St Ambrose Barlow was a convert from Anglicanism, and became a Benedictine monk in the year 1616. On 25 April 1641, he was arrested just after Easter Mass, and was later charged with the ‘crime’ of being a Catholic priest. He was hung, drawn and quartered on 10 September 1641. Two other Benedictine Reformation Martyrs are remembered on this day: St John Roberts (1610) and St Alban Rose (1642).

Our English Catholicism is built upon the foundation of the Reformation martyrs, for they laid down their lives for the Faith. May they pray for us, in the challenges to faith of our own day, and may God bless you.