Priest and Martyr (d. 1582)
His life
+ Thomas was born in Devon, Devonshire, England. After receiving a Master of Arts at Trinity College, he became a fellow of the college.
+ In 1570, he began to study for the priesthood at the English seminary in Douai, France, and was ordained in 1573.
+ Thomas secretly returned to England in 1576, intending to serve the persecuted Catholic community.
+ In 1581, Thomas was arrested and imprisoned in the Tower of London. After being tortured, he was tried for treason as part of an alleged conspiracy of Catholics against Queen Elizabeth I.
+ Blessed Thomas Ford was executed on May 28, 1582, and was beatified with other English martyrs in 1886.
Spiritual bonus
On this day, the Church also honors the memory of Blessed Albert of Csanád, a monk of the Order of St. Paul, the First Hermit. A noted preacher and Latin poet, he died in his monastery in Bjacs, Hungary, around the year 1492.
For reflection
“Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.”—John 12:24
Prayer
O God, who were pleased to give light to your Church by adorning blessed Thomas with the victory of martyrdom, graciously grant that, as he imitated the Lord’s Passion, so we may, by following in his footsteps, be worthy to attain eternal joys. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(from The Roman Missal: Common of Martyrs—For One Martyr During the Easter Season)
Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.
And today we celebrate...