St. Margaret Clitherow

Also known as
    Margaret Clitheroe
    Margaret Middleton
    Margarita Clitherow
    Margherita Clitherow
    Marguerite Clitherow
    one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales
    the Pearl of York

Memorial
    26 March
    25 October as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales

Profile
    Daughter of Thomas and Jane Middleton, a candle maker and the Sheriff of York for two years. Raised Anglican. Married to John Clitherow, wealthy butcher and chamberlain of the city of York, on 8 July 1571. Converted to Catholicism around 1574. Imprisoned several times for her conversion, for sheltering priests (including her husband's brother), and for permitting clandestine Masses to be celebrated on her property. During her trial in Tyburn on 14 March 1586, she refused to answer any of the charges for fear of incriminating her servents and children; both her sons became priests, her daughter a nun.

Born
    1556 as Margaret Middleton at York, England

Died
    pressed to death on Good Friday, 25 March 1586 at York, England
    right hand preserved at Saint Mary's Convent, York

Venerated
    8 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI

Beatified
    15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI

Canonized
    25 October 1970 by Pope Paul VI

Patronage
    businesswomen
    converts
    martyrs

(Image from Stained Glass Centre)