IN MEMORIAM TO THE PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS SAINT OF THE DAY THOMAS ATKINSON – REFORMATION MARTYR 11th MARCH 1616

 IN MEMORIAM TO THE PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS

SAINT OF THE DAY
THOMAS ATKINSON – PRIEST
REFORMATION MARTYR
11th MARCH 1616

Modern-day martyr in the Middle East, (Image from Aid to the Church in Need).


                            The Martyrs Painting, by Alberti, in the English College in Rome.
This reflection is taken from Aleteia, by Brother Silas Henderson SDS:
Father Atkinson came from the East Riding in Yorkshire. After being ordained as a priest in Rheims, he returned to England to minister to the oppressed Catholics of England in 1588.
Known for his care for the poor, he would walk from village to village, until a broken leg forced him to ride a horse.
At the age of 70, he was betrayed and taken to York. At his arrest, he was found with a rosary and a written grant of indulgence, items which were used as evidence to convict him. He was sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered. This method of execution – used for high treason, which was the charge levelled against those belonging to the Catholic Church and, specifically, priests, under the legislation instituted by Elizabeth I, entailed the convicted person being fastened to a hurdle (wooden panel), dragged by horse to the place of execution, hanged almost to he point of death, then, while alive, emasculated, disembowelled and beheaded, then quartered (chopped into four pieces).
Father Atkinson was executed in this manner on 11th March 1616. He was beatified in 1987.
Brother Henderson provides these reflections for us in memory of the persecuted Catholics of the past, and the mass persecution which we saw throughout the twentieth century and which we are seeing today, of Christians throughout the world under atheist and Islamic regimes:
“For reflection
“In the days of the martyrs whom we honour today, there were other Christians who died for their beliefs. We can all now appreciate and respect their sacrifice. Let us respond together to the great challenge which confronts those who would preach the Gospel in our age. Let us be bold and united in our profession of our common Lord and Master, Jesus Christ.”—Pope Saint John Paul II.
Prayer
Almighty and merciful God, who brought your Martyr blessed Thomas to overcome the torments of his passion, grant that we, who celebrate the day of his triumph, may remain invincible under your protection against the snares of the enemy. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
(from The Roman Missal: Common of Martyrs)
Saint profile and meditation prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.
The 2021 World Watch List Annual Report by Open Doors (an organisation that records persecution) tells us that there are 309 million Christians living in places with extreme or very high levels of persecution. The top 10 countries which are the worst persecutors are unchanged from previous reports: After North Korea is Afghanistan, followed by Somalia, Libya, Pakistan, Eritrea, Yemen, Iran, Nigeria and India.
Sudan left the top 10 for the first time in six years, after abolishing the death penalty for apostasy and guaranteeing freedom of religion in its new Constitution after three decades of Islamic law. Yet Sudan remains at number 13 on the list as Open Doors noted that Christians from Muslim backgrounds still face attacks, ostracism and discrimination from their families and communities while Christian women still face sexual violence.The report says that there are also a further 31 million from the 24 nations that fall outside the top 50 persecutors, such as Cuba, Sri Lanka and United Arab Emirates.
That is, 1 in 8 Christians world wide are facing persecution. Every day, 13 Christians are killed because of their faith, 12 churches or Christian buildings are attacked and 12 Christians are unjustly arrested or imprisoned; Vatican news, 13 January 2021.

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