Pope St Pius V (born 1504; pope 1566; died 1572)
The Latin Mass Society has always invoked the intercession of St Pius V, who is forever associated with the ancient Roman Rite, known up until his time the Usage of the Roman Curia. The prestige of this rite, which had already been adopted by many dioceses and by the Franciscans, was increased still more by the 1570 edition produced under St Pius V, following the Council of Trent. St Pius’ editors sought out the best manuscript variants, consulting hand-written Missals of the previous centuries.
St Pius, a member of the Order of Preachers, is also remembered for bringing the Council of Trent to a conclusion (1563), his excommunication of Queen Elizabeth of England (1570), and the victory of the Holy League, which he had sponsored, over the Ottoman fleet in the Battle of Lepanto (1571).This last is commemorated by the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary (formerly, Our Lady of Victories, 12th September). He was canonised in 1712.
The image was adapted by an early Chairman of the Latin Mass Society, Geoffrey Houghton-Brown, who added St Pius’ Missal to a classic image of him venerating a crucifix.
The following is the Collect from the Mass for his feast on 5th May.
DEUS, qui, ad conteréndos Ecclésiae tuæ hostes et ad divínum cultum reparándum, beátum Pium Pontíficem Máximum elígere dignátus es: fac nos ipsíus deféndi præsídiis et ita tuis inhærére obséquiis; ut, ómnium hóstium superátis insídiis, perpétua pace lætémur. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
O GOD, who, for the crushing of the enemies of thy Church and the restoration of divine worship, didst deign to choose the blessed Pius as Supreme Pontiff: grant that we be defended by his protection and so to hold fast to thy service; that having overcome the snares of all our foes, we may rejoice in perpetual peace. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
In 2008 the Latin Mass Society decided to adopt two Patron Saints, a Welsh lay man and an English lay woman, who laid down their lives for their work of passing on the Faith and protecting priests.
St Rhisiart Gwyn (c1537-1584)
In English Richard White, generally known as Richard Gwyn, was born in Llanilloes, Montgomeryshire, Wales. He studied at Oxford and Cambridge, although he was unable to graduate because he would not take an oath affirming the Anglican religion, which had been imposed as a condition. He was renowned as a scholar of Welsh.
He worked as a teacher, which was illegal for Catholics, married, and had six children. Arrested in 1579, he escaped and was on the run for more than a year before being recaptured. In 1583 he was finally charged with and convicted of treason. He was hanged, drawn and quartered at Wrexham on 15th October 1584. He last words were in Welsh: ‘Iesu, trugarha wrthyf’ (‘Jesus, have mercy on me’).
He was beatified in 1929 and canonised in 1970. His feast day is 17th October (presumably to avoid clashing with St Teresa of Avilla on 15th). His relics are preserved in a shrine St Mary’s Cathedral in Wrexham, not far from his place of martyrdom.
The image was commissioned by the Latin Mass Society from the artist Gwyneth Thompson-Briggs in 2024.
The following prayer shown is his proper Collect in the 1962 Missal.
DEUS, qui beátum Ricárdum mártyrem tuum adolescéntium magístrum et cathólicæ fídei propugnatórem excitásti: concéde, quǽsumus; ut nos in eádem fide eius exémplo roboráti, ad te perveníre felíciter valeámus. per Christum Dóminum nostrum. Amen.
O GOD, who didst stir up blessed Richard Thy martyr, a teacher of youth and champion of the Catholic Faith: we beseech Thee, grant that we, strengthened by his example in the same Faith, may come to final happiness in Thee, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
St Margaret Clitherow (1559-1586)
The ‘Pearl of York’ married a York butcher, John Clitherow in 1571 and converted to Catholicism in 1574.
Following the practice of some other families with Catholic sympathies, her husband continued to attend Anglican services, but paid the fines for Margaret’s recusancy (refusal to attend Anglican services), and allowed her to maintain a secret chapel and to harbour priests.
Her house was in time raided; evidence of Catholic worship was discovered and Margaret was arrested. At her trial she refused to plead; the most likely explanation is that she did not want her children to be forced to testify against her.
The penalty for refusing to plead was a death, with a special method of execution. She was accordingly taken to Ouse Bridge in York, laid on the ground with a sharp stone under her back, and a door placed upon her. This was loaded with heavy weights until she died.
This took place on the Feast of the Annunciation, Lady Day, 25th March 1586, which that year fell on Good Friday.
She was beatified in 1929 and canonised in 1970.
An annual pilgrimage is held in her honour by the York Oratory; her shrine is in the York Shambles, the old butchers’ quarter, and a plaque commemorates her martyrdom on Ouse Bridge. Her hand is preserved in the Bar Convent in York.
The image was commissioned by the Latin Mass Society from the artist Gwyneth Thompson-Briggs in 2024.
The prayer shown is the Collect of a Martyr not a Virgin from the 1962 Missal, used at Masses in her honour. The Church emphasises, in honouring female martyrs, that God’s ‘power is made perfect in weakness’ (virtus in infirmitate perficitur: 2 Corinthians 12:9).
DEUS, qui inter cétera poténtiæ tuæ mirácula étiam in sexu frágili victóriam martýrii contulísti: concéde propítius; ut, qui beátæ Margarétæ Mártyris tuæ natalítia cólimus, per eius ad te exémpla gradiámur, per Christum Dóminum nostrum. Amen.
O GOD, who amongst other marvels of Thy power, hast bestowed also to the weaker sex victory in martyrdoms: graciously grant that we, who cherish the heavenly birthday of blessed Margaret Thy martyr, may advance towards Thee through her example, through Christ our Lord. Amen.