Blessed John Felton

Memorial: 8 August
Profile: Wealthy layman at Southwark, England. Father of Blessed Thomas Felton. His wife had been a playmate and maid of honour to Queen Elizabeth, and was the widow of an auditor of the former Queen. Referred to as "a man of little statue and complexion black".

When Pope Saint Pius V's Bull that excommunicated Queen Elizabeth reached London on 24 May 1570, he nailed a copy onto the door of the bishop of London in the middle of the night, challenging the bishop to declare his allegiance - the Queen or the Pope. Arrested on 26 May 1570, imprisoned and tortured in the Tower of London for a couple of months, and condemned to martyrdom on 4 August 1570.
Born: at Bermondsey, London, England
Died: hanged, drawn, and quartered on 8 August 1570 at Saint Paul's churchyard, London, England
Name Meaning: God is gracious; gift of God (John)
Beatified: 1886 by Pope Leo XIII
Canonized: pending
Additional Information: Catholic Encyclopedia
New Catholic Dictionary
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