These two saints opposed the divorce of King Henry VIII, and were martyred for their refusal to take the oath of supremacy. St Thomas More declared: ‘I die the King’s good servant, but God’s first’.

In our own lives, if there is ever a conflict between our commitment to God and to our country, may we always place our service of God first, as the highest good. As St Benedict says in the Holy Rule, let nothing be preferred to the love of Christ’.

May these two great English martyrs pray for us, and may God bless you this day.