St. John Fisher: "I am come here to die for Christ's Catholic Church"

The Angelus ^ | March 1978 | Malcolm Brennan

[Pyro7480]

This is from a SSPX website, but the article itself was written in 1978, ten years before Archbishops Lefebrve illicitly consecrated bishops, against the wishes of Pope John Paul II.

[Pyro7480]

Catholic ping!

[fatima]

Thanks Pyro7480.

[pravknight]

It's kind of interesting that his schismatic titular successor to Diocese of Rochester, Michael Nazir-Ali, is taking a similar stand for Christian faith against the post-Christian Church of England, almost 500 years later.

[fatima]

It is interesting.I didn't know that pravknight.

[stuartcr]

What, exactly, did this death accomplish?

[Pyro7480]

His death, as well as his life, provides an excellent example for faithful Catholics. More specifically, in my opinion, it shows how all who believe in the sanctity of marriage should defend it, even to the point of persecution and martyrdom.

[stuartcr]

All it really showed, was that the king could execute anyone he wanted. I don't see how this helped anyone. People are still the same, we all still have differing beliefs, no matter how many die for them.

[Pyro7480]

You may think that, but I demonstatrated the example it gave.

[stuartcr]

How did this man dying, show that people should defend their idea of marriage? I just don't get the example. His death showed that he believed it, but not why he should die for it, what good did it do? Wouldn't it be better to live, and continue to feel that way?

[Pyro7480]

Wouldn't it be better to live, and continue to feel that way

He had to stand up for his principles. He couldn't sign Henry VIII's document, and for that, among other things, he died.

[ArrogantBustard]

Wouldn't it be better to live, and continue to feel that way?

Ask yourself that question again, when your mohammedan conquerors demand that you either bow to Mecca, accept dhimmitude, or die. If you don't see the connection, please don't waste my time by responding. Think about it until you DO see the connection.

[Pyro7480]

Pain is temporary. Heaven is eternal.

[ArrogantBustard]

Yup. Better dead, than Red.

[stuartcr]

Why not just sign the papers, and continue on with life? It's just some papers. What exactly did his principled death accomplish?

[Pyro7480]

Why not just sign the papers, and continue on with life?

He would have betrayed his own principles.

[stuartcr]

So it's better to die, and never be able to express your beliefs, even in secret and maybe bring others to your way of thinking, than it is to bow to some stupid city, say praise allah, and continue on believing as you did? I do not understand martyrdom. God couldn't possibly want someone to die, just because they wouldn't say something, would He?

[stuartcr]

What good are principles, to the dead? I guess, as they throw dirt over your body, someone could say...'well, he was principled'...then a year later, who cares?

[Pyro7480]

Well, apparently and ultimately, many cared, because he became a saint of the Catholic Church.

[stuartcr]

So, people still get divorced.