On the Royal Road of the Holy Cross [III]

[Rich]

On the Royal Road of the Holy Cross [III]

Why, then, do you fear to take up the Cross-, which is the road to the
Kingdom? In the Cross is salvation; in the Cross is life; in the Cross
is protection against our enemies; in the Cross is infusion of
heavenly sweetness; in the Cross is strength of mind; in the Cross is
joy of spirit; in the Cross is excellence of virtue; in the Cross is
perfection of holiness. There is no salvation of soul, nor hope of
eternal life, save in the Cross. Take up the Cross--, therefore, and
follow Jesus, (Matt. 16:24) and go forward into eternal life.
(Matt.25:46) Christ has gone before you, bearing His Cross; (John
19:17) He died for you on the Cross, that you also may bear your
cross, and desire to die on the cross with Him. For if you die with
Him, you will also live with Him. (Rom 6:8) And if you share His
sufferings, you will also share His glory.
--Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 2, Ch 12

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7 April – Saint Henry Walpole SJ

(1558–1595)
Priest of the Society of Jesus, Martyr, Confessor, Poet, Lawyer. Born
at Docking, Norfolk, in 1558 and died on 7 April 1595, aged 37, at
York for refusing to take the Oath of Supremacy, by being hung, drawn
and quartered.

Twenty-three-year-old Henry Walpole had attended the debates which St
Edmund Campion held with the Anglican hierarchy and was among the
bystanders at the execution of Fr Edmund Campion, when drops of the
latter’s blood sprinkled his clothes. This moved Henry so deeply, his
heart and soul were rent in suffering with St Edmund and he felt
convinced that God was calling him to follow in St Edmund’s footsteps.

Henry was born at Docking, near Sandringham, Norfolk, the eldest son
of Christopher Walpole, by Margery, heiress of Richard Beckham of
Narford. He studied at the Norwich grammar school and later at
Peterhouse, Cambridge, before moving to study law at Gray’s Inn,
London.

But he was so inspired by Fr Campion’s Martyrdom, that he decided to
give up law to become a Priest. At this time, Henry wrote a little
book of poetry, honouring St Edmund Campion which was secretly printed
and circulated in London. The authorities sought to discover the
parties involved. The Printer, Henry’s friend, named Valenger, was
fined and suffered the loss of his ears but did not betray Walpole,
who was, nonetheless, under suspicion. Walpole fled London for his
father’s home in Norfolk and from there, escaped to France.

He entered the English College at Rheims, in France in July, 1582
before going to the English College in Rome and entered the Society of
Jesus on 4 February 1584. He completed his studies at Scots College at
Pont-a-Mousson, France and was Ordained in Paris on 17 December 1588.
He took up his first assignment as Chaplain to the English Catholic
refugees serving in the Spanish army in the Low Countries.

Henry was imprisoned for a year in 1589 after he was captured by the
Calvinists and then worked at the English Seminary in Valladolid,
Spain. In 1593, he travelled to see King Philip II of Spain to obtain
permission to found St Omers, now Stonyhurst College in Lancashire,
England and thus leave his duties in Spain.

As England’s southern ports were closed because of plague, Fr Walpole,
together with his youngest brother, Thomas and an English soldier
secured passage on a French vessel going to Scotland and then
travelled to Yorkshire where the group separated. While resting at an
inn that night, Fr Walpole was unexpectedly arrested on suspicion of
being a Priest, being betrayed by a Scottish prisoner who who was paid
for denouncing Henry. Fr Walpole’s capture was sorely felt by the
Jesuits in England for they had hoped he could continue St Robert
Southwell’s work after the latter had been imprisoned.

During his first interrogation Henry only admitted that he was a
Jesuit Priest and that he had come to convert the English. He was
transferred to York Castle and for three months, he was permitted to
leave prison to discuss theology with Protestant visitors before he
was transferred to the Salt Tower in the infamous Tower of London into
the hands of the notorious Priest-Torturer Richard Topcliffe , who was
hoping to extract information from him. regarding hiding Priests and
Recusant Catholics.

Fr Walpole remained faithful and did not reveal anything despite being
tortured brutally on the rack and was suspended by his wrists for
hours over a period of one year to prevent premature death.

In the spring of 1595 he was sent back to York for trial, where he was
joined by Blessed Alexander Rawlins, who was also awaiting trial. Both
were tried on 3 April on the charge of being Catholic Priests. Henry,
as a former lawyer, argued that the law only applied to Priests who
had not given themselves up to officials within three days of arrival.
He, himself, had been arrested less than a day after landing in
England, therefore, he argued that he had not violated the law. The
judges demanded that he take the Oath of Supremacy, acknowledging the
Queen Elizabeth’s complete authority in religion. He refused to do so
and was convicted of high treason. Both he and Bl Rawlins were found
guilty and condemned and on 7 April 1595 they were hanged, drawn and
quartered. Bl Rawlins died first; Walpole was allowed to hang until he
was dead.

Henry was Beatified on 15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI and Canonized
in 1970, as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales, who are
celebrated collectively on 4 May.

Today, the gruesome Tower of London, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
and a tourist destination. However, its name for most, especially for
Catholics, denotes imprisonment, horrific torture and the most cruel
deaths. That was not its initial purpose. It was built to show the
wealth and power of William the Conqueror. In actuality, few met their
deaths within its walls but it did serve as a prison and a very dark
torture chamber for many. Among those imprisoned and tortured in the
Tower was our Saint today, St Henry Walpole.

On the second floor of the Salt Tower’s walls, are many carvings done
by these Martyred men. In fact, St Henry carved his name in the wall
as seen above. But another carving by one of our Martyrs, is extremely
moving. This carving is an outline of a foot with a wound — a Foot of
Jesus Christ pierced by iron nails to suspend Him on the Cross for our
salvation. This image was common among these Priests. It was a source
of courage and consolation as they awaited their own deaths in
imitation of their Lord, their Saviour and their God. This image is
regarded as a type of relic and those who visit sense its sorrowful
holiness and pray before it in veneration.

see
https://anastpaul.com/2022/04/07/


“He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” – Luke 7:50

In order that you may have the same experience, reflect within
yourself that your sin is great but that it is blasphemy against God
and an injury to yourself, to despair of His forgiveness because your
sin seems to you to be too great. He has promised to forgive your
sins, however many they are; will you tell Him you cannot believe this
and dispute with Him, saying that your sin is too great and He cannot
heal your sickness? Stop at that point and cry out with the prophet:
“Lord, I have sinned against you” (Ps 51[50]:6). At once He will
reply, “As for me, I have overlooked your fault, you shall not die.”
Glory to Him from us all, through all ages! Amen, Amen.” ~ An
Anonymous Christian Syrian Writer of the 6th century [ACW}
(From a collection of homilies on the sinful woman, 1, 4.5.19.26.28
(Eastern Syrian)


Saint Quote:
To think ourselves imperfect, and others perfect--that is happiness.
That creatures recognize we are without virtue takes nothing from us,
makes us no poorer; it is they who by this lose interior joy; for
there is nothing sweeter than to think well of our neighbor.
--St. Therese of Lisieux

Bible Quote
But the hidden man of the heart in the incorruptibility of a quiet and
a meek spirit, which is rich in the sight of God. (1 Peter 3:4)

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Short prayers to the Holy Ghost:

O Holy Ghost, Spirit of truth, come into our hearts; shed the brightness of
Thy light upon the nations, that they may please Thee in unity of faith.

May the graces of the Holy Ghost enlighten our senses and our hearts.

May our hearts be cleansed, O Lord, by the inpouring of the Holy Ghost, and
may He render them fruitful by watering them with His heavenly dew.