St. John Kemble

Saint John Kemble

Martyr

John Kemble was born in Herefordshire, England, in the year of Our Lord 1599, to a prominent Catholic family that included four other priests. He was ordained at the English College in Douai, France, and served as a missionary in his homeland for over fifty years, winning admirers even among Protestants. In 1678, an Anglican named Titus Oates fabricated a “Popish Plot” that accused the Catholic Church of conspiring to assassinate King Charles II. The eighty-year-old Fr. Kemble was warned of impending arrest during the resulting persecution, but refused to leave his flock. He was found guilty of the “crime” of being a Catholic priest and sentenced to death. The well-respected priest was allowed to finish his prayers and even share a final cup of wine and pipe full of tobacco with his executioners, inspiring the Herefordshire expressions “Kemble cup” or “Kemble pipe” for the last drink or smoke before a departure. The crowd was so sympathetic that Fr. Kemble’s executioners allowed him to die on the gallows before the customary drawing and quartering began. He and his fellow Martyrs of England and Wales are honored together on May 4th and October 25th.

Traditional Roman Martyrology for August 22nd

THE Octave of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

At Rome, on the Ostian road, the birthday of the holy martyr Timothy. After he had been arrested by Tarquinius, prefect of the city, and kept for a long time in prison, as he refused to sacrifice to the idols, he was scourged three times, subjected to the most severe torments, and finally beheaded.

At Porto, St. Hippolytus, bishop, most renowned for learning. Having gloriously confessed the faith, in the time of the emperor Alexander, he was bound hand and foot, precipitated into a deep ditch filled with water, and thus received the palm of martyrdom. His body was buried by the Christians at that place.

At Autun, St. Symphorian, a martyr, in the time of the emperor Aurelian. Refusing to offer sacrifice to the idols, he was first scourged, then confined in prison, and finally ended his martyrdom by being beheaded.

At Rome, St. Antoninus, martyr, who, openly declaring himself a Christian, was condemned to capital punishment by the judge Vitellius, and buried on the Aurelian road.

Also, at Porto, the holy martyrs Martial, Saturninus, Epictetus, Maprilis, and Felix, with their companions.

At Nicomedia, the Saints Agathonicus, Zoticus, and their fellow-martyrs, under the emperor Maximian and the governor Eutholomius.

At Tarsus, the Saints Athanasius, bishop and martyr, Anthusa, a noble woman whom he had baptized, and two of her slaves, who suffered under Valerian.

At Rheims, the holy martyr Maurus and his companions.

In Spain, the saintly martyrs Fabrician and Philibert.

At Pavia, St. Gunifort, martyr.

℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.

℟. Thanks be to God.