May 4th - St. John Houghton, O Cart. M (RM)
Born in Es***, England, in 1487; died at Tyburn on May 4, 1535; beatified
in
1886; canonized by Pius VI in 1970 as one of the Forty Martyrs of England
and Wales. Saint John served as a parish priest for four years after his
graduation from Cambridge. Then he joined the Carthusians, where he was
named prior of Beauvale Charterhouse in Northampton and, just a few months
later, prior of London Charterhouse.
In 1534, he and his procurator, Blessed Humphrey Middlemore, were arrested
for refusing to accept the Act of Succession, which proclaimed the
legitimacy of Anne Boleyn's children by Henry VIII. They were soon
released
when they accepted the act with the proviso "as far as the law of God
allows."
The following year Father Houghton was again arrested when he, Saint
Robert
Lawrence, and Saint Augustine Webster went to Thomas Cromwell to seek an
exemption from taking the oath required in the Act of Supremacy. He, as
the
first of hundreds to refuse to apostatize in favor of the crowned heads of
England, gave a magnificent example to his monks and the whole of Britain
of
fidelity to the Catholic faith.
As the sentence of drawing and quartering was read to Father Houghton, he
said, "And what wilt thou do with my heart, O Christ?" The three were
dragged through the streets of London, treated savagely, and then hanged,
drawn, and quartered at Tyburn. After his death, John Houghton's body was
chopped into pieces and hung in various parts of London (Attwater,
Benedictines, Delaney).
John Houghton is depicted as a Carthusian with a rope around his neck,
holding up his heart (Roeder).
From:
http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0504.shtml
Saint Quote:
"The Lord sends us tribulation and infirmities to give us the means of
paying the immense debts we have contracted with Him. Therefore, those who
have good sense receive them joyfully, for they think more of the good
which
they may derive from them than of the pain which they experience on
account
of them" --St. Vincent Ferrer
This Saint unfolded this same sentiment more fully in a sermon which
contained this pleasing parable: There was a king who had in prison two
men
who both owed him large sums of money. Seeing that they were unable to pay
because they possessed nothing, he threw down a purse full of money upon
each of them with so much force that they both felt the pain. One, angry
at
the blow, showed his impatience without making any account of the purse;
but
the other, not regarding the pain, recognized the favor done him, and
taking
the purse, gave thanks to the king and paid his debt with the money. "Now,
precisely the same thing happens with us" added the Saint. "We all owe
heavy
debts to God for the many benefits we have received from Him, and for the
many sins we have committed against Him, nor have we anything of our own
to
pay them. Therefore, moved by pity for us, He sends us the gold of
patience
in the purse of tribulations, that we may use it to pay our debts. Whoever
will not do this only increases his debts and renders himself, at the same
time, more displeasing to God."
The example of the two thieves crucified with Christ confirms this truth.
By
his patience, one paid his debts and gained Paradise; while the other, by
his impatience, made himself more than ever a debtor, and obtained for
himself eternal pains.
(Taken from the book "A Year with the Saints". April - Patience)
Bible Quote: 7 And there are three who give testimony in heaven, the
Father,
the Word, and the Holy Ghost. And these three are one. (1 John 4:7)
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An Office of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ
At that time, Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers platted
a
crown of thorns, and put it on His head, and they put on him a purple
robe,
and said, "Hail, King of the Jews." And they smote Him with their hands.
And
they spat upon Him, and took the reed, and smote Him on the head.
And the soldiers took Jesus, and He, bearing His Cross, went forth into a
place called the place of the skull, where they crucified Him, and two
others with Him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.
After this, Jesus, knowing all things which should come to pass, said, "I
thirst." And they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop,
and
put it to His mouth.
And when He had tasted thereof, He would not drink, but said, "It is
finished." And He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost.
And immediately the earth did quake, and the sun was darkened. And the
veil
of the Temple was rent, and the rocks rent, and the graves were opened,
and
those who slept arose. Which things, when the centurion saw, he said,
"Truly, this was the Son of God."
At length one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith
came thereout blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and we know
that his record is true.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray
Lord Jesus Christ, who for us sinners didst place Thy hands and Thy feet
and
Thy whole body upon the wood of the Cross; and didst bear the crown of
thorns, set upon Thy head by the soldiers in dishonor of Thy most Holy
Body;
and hanging upon the Cross didst suffer five wounds for the sake of us
sinners, and hast redeemed us by Thy sacred Blood, grant us we beseech
Thee,
O Lord, this day, and every day, the practice of penitence, abstinence,
patience, humility, and chastity, and light, sense, understanding, and
knowledge of the truth, even unto the end. Through Thee, Jesus Christ,
Saviour of the world, King of glory, who, together with the Father and the
Holy Spirit, livest and reignest God, world without end. - Amen.
POPE JOHN XXII
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