Saint John Jones

Also known as
John Buckley; John Griffith; Godfrey Maurice
Memorial
12 July
Profile
Born to a strong Catholic Welsh family. Joined the Franciscans in Greenwich. When the monastery was dissolved in 1559, he travelled to France to study. Ordained at Rheims.

Returned to England to work with Catholic prisoners at Marshalsea Prison in London. Arrested for his faith, he was imprisoned at Wisbech Castle, but escaped to the Continent. Lived at Pontoise, France, and then the Ara Coeli Franciscan Observant house at Rome. Returned to England as a missioner 1592, and worked in several places in the country. Elected Franciscan provincial of England.

Arrested and tortured by the priest-catcher Topcliffe in 1596. Imprisoned for two years, doing time with Blessed John Rigby. Convicted on 3 July 1598 for the treason of being a Catholic priest.

The execution took place early in the morning to reduce the chance of a mob; the executioner, roused out of bed for the job, forgot his ropes. During the delay while he went for them, John preached to the crowd, and explained he was being murdered for his faith, not for disloyalty to his country. One of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.
Born
at Clynog Fawr, Carnarvonshire, Wales
Died
hanged, drawn, and quartered in the early morning of 12 July 1598 at Southwark, England; body chopped to pieces and displayed on roadside poles as warnings to others; they were pulled down by some local Catholics, at least one of whom was jailed for the offense; surviving relics are at Pontoise, France
Name Meaning
God is gracious; gift of God (John)
Venerated
by Pope Leo XIII
Beatified
1929 by Pope Pius XI
Canonized
25 October 1970 by Pope Paul VI
Additional Information
Catholic Encylopedia
For All The Saints
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