Blessed Arthur Bell: The Franciscan Martyr of England | Saint Story for Kids (December 11th
Blessed Arthur Bell (1590–1643), known in the Franciscan Order as Father Francis, was an English priest who courageously served the Church during one of the most dangerous times for Catholics in England. After studying and joining the Franciscans in Spain, he returned secretly to England to help restore the Franciscan presence, teach the faith, and support hidden Catholic communities. But during the English Civil War, simply being a Catholic priest was considered a crime. Father Francis was arrested in 1643 under suspicion of being a spy. Even though the accusations were false, he openly admitted that he was a Catholic priest. Because of this, he was condemned and executed at Tyburn — the same place where many English martyrs gave their lives. In this child-friendly episode, kids will learn: Why Blessed Arthur Bell risked everything to serve God What it meant to be a priest during persecution …More