Saint John Southworth

Biography

Saint John Southworth was born in 1592 in Samlesbury, Lancashire, England. He studied at the English College in Douai, France, and was ordained as a Catholic priest there. In 1619, he returned to England with a mission to minister to covert Catholics. His dedication to his faith and his fellow Catholics led to his arrest and condemnation in Lancashire in 1627. Accompanied by fifteen other priests, he was held in various prisons, enduring difficult conditions and persecution. It is said that during this time, he had the honor of hearing the final confession of Saint Edmund Arrowsmith before the martyr was led to the gallows. In 1630, through the intercession of Queen Henrietta Maria, Saint John Southworth and the other priests were turned over to the French ambassador and sent into exile in France. However, his love for his homeland eventually brought him back to England, where he collaborated with Saint Henry Morse. Together, they fearlessly and tirelessly cared for the sick during a plague outbreak in 1636. Saint John was arrested once again for his faith in Westminster in 1637. Despite being held in various prisons, he continued to minister to prisoners who showed an interest in the Catholic faith. Finally, in 1640, he was released due to the mitigating circumstances of his good works. Unfortunately, this respite was short-lived, as he was arrested once more on December 2, 1640. Pleading guilty to the crime of being a priest, he was condemned to death. For the next 14 years, he endured imprisonment, continuing to minister to fellow prisoners during this time. On June 28, 1654, Saint John Southworth was executed by orders of the Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell. He was hanged, drawn, and quartered at Tyburn, London. His unwavering faith and dedication to his calling made him one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales. Following his execution, his remains were purchased by the Spanish ambassador to England and sent to the English College in Douai, France. To protect them from destruction during the French Revolution, the relics were hidden. They were eventually rediscovered in 1927 and are now housed at Westminster Cathedral in London. Saint John Southworth's martyrdom was officially recognized by Pope Pius XI on December 8, 1929. On the same day, he was beatified by Pope Pius XI. Later, on October 25, 1970, Pope Paul VI canonized him as a saint. His feast days are celebrated on June 28 and October 25, honoring him as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales and as one of the Martyrs of Douai, respectively. While there is no specific patronage associated with Saint John Southworth, he remains a source of inspiration and intercession for all Catholics committed to their faith, as well as for those who face persecution for their religious beliefs. His life and martyrdom serve as a testament to unwavering devotion in the face of adversity.