Subj : =?UTF-8?Q?April_19th_=E2=80=93_Bl=2E_James_Duckett=2C_Martyr?=
To   : All
From : rich
Date : Wed Apr 18 2018 10:11:06

From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

April 19th =E2=80=93 Bl. James Duckett, Martyr
(d. 1602)

When modern totalitarian governments have taken over their countries,
one of their earliest measures has been to forbid the publication of
books contrary to their ideologies. The leaders of the English
Reformation had adopted the same policy regarding the distribution of
Catholic literature. Therefore, religious books for English Catholics
had either to be printed abroad and smuggled in, or manufactured at
home on secret presses. British law considered the distributors of
such writings as felons, subject to capital punishment.

Saint James Duckett, an English Catholic layman, died in defense of
the right to spread Catholic doctrine by the printed word. James was a
member of an old North Country family. He was born at Gilfortriggs in
Westermoreland, at a date not determined. As a youth he was
apprenticed to a London printer.

Duckett had been raised a Protestant. In London, however, a Catholic
friend loaned him a book called The Firm Foundation of the Catholic
Religion. James found the arguments in this book so convincing that he
ceased to attend worship at his Protestant parish church, St. Edmund=E2=80=
=99s
on Lombard Street.

Now, nonattendance at Anglican services was one of the warning signs
recognized by the British government in its religious controls. When
the rector of St. Edmund's called James to account for his
nonattendance, the young apprentice stated candidly that he would
continue to absent himself until better arguments in favor of
Protestantism were brought forth than he had heard thus far.

Duckett was therefore sentenced to jail for nonattendance, on not one
but two occasions: first at Bridewell Prison and second at =E2=80=9CThe
Compter=E2=80=9D prison. On both occasions his employer secured his release=
...
After that, however, the employer, deciding that this apprentice was
too controversial for convenience, revoked his contract of
apprenticeship. On his own now, James asked instruction in the
Catholic faith from Father Weekes, an aged priest imprisoned at
Gatehouse prison in the Westminster section of London. Two months
later, Weekes received him into the Catholic Church.

From the time of his conversion, James Duckett led an admirable and
dedicated life. He married a Catholic widow and she bore him a son who
subsequently became a Carthusian monk in Flanders. Most of the
printer's efforts during his Catholic years were devoted to the
publication and circulation of Catholic literature. It was a hazardous
apostolate, and for his pains he spent nine of the twelve years of his
married life in one jail after another across England.

His last arrest was brought about by the accusation of a bookbinder
named Peter Bullock. Bullock, found guilty and sentenced to death for
some other felony, apparently thought he might save his own life by
turning state's evidence. He therefore testified at James's=
 trial that
he had bound some Catholic books at Duckett's request. James candid=
ly
admitted to the court that he had manufactured and distributed a
number of Catholic publications. The jury at first did not want to
convict him on the testimony of a single witness. However, the judge
insisted that they change their verdict from =E2=80=9Cnot guilty=E2=80=9D t=
o =E2=80=9Cguilty.=E2=80=9D

Mrs. Duckett visited her condemned husband in prison. When he saw her
tears, he said, =E2=80=9CIf I were made the queen's secretary or tr=
easurer,
you would not weep. Do but keep yourself God's servant and in the
unity of God's Church, and I shall be able to do you more good, bei=
ng
now to go to the King of Kings.=E2=80=9D

James Duckett was carted to the gallows at Tyburn in the same cart as
Bullock the bookbinder. His witness against Duckett had won him no
reprieve. Along the route from prison, Mrs. Duckett presented her
husband with a pint of wine. He drank a glass of it and urged her to
drink one in honor of Peter Bullock, and to hold no grudge against
him. On the scaffold, James assured Peter in so many words of his
forgiveness, and urged him to die a Catholic. Then, after the ropes
had been placed around their necks, Duckett kissed his betrayer. Pope
Pius XI beatified this =E2=80=9Cbookseller for Christ=E2=80=9D in 1929.


Saint Quote:
We must say many prayers for the souls of the faithful departed, for
one must be so pure to enter heaven.
--Saint John Vianney

Bible Quote
Our soul hath been delivered as a sparrow
out of the snare of the fowlers.
The snare is broken, and we are delivered.
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.  [Psa 124:7-8]  DRB


<><><><>
Thank God sincerely.
There is nearly always something you can be thankful for. The offering
of thanksgiving is indeed a sweet incense going up to God throughout a
busy day. Seek diligently for something to be glad and thankful about.
You will acquire in time the habit of being constantly grateful to God
for all His blessings. Each new day some new cause for joy and
gratitude will spring to your mind and you will thank God sincerely.
--Twenty-Four Hours a Day
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