St. Margaret Clitherow (1555 - 1586) was born in Middleton, England. Her parents were both protestants. Margaret had a charming personality, possessed good looks and was very witty and merry. In 1571 she married a galant young man a well-to-do grazier and butcher. She had two beautiful children in this marriage. She entered the Catholic church a few years later with much zeal. She harbored fugitive priests, for which she was arrested and imprisoned. The authorities asked her to deny her faith in order to be released. But Margaret stood firm in her faith. Finally, she was condemned to be pressed to death on March 25, 1586. She was stretched out on the ground with a sharp rock on her back and crushed under a door over laden with unbearable weights. Her bones were broken and she died within fifteen minutes. When she was condemned to die she wrote a letter to her friend: "The sheriffs have said that I am going to die this coming Friday; and I feel the weakness of my flesh which is troubled at this news, but my spirit rejoices greatly. For the love of God, pray for me and ask all good people to do likewise."
St. Margaret help us to be zealous in everything we do with much care and love.
Comments