Saint of May- St Margaret Clitherow

Saint Margaret Clitherow Born in 1556, Saint Margaret Clitherow was an English Martyr known as the “Pearl of York”. She converted to Catholicism in 1574. Although her husband was a member of the Anglican Church, he was supportive and paid her fines for failing to attend Established church services. Margaret was imprisoned three times for not attending church. She risked her life by harbouring and maintaining Catholic priests (which was a capital offence). When Margaret’s son went abroad to train for the priesthood, her house was searched and the priest hole was discovered. She was brought before York Assizes for the crime of harbouring priests. After refusing to plead, she was sentenced to death. Although Margaret was pregnant, she was executed by being crushed to death under a door loaded with rocks and stones. She was beatified in 1929 and canonised in 1970 as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.

Written by Paul Cavadino