Thomas Belchiam
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| Venerable Thomas Belchiam | |
|---|---|
| Greenwich Franciscan Martyr of England | |
| Born | unknown |
| Died | 3 August 1537, England |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholicism |
| Feast | |
 Saints Portal |
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Venerable Thomas Belchiam, date of birth unknown, was a Franciscan martyr in the reign of Henry VIII
Thomas boldly opposed the Henry VIII's first divorces and denounced him as a heretic. He wrote a book addressed to his brethren, beginning with the text: "They that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses," in which he rebuked the faithless bishops, who were afraid to tell the king the truth. The book appears to be lost at this time, as the King ordered all copies of it burned, but one copy got into Henry's hands, and he is said to have been moved to tears by reading it, though he soon repented of this weakness.
Thomas and some thirty of the Observant Franciscans were thrown into prison where they perished of hunger.
It is reported that when he died on 3 August 1537, the earth shook as if with an earthquake, and the keepers were terrified. The King himself was startled by this perceived supernatural warning, and ordered that Thomas be given a decent burial.
[edit] References
- Ven. Thomas Belchiam. Catholic Encyclopedia.
- DODD, Church History (Brussels, 1739); *BOURCHIER, Historia Ecclesiastica de Martyrio Fratrum Ord. D. Francisci (Paris, 1581)
- WADDING, Annales Minorum (Ancona, 1736), tom. XVI; STONE, Faithful unto Death (London, 1892).
This article incorporates text from the public-domain Catholic Encyclopedia of 1913.
