St. Margaret Clitherow

      On March 25th we celebrate the life of Saint Margaret Clitherow who was born in England in 1555 to protestant parents. She married in 1571 and a few years later she entered the Catholic Church at a time when it was under great persecution by the English authorities. She was arrested and imprisoned for harboring Catholic priests. The authorities tried very hard during Margaret's imprisonment to get her to renounce the Catholic faith but she refused to give in to them. Finally, she was sentenced to die by crushing on March 25, 1586. Her holiness is self-evident in her response at finding out what her fate was to be: "The sheriffs have said that I am going to die this coming Friday; and I feel the weakness of my flesh which is troubled at this news, but my spirit rejoices greatly. For the love of God, pray for me and ask all good people to do likewise."