Day Twenty-Five - The Love of the Heart

Today's Reflection
by Alison Simpson

Today is the feast day of a Catholic convert, wife, mother, and martyr by the name of Margaret Clitherow. This inspiring saint living in England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. At the time, Catholicism was under great attack. In fact, St. Margaret was raised in the Church of England and did not convert to Catholicism until she was already a few years into her marriage with John Clitherow. As a wife and mother, she performed mundane tasks but she did it all with great love, humility, and self-sacrifice.

During St. Margaret’s lifetime, Catholic priests were being arrested for practicing the Catholic Faith in England. St. Margaret Clitherow knew she had to do something about this. As a result, she helped hide priests in a special chamber of her home, as well as another secret chamber within the city. This allowed priests to continue to say mass and distribute the sacraments.

Despite the great efforts St. Margaret went through to defend these priests, she still felt called to do more. She longed to experience martyrdom like the valiant saints that came before her. She often made many spiritual retreats to help herself fully entrust her life into the hands God. At last, St. Margaret was arrested and received her wish. She was to be a martyr for the Lord! At first, this brought her great fear. She wondered if she was really ready but she knew that there was a joy beyond compare waiting for her in the gentle arms of God. As her death was approaching, she valiantly stated, “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.” Her last words were, “Jesu! Jesu! Jesu! Have mercy on me!” She handed her life over to God and became the patron saint of converts, martyrs, and businesswomen. After her death, St. Margaret’s legacy was continued on by her children, who all entered into the religious life.

Margaret, as a wife and mother herself, is an inspiring figure for all wives and mothers. This wife and mother served God and those around her with a heart of gold. What a great saint to pray to for the all the unborn and their mothers! As a great defender of the Church, St. Margaret Clitherow’s zeal for the protection of the priesthood is a reminder for us all to pray for the protection of the Church, especially all priests. In addition, she should inspire us to make sacrifices for the protection of our Church and all priests. Our Church is constantly being under attack. However, we must not give into despair. That is the last thing we should be doing during these times of persecution. Priests need our prayers and sacrifices for their protection now more than ever! Ask for St. Margaret’s intercession for all the unborn, mothers, those persecuted for their faith, and priests. For, St. John Vianney did say, “The priest continues the work of redemption on earth…If we really understood the priests on earth, we would die not of fright but of love…The priesthood is the love of the heart.”

Prayer for Priests

O Jesus, eternal Priest, keep your priests within the shelter of Your Sacred Heart, where none may touch them. Keep unstained their anointed hands, which daily touch Your Sacred Body. Keep unsullied their lips, daily purpled with your Precious Blood. Keep pure and unearthly their hearts, sealed with the sublime mark of the priesthood. Let Your holy love surround them and shield them from the world’s contagion. Bless their labors with abundant fruit and may the souls to whom they minister be their joy and consolation here and in heaven their beautiful and everlasting crown.

Prayer written by St. Therese of Lisieux.