St. Augustine Webster

St. Augustine Webster was an English Carthusian monk martyred in 1535 for refusing to accept King Henry VIII's supremacy over the Church.

St. Augustine Webster was a Carthusian monk and prior of the Charterhouse of Axholme in Lincolnshire, England. Little is known of his early life, though it is believed he was born around 1475 and later entered religious life in the contemplative Carthusian Order, known for its strict adherence to solitude, silence, and prayer. He served as a respected prior and was admired for his deep faith and spiritual discipline.

During the tumultuous period of the English Reformation, King Henry VIII declared himself Supreme Head of the Church in England, breaking away from the authority of the Pope. This required all clergy and religious to sign the Oath of Supremacy, acknowledging the king's authority over spiritual matters. Augustine Webster, along with other Carthusians, refused to take this oath, remaining loyal to the Roman Pontiff.

Webster was arrested in London along with other faithful monks, including St. John Houghton and St. Robert Lawrence. These men were brought before Thomas Cromwell and repeatedly pressured to submit to the new ecclesiastical order. Despite threats and promised leniency, they remained steadfast in their fidelity to the Church and the Pope.

On May 4, 1535, Augustine Webster, along with his companions, was drawn on a hurdle to Tyburn, where he was hanged, drawn, and quartered — the brutal punishment reserved for traitors. Their martyrdom marked the beginning of severe persecution of Catholics under the English crown.

In recognition of their sacrifice, Pope Leo XIII beatified them in 1886, and they were canonized in 1970 by Pope Paul VI as part of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales — a group of men and women who gave their lives for the Catholic faith during the Reformation.

Feast Day

4-5-

Birth Date

--15th century

Died Date

4-5-1535

Canonised Date

25-10-1970

Tyburn, London, England

St. Augustine Webster, courageous martyr for the truth of Christ, pray for us that we may remain steadfast in faith and loyal to God's Church in all trials. Amen.
ST. AUGUSTINE WEBSTER

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ST. AUGUSTINE WEBSTER

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