Saint John Fisher
Saint John Fisher (born October 19, 1469 AD in Beverley, Yorkshire, England; died June 22, 1535 AD in London, England) was the Bishop of Rochester and Chancellor of Cambridge University who was executed by King Henry VIII for refusing to acknowledge the king's supremacy over the Church of England and the validity of Henry's marriage to Anne Boleyn. He was the only English bishop to refuse the Oath of Supremacy. He was executed at Tower Hill on June 22, 1535 — the same year as Saint Thomas More, with whom he shares a feast day. He was canonized in 1935. His feast day is June 22.
Stored in Cargo: Saint John Fisher
| Saint John Fisher | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | June 22 |
| Profession | Bishop; theologian; cardinal (created in prison); chancellor; confessor; humanist scholar |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Bishop of Rochester 1504–1535; Cardinal (1535); Chancellor of Cambridge University; friend of Erasmus; confessor of Lady Margaret Beaufort; [[patron of Saint Thomas More]] |
| Patronage | Rochester; Cambridge University; bishops; theologians; those imprisoned for the faith; those resisting unjust laws; widows (patron through Lady Margaret Beaufort) |
| Attributes | Bishop's vestments; axe (beheading); Cardinal's red hat (created Cardinal in prison); book (theologian and humanist); Tower of London |
| Birthplace | Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire, England |
| Death Place | Tower Hill, London, England |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom; beheaded at Tower Hill on June 22, 1535, for refusing the Oath of Supremacy and denying that Henry VIII was the Supreme Head of the Church of England |
| Primary Shrine | St. John's College Chapel, Cambridge, England — a relic of his arm is enshrined here; also the Royal Martyr Church (St. Peter ad Vincula), Tower of London, where his remains are buried |
| Liturgical Class | Optional Memorial (Roman Calendar, June 22 — shared with Thomas More) |
| Historic Class | Feast (June 22) |
Biography
John Fisher was born in 1469 in Beverley, Yorkshire, the son of a successful mercer. He studied at Cambridge and rose rapidly: he was ordained, became confessor and spiritual director to Lady Margaret Beaufort (mother of Henry VII and founder of St. John's and Christ's Colleges at Cambridge), and was appointed Bishop of Rochester in 1504 and Chancellor of Cambridge the same year.
He was one of the most distinguished prelates in England — a genuine Renaissance scholar, a friend of Erasmus, and a patron of learning who transformed Cambridge from a provincial backwater into a leading European university. He wrote extensively against heresy, particularly against Luther.
When Henry VIII sought an annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon (1527 onward), Fisher was Catherine's most vocal defender. He appeared before the commission examining the king's marriage and argued directly against the annulment, drawing on Scripture and the Fathers. He became one of the most hated men at the Henrician court.
In 1534 Parliament passed the Act of Supremacy making Henry VIII Supreme Head of the Church of England. An Oath of Supremacy was required of all clergy. Every English bishop took the oath; Fisher refused. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London in April 1534.
Pope Paul III, hoping to protect him, created him a Cardinal in May 1535. Henry VIII responded with fury: I will send the head to Rome for the hat. Fisher was tried on June 17 and beheaded at Tower Hill on June 22, 1535 — eleven days before Saint Thomas More.
Pope Pius XI canonized both John Fisher and Thomas More on May 19, 1935. They share a feast day on June 22.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire, England
Death location: Tower Hill, London, England
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Parishes
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| This map created from a Cargo query () |
| Parish | Diocese | City | AdministrativeSubdivision | Country | ParishWebsite |
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| Parish | Diocese | City | AdministrativeSubdivision | Country | ParishWebsite |
| St. John Fisher (Diocese of Arlington) | Diocese of Anglican Personal Ordinariate of The Chair of Saint Peter | Potomac Falls, VA | Virginia | United States | |
| St. John Fisher Seminary (Diocese of Bridgeport) | Diocese of Bridgeport | Stamford, CT | Connecticut | United States | https://www.bridgeportdiocese.org/ |
| St. John Fisher Seminary (Diocese of Bridgeport) | Diocese of Bridgeport | Stamford, CT | Connecticut | United States | https://www.bridgeportdiocese.org/ |
Media
| Media | Length | AuthorCreator |
|---|---|---|
| June 22 Saint John Fisher | Under 5 minutes | Breski1 |
| June 23 Saint John Fisher | Under 5 minutes | Breski1 |
| He Refused the King and Lost His Head | St. John Fisher | Under 5 minutes | The One Minute Catholic |
| The Only Bishop Who Refused the King | St. John Fisher | Under 5 minutes | The One Minute Catholic |
Shrines
Dynamic shrines
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No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
Known shrines
- St. John's College Chapel, Cambridge, England — relic of his arm; associated with his patronage of the college.
- St. Peter ad Vincula, Tower of London — his burial place.
Feast day
June 22
Veneration
Saint John Fisher is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church on June 22 as an Optional Memorial, shared with Saint Thomas More. He is the only English bishop to have died for refusing the Oath of Supremacy.
Prayers
Authored
There are prayers authored by this saint in prayers list yet.
Intercessory
There are no prayers asking for this saint's intercession in prayers list yet.