The Life of John Stone was a rather
uneventful life except for the tragic climax which closed it. John Stone was an
Augustinian - the Austin Friars as they were known in England. He as a native of
Canterbury and entered the friary there.
He took his doctor's degree at one of the English universities and was sent to Droitwich,
where he filled the office of professor and later that of prior. Years afterward we
find him back at Canterbury at about the time when Henry VIII was promulgating his claim
to spiritual supremacy over the English Church.
While Fisher and More, the recalcitrants were being subjected to royal pressure in the
Tower at London and the King's agents were scouring England for supporters for his royal
claim.
Friar Stone, as a
Doctor of Sacred Theology, was publicly denouncing Henry's action from the pulpit of
Austin Friars and reiterating his stand on the validity of the monarch's first marriage.
It may be that his voice was deemed too feeble to be heard above the growing murmur
of assent among the clergy and people, or it may be that an empty gesture of tolerance was
in order in Canterbury at the time; but at any rate immediate proceedings were not taken
against him. So, with the Catholic Church in England crumbling about his head, he
continued his defiance of the forces that would presently arise and smother him - a futile
figure, but with a kind of glory about him.
Meanwhile, the Bishop of Rochester, the former Chancellor of England, the Countess
of Salisbury, and others among the great of Britain were being sacrificed upon the altar
of the royal will, and the gradual elimination of those who refused to fall in line on the
side of the King's spiritual supremacy was being accomplished by the most effective means
- the gallows and the block.
Not until December 13, 1538 did the civil power of the realm turn its attention to
the eloquent Friar. When Bishop Ingworth made a visitation to Canterbury, he
presented himself to the Austin Friary to command that the community sigh the deed of
surrender by which the King should gain possession of the friary and its surrounding
property. John Stone exploded in righteous indignation and took his Lordship to task
for his servility to the King.
Even then perhaps the blow might have been suspended as it was poised over him, but
with the pent up furry of years he flung in the face of the Bishop a scornful repudiation
of His Majesty's claims to prerogatives which belonged to the Vicar of Christ alone.
It was a final gesture. Even as he spoke, Ingworth ordered him to be seized
by his pikemen.
A few months later he paid for his sublime folly with his life. "Behold
I close my apostolate in my blood," he declared as the executioners were making
preparations. "In my death I shall find life, for die for a holy cause,
the defense of the Church of God, infallible and immaculate."
Thus ended an almost forgotten story. John Stone was merely a man who saw his
duty and did it without regard to circumstances which were breaking men and women all
about him. He walked in the grace of God and had the great good sense to lean on the
strength of God when the test came. But aside form al that, looking at his simple
life form a purely human standpoint there is compelling splendor about it. He fought
when fight was counted as foolish, and when his folly continued he was simply felled with
one contemptuous blow. "Paid for half a ton of timber to make gallows for
hanging Friar Stone."
For a time John Stone was venerated by the people of Canterbury as a saint and a
martyr. His name was placed on the first list of martyrs of the English Reformation
which was presented to Rome for the process of beatification. In later years
however, his little story was lost in the general antagonism of the Reformers to devotion
to the saints. His cause nevertheless, with that of fifty0three others, was
linked with the cause of Fisher and More, and in 1886 he was beatified by the same decree
with proclaimed them Blessed. He was canonized by Pope Paul VI on October 25, 1970.
God of Truth and Love,
Saint John Stone consecrated his life to you.
and you sealed his gift with the grace of martyrdom.
Listen to his prayers,
and grant that we may witness our faith in the holiness of our lives.
Saint John Stone, pray for us.
