John Fisher, Bishop and Martyr

John was born in Beverly, York, England, and he was a gifted scholar. He eventually came to serve as bishop, chancellor of the University of Cambridge, and in other high positions. While he was advising Catherine of Aragon, wife of King Henry VIII, he began his final journey. When Henry tried to divorce Catherine, the bishop strongly defended the validity and indissolubility of the marriage. And as Henry took further steps toward separating the Church in England from Rome, John Fisher spoke out in defense of the Church and the supremacy of the pope. Eventually he was beheaded for his loyalty to the Catholic Church.

John Fisher refused to go against his principles. It can be easy to compromise one’s beliefs for worldly gain, particularly when one’s life is at stake. We can look to people like John Fisher as models when we are called upon to yield on what we believe in.