Gospel in Art: The Blessed Martyrs of Douai

View of the English College in Douai, Printed by Filippo Ferrari 1660 © Alamy

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 29 October 2024
Matthew 10:28-33

Jesus said to his apostles: 'Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; fear him rather who can destroy both body and soul in hell. Can you not buy two sparrows for a penny? And yet not one falls to the ground without your Father knowing. Why, every hair on your head has been counted. So there is no need to be afraid; you are worth more than hundreds of sparrows.

'So if anyone declares himself for me in the presence of men, I will declare myself for him in the presence of my Father in heaven. But the one who disowns me in the presence of men, I will disown in the presence of my Father in heaven.'

Reflection on the engraving

Today, we commemorate the Blessed Martyrs of Douai College. These 158 martyrs, including St Robert Southwell and St Edmund Campion, were seminarians training for the priesthood at Douai College in France during the English Reformation. After completing their studies, they bravely returned to England, where they were executed for upholding and preaching the Catholic faith. Their martyrdom spanned from 1577 to 1680, during a period when being a Catholic priest was considered an act of high treason. These martyrs gave their lives to defend and preserve the sacraments, including the Eucharist, which we so often take for granted today. Their sacrifice is a powerful reminder of the cost of faith. In recognition of their devotion, eighty of these martyrs were beatified by Pope Pius XI in 1929.

These martyrs really embody the spirit of today's gospel reading, where Jesus tells us: "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul".

But the story of Douai doesn't end there. In 1793, as part of the revolutionary forces in France, the college had its property confiscated, and its seminarians were imprisoned for over a year. They were released in November 1794 and received permission to return to England, where they settled at Old Hall Green Academy, a school in Ware. This new college was dedicated to St Edmund of Canterbury. The event marked the beginning of the restoration of colleges and seminaries throughout England.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-10-28-33-2024/