Blessed Thomas Maxfield
Also known as
- Thomas Macclesfield
- 1 July
- 29 October as one of the Martyrs of Douai
Profile
Son of Ursula and William Macclesfield; his father was later charged with hiding and supporting priests, one of which was Thomas’s brother, Father Humphrey. Thomas studied at the English College in Douai, France; ordained in 1614. In 1615 he returned to England to minister to covert Catholics. He was soon arrested for the crime of being a priest. After eight months he tried to escape, but was caught and moved to Newgate prison; there he ministered to other prisoners and brought some to the faith. Went to trial on 26 June 1616 for the crime of priesthood, was found guilty, and sentenced to death. A group of Catholic Spaniards acted as an honour guard as Father Thomas was being led to execution; they were abused by the populace. Martyr.
Born
- The Mere, Enville, Staffordshire, England
- hanged, drawn and quartered on 1 July 1616 in Tyburn, London, England
- many relics enshrined in Downside Abbey near Bath, England
- 8 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI (decree of martyrdom)
Readings
As in duty I am bound never to forget you who have had so tender and fatherly care of me, so now especially I must write to you for perhaps the last time, as I expect, with some hope, to end my days in the just quarrel of my Lord and Master Jesus Christ. You will have heard of my attempted escape, of how God delivered me again into the hands of my enemies, and my subsequent affliction and misery. On Wednesday or Thursday I am to receive my trial on life or death, the happiest news that I ever had. God give me strength and courage to glorify His name by my death, and to fill up the number of my glorified brethren who are gone before me. I think myself most happy to be a branch and still a member of that blessed house of Douay, that has afforded to our poor barren country so much good and happy seed. I am therefore yours, and so will live and die. Good father, make me partaker of your prayers, and commend me to all my good and dearly loved brethren, for whom and for the prosperity of that house I will never cease to pray. – Blessed Thomas, writing from his prison cell to the President of Douay College
MLA Citation
- “Blessed Thomas Maxfield“. CatholicSaints.Info. 11 January 2022. Web. 20 May 2024. <>