resisting bribes and withstanding tortures and steadfastly refusing to apostatize or betray friends. Be inspired by the profound wisdom and courage of great Catholics who shed their blood for Christ and His Church. Such a cloud of witnesses will make your heart grateful for the Faith our fathers preserved for us and more confident than ever about the truths in which we believe.

Genres: Nonfiction

456 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2008

Reviews

[Kaycee Monnens · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, so amazing. Would recommend to everyone.

[Daniel Millard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been making my way through this on and off - mostly "on" for the last couple of years, and will continue to do so. The witness of the English martyrs is an incredible testimony, as well as a shocking reminder. The bite-size sections here are so galvanizing that they make it easier than many devotionals to follow on a regular basis.

I suppose the only reason I wouldn't give this five stars is because some of the selections are considerably less interesting/applicable than others.