St John Fisher

John Fisher was the Nishop of Rochester. He became the Chancellor of Cambridge University and was once a tutor to Henry VIII when he was a boy. He was a renowned preacher and once gave a sermon against Martin Luther inside St Paul`s. When Henry tried to dissolve the marriage Fisher saw it as an attack on the indissolubility of marriage and was an outspoken opponent. When the matter reached the legate court he angered the King by speaking out in favour of Catherne of Aragon and against the divorce. He became her friend and most trusted adviser. Eventually the King had him arrested when he rufused to recognise him as the Head of the Church in England. At a court where the judge was Thomas Cromwell, the father of Anne Boleyn, so there is justice, he was condemend to be hung, drawn, and quartered. This evoked a public outcry so the sentence was reduced to beheading. He died like John the Baptist defending marriage against the manipulations of royalty. While he was in prison the Pope, trying to ease his situation, made him a Cardinal. This did not interest Henry. It is also believed that the `Defence of the Seven Sacraments` reputed to be writeen by Henry was actually written by Fisher, though there is no definite proof. St John Fisher was a man of courage. Pray that we may be as courageous as he was.