Blessed Mark Barkworth
Also known as
- George Barkworth
- Mark Lambert
- 27 February
- 29 October as one of the Martyrs of Douai
- 1 December as one of the Martyrs of Oxford University
Profile
Described as a tall, burly man, always cheerful, even in the sufferings of his later life. Studied at Oxford University. Convert to Catholicism, joining the Church at Douai, France in 1594. Studied at English College, Rome, Italy starting on 16 December 1596, and then at the Royal College of Saint Alban in Valladolid, Spain. While on the road to Spain he had a vision; Saint Benedict of Nursia appeared to him and told he would die a Benedictine and a martyr. Ordained in 1599. Benedictine Oblate. He returned to England with Saint Thomas Garnet to minister to covert Catholics. He was arrested, spent several months in prison, and was finally condemned for the crime of being a priest. Martyred with Blessed Roger Filcock and Saint Anne Line, the first Benedictine to die after the suppression of their monasteries.
Born
- hanged, drawn, and quartered on 27 February 1601 at Tyburn, London, England
- 8 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI (decree of martyrdom)
Readings
I am come here to die, being a Catholic, a priest, and a religious man, belonging to the Order of Saint Benedict; it was by this same order that England was converted. – Blessed Mark, to the crowd gathered to watch his execution
Ah, sister, thou hast got the start of us, but we will follow thee as quickly as we may. – Blessed Mark, speaking at his execution to Saint Anne Line who had just died
MLA Citation
- “Blessed Mark Barkworth“. CatholicSaints.Info. 17 January 2023. Web. 29 April 2024. <>