Tag: bljohnslade

Saint of the Day – 30 October – Blessed John Slade (Died 1583) Layman Martyr, Tutor. Born in Manston, Dorsetshire, England and died by being
hanged, drawn and quartered on 30 October 1583 at Winchester, England.
Beatified on 15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI. Additional Memorials – 29 October as one of the Martyrs of Douai, 1 December as one of the Martyrs of Oxford University.

The Roman Martyrology: “At Winchester in England, blessed John Slade, Martyr, who was hanged on the gallows and cruelly disemboweled for having refused the power of Queen Elizabeth I in spiritual matters.”

John Slade attended the New College, Oxford until, being expelled for being Catholic, he travelled to Douai to continue his study of Civil Law. However, since as a Catholic he was not permitted to practice the role of a Lawyer in England, he became a Tutor to the children of a gentleman’s household in Dorset.

On 30 October 1583, the Blessed John Slade, a Tutor from Dorset, was arrested as a “very dangerous Papist” and imprisoned in Winchester prison with Blessed John Bodey (1549-1583). They were held in iron shackles as “dangerous” prisoners. They were condemned in April, 1583 accused of High Treason for denying the Royal Supremacy over the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ. There was, apparently, a protest against this Sentence claiming it to be unjust and illegal, leading to a retried. But, the two holy men were condemned again—at Andover, Hampshire, in August 1583.

After the Second Trial – Blessed John Bodey wrote, on behalf of Blessed John Slade and himself to a leading protestant theologian, one with whom he had prior discussions and debates:

“We consider that iron for this cause, borne on earth, shall surmount gold and precious stones in Heaven. This is our mark this is our desire. In the mean season we are threatened daily and do look still, when the hurdle shall be brought to the door. I beseech you, for God’s sake that we want not the good prayers of you all for our strength, our joy and our perseverance unto the end. … From our school of patience the 16th September 1583.”

Our Martyr today, Blessed John Slade, led from Winchester Prison to the public Square, knelt beside the Gallows which had been erected there, drew the Sign of the Cross on it, kissed it and then said, as he climbed the steps:

“I have come here to die for the Faith of all generations!”

A few days later the Blessed John Bodey too was hanged. Before dying he kissed the rope that had been placed around his neck exclaiming:
“Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!”