St Teresa and the Pearl of York

I can’t help being struck by the fact that the life of St Margaret Clitherow (1556-1586) – her feast is today – overlapped with that of our St Teresa (1515-1582). Apparently Margaret (known as 'the Pearl of York') was beautiful and witty, and she has that in common with Teresa – but what a contrast between the world of Spain in Teresa’s day and the barbaric world of England at the time!     ‘Margaret lived during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, whose Protestant mentors launched a savage persecution of the Catholic Church. Catholics were fined for not attending the new Anglican service and were imprisoned for six months for going to Mass, which was forbidden. Margaret sheltered many priests in her home, which became one of the main Mass centres in York.  Between 1577 and 1585 she was imprisoned several times; she learned to read and write in prison and her youngest child was born there. Her older children were also imprisoned, even her 12-year-old daughter Anne, who later became a nun. Margaret’s good Protestant husband allowed her to help priests and paid her fines. Her last and longest imprisonment lasted 18 months.  She was killed by being crushed to death.’    

Intercessions:

Brian Davis - cancer

Marie, Bernard (and wife Angela) - cancer

Agnes Rees RIP.  A great prolife worker who died before she could be taken into formation

Siena, Elara – sick children

Rosemarie – seriously ill

Wojtek – massive heart attack leaving him incapacitated

David - housebound

Sophia – blind infant