Blessed John Bodey
- 2 November
- 29 October as one of the Martyrs of Douai
- 1 December as one of the Martyrs of Oxford University
Profile
Educated at Winchester and Oxford in England. Fellow of New College, Oxford in 1568. Convert. Studied law at Douai, France in 1576. Returned to England in February 1578 as a schoolmaster. Married layman. Repuditated King Henry VIII‘s claim of supremacy in spiritual matters. Arrested in 1580, spending three years in prison in Winchester. Tried and condemned with Blessed John Slade for his belief in Winchester in April 1583, he was re-tried in Andover, and convicted again on 15 August 1583. Martyr.
Born
- hanged, drawn, and quartered on 2 November 1583 at Andover, England
- his dying words were Jesu, Jesu, esto mihi Jesus
- 8 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI (decree of martyrdom)
Readings
We consider that iron for this cause borne on earth shall surmount gold and, precious stones in Heaven. That is our mark, that is our desire. In the mean season we are threatened daily, and do look still when the hurdle shall be brought to the door. I beseech you, for God’s sake, that we want not the good prayers of you all for our strength, our joy, and our perseverance unto the end…. From our school of patience the 16th September, 1583. – Blessed John Bodey, in a letter to Dr Humphrey Ely, while in prison
MLA Citation
- “Blessed John Bodey“. CatholicSaints.Info. 11 June 2018. Web. 18 April 2021. <>