Saint John Fisher was an English cardinal, and bishop who upheld papal supremacy against Henry VIII.
Background
John Fisher was born in Beverley, Yorkshire, in 1469, the eldest son of Robert Fisher, a modestly prosperous merchant of Beverley, and Agnes, his wife. He was one of four children. His father died when John was eight. His mother remarried and had five more children by her second husband, William White.
Education
As a university official, he met Lady Margaret Beaufort, the mother of Henry VII, who appreciated his gifts as preacher and administrator. It was through his influence that she established the Lady Margaret Readerships in Divinity at Oxford and Cambridge and founded Christ's College and St. John's at the latter.
Career
As a university official, John met Lady Margaret Beaufort, the mother of Henry VII, who appreciated his gifts as preacher and administrator. It was through his influence that she established the Lady Margaret Readerships in Divinity at Oxford and Cambridge and founded Christ's College and St. John's at the latter.
In 1504 Fisher became bishop of Rochester and chancellor of Cambridge, positions he held for 30 years. He brought Erasmus to Cambridge and encouraged his work on the Greek New Testament. Fisher preached and wrote against Luther and won a European reputation as a theologian. As a supporter of Catherine of Aragon and an opponent of Henry VIII's ecclesiastical policy, he incurred the anger of the King, who proclaimed himself head of both church and state.
On April 13, 1534, Fisher refused to take the oath under the Act of Succession, since this implied a repudiation of the pope's authority. In spite of his age and serious infirmities, he was sent to the Tower of London, where Sir Thomas More was also imprisoned for similar reasons. At the end of the year, the Act of Supremacy and the Act of Treason made it a capital crime to deny to the King his new title. Fisher was tricked into doing this in a conversation he believed was privileged. The King was further incensed when the pope made Fisher a cardinal in May 1535. At his trial on June 17, he was condemned to death and was beheaded on Tower Hill on June 22. His naked body was hastily buried outside All Hallows Barking Church, but after the execution of Sir Thomas More on July 6, Fisher's body was reburied with that of his fellow martyr in St. Peter ad Vincula in the Tower. He was beatified by Leo XIII in 1886 and canonized by Pius XI on May 19, 1935.
Religion
As a supporter of Catherine of Aragon and an opponent of Henry VIII's ecclesiastical policy, he incurred the anger of the King, who proclaimed himself head of both church and state. On Apr. 13, 1534, Fisher refused to take the oath under the Act of Succession, since this implied a repudiation of the pope's authority. In spite of his age and serious infirmities, he was sent to the Tower of London, where Sir Thomas More was also imprisoned for similar reasons. At the end of the year, the Act of Supremacy and the Act of Treason made it a capital crime to deny to the King his new title. Fisher was tricked into doing this in a conversation he believed was privileged. The King was further incensed when the pope made Fisher a cardinal in May 1535. At his trial on June 17, he was condemned to death and was beheaded on Tower Hill on June 22. His naked body was hastily buried outside All Hallows Barking Church, but after the execution of Sir Thomas More on July 6, Fisher's body was reburied with that of his fellow martyr in St. Peter ad Vincula in the Tower. He was beatified by Leo XIII in 1886 and canonized by Pius XI on May 19, 1935. His feast day is June 22.