Blessed William Marsden

Memorial: 25 April
Profile: Convert to Catholicism; entered the English College at Rheims in 1580. Ordained at Rheims with his friend and co-worker Blessed Robert Anderton. Sailed for England as a home missioner, but their ship was driven off course, and wrecked on the Isle of Wight. Arrested soon after, they were charged with being priests on English soil. They argued that they had been shipwrecked, and had no choice about being there; due to the appeal, they were sent to London for further interrogation. There they acknowledged Elizabeth as their lawful queen in temporal matters, but would not not in matters spiritual. Martyred.
Born: c.1560 at Lancashire, England
Died: hanged, drawn, and quartered on 25 April 1586 on the beach of the Isle of Wight
Beatified: 1929 by Pope Pius XI
Canonized: pending
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