Blessed John Forest
Blessed John Forest (born c. 1471 AD in England; died May 22, 1538 AD in Smithfield, London, England) was an English Catholic Franciscan friar (Observant Friars Minor) who served as confessor to Queen Catherine of Aragon and was martyred at Smithfield by being burned alive for refusing to acknowledge the royal supremacy of Henry VIII. He is venerated among the English martyrs beatified by Pope Leo XIII on December 9, 1886. His feast day is May 22.
Stored in Cargo: Blessed John Forest
| Blessed John Forest | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | May 22 |
| Profession | English Catholic Franciscan Observant friar and martyr; born England c. 1471; Franciscan Observant (OFM Obs); confessor to Queen Catherine of Aragon; refused Oath of Supremacy; arrested 1534; martyred burned alive Smithfield London May 22 1538; beatified Pope Leo XIII December 9 1886; feast May 22 |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Franciscan Observants (OFM Obs); English martyrdom tradition; Henrician persecution; London; England; 16th-century English Catholics; confessor to Catherine of Aragon |
| Patronage | England; London; Smithfield; Franciscan friars; confessors; those who serve Catholic queens; those burned for the faith; those who suffer slow deaths for Christ; English Catholics |
| Attributes | Franciscan Observant gray-brown habit; palm of martyrdom; flames (burned alive); chains (suspended in chains); May 22 feast; Smithfield setting; Queen Catherine of Aragon connection; wooden statue of Saint Derfel Gadarn |
| Birthplace | England |
| Death Place | Smithfield, London, England |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom; burned alive (suspended over fire in a chain); died May 22, 1538, at Smithfield, London, England; Blessed John Forest OFM Obs was an English Catholic Franciscan friar (Observant Friars Minor); born England c. 1471; Franciscan Observant friar; confessor to Queen Catherine of Aragon; refused to acknowledge Henry VIII as Supreme Head of Church; arrested; martyred burned alive suspended in chains over fire Smithfield London May 22 1538; beatified Pope Leo XIII December 9 1886; feast May 22 |
| Primary Shrine | Smithfield, London, England; beatified Pope Leo XIII December 9 1886; feast May 22 |
| Liturgical Class | Not in universal Roman calendar; May 22 feast locally in England and Wales |
| Historic Class | Not in 1962 calendar |
Biography
John Forest was born c. 1471 in England. He became a Franciscan Observant friar and rose to serve as the confessor of Queen Catherine of Aragon, the first wife of Henry VIII.
When Henry VIII sought to dissolve his marriage to Catherine and broke with Rome, Forest was imprisoned for refusing to swear the Oath of Supremacy. He remained in Newgate Prison from 1534 until 1538.
On May 22, 1538, he was burned alive at Smithfield, London — suspended in chains over a slow fire alongside a large wooden statue of Saint Derfel Gadarn taken from a Welsh shrine, in a piece of grotesque Protestant propaganda playing on his surname "Forest."
He was beatified by Pope Leo XIII on December 9, 1886. His feast day is May 22.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: England
Death location: Smithfield, London, England
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Parishes
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Media
| Media | Length | AuthorCreator |
|---|---|---|
| The Life of Blessed John Forest | 5–15 minutes | Daily Lives of Franciscan Saints |
| May 22 - Bl. John Forest - Franciscan St. of the Day | 5–15 minutes | Franciscan Media |
| The Life of Blessed John Forest | 5–15 minutes | Radio Immaculata |
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Feast day
May 22
Prayers
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