She was a wife and mother. She felt no fear.

She lived only for Christ.

And the Church now calls her…

St. Margaret Clitherow.

Margaret lived a seemingly ordinary life as a butcher’s wife in York during a time of intense persecution for Catholics in England.

She had converted to Catholicism a few years after her marriage, a dangerous decision that put her and her family at great risk under Queen Elizabeth I.

Devotion ruled her. Faith felt normal, despite the danger.

One day, out of unwavering conviction (not curiosity), she harbored Catholic priests in her home, knowing full well the penalty.

She created a secret hiding place for them and arranged for Masses to be celebrated, risking everything for the sacraments.

She was arrested multiple times for her Catholic faith, enduring imprisonment and fines.

Yet, she refused to conform. She would not attend Protestant services. She would not deny her beliefs.

Finally, she was arrested and charged with harboring priests. She refused to plead, knowing that a trial would involve her children and servants being tortured to give evidence against her. This protected them but meant she would be condemned to a horrific death.

Inside the courtroom, Margaret remained steadfast. For the first time, she faced her martyrdom clearly — not with despair, but with hope.

The Protestant Minister of the Court attempted to have St. Margaret renounce her Catholic faith, but she followed St. Paul’s words to stand firm in the faith.

1 Corinthians 16:13 says, “Be on your guard, STAND FIRM in the FAITH, be courageous, be strong. Your every act should be done with love.”

She left her earthly life behind, choosing to die for her faith.

On March 26, 1586, St. Margaret, despite being pregnant with her fourth child, she was stretched out with a sharp rock the size of a fist planted on her back as she was held to the ground.

A large heavy door was laid over her as they loaded weights until she died a slow unbearable death. After several bones were snapped in place, it took about 15 minutes before she finally died.

Grace slowly transformed her sacrifice into an enduring testament of faith.

When her body was finally recovered, it was a testament to her unyielding spirit. The woman once enslaved by fear had become free in Christ.

St. Margaret Clitherow teaches us: No persecution is stronger than faith. No threat is deeper than God’s grace.

If you feel overwhelmed by societal pressures…

If your beliefs are challenged and scorned…

If you think your small acts of faith are insignificant…

Remember the woman crushed by weight —

but never crushed in spirit.

St. Margaret Clitherow, pray for us.

Source: Fear Not