St. John Houghton

In keeping with the Tudor’s theme, and in my own twist on “Memorial day”, I would like to share this photograph. I took it about a year ago at Tyburn convent in London. It depicts St. John Houghton, prior of the Carthusian charterhouse in London. Houghton was the first Catholic martyr to refuse to sign Henry VIII’s oath of supremacy. The sister who gave the tour of the relics recounted the story. As pressure was applied on the Carthusians, they deliberated their fate. St. John Houghton offered a votive Mass of the Holy Spirit. At the elevation, his hands locked up, and he was unable to lower them. At that very point, the monks together opted for martyrdom. Houghton and two other leading Carthusians were hung, drawn, and quartered at Tyburn in May, 1535. Many others followed. Let us celebrate our own Catholic “Memorial day” by remembering the Catholics who bravely died for the faith.