“God can no more withhold His grace from a soul prepared to receive it than the sun can fail to shine through an open window.”
John was born in Beverley, Yorkshire, England on October 19, 1469, as one of four children to Robert Fisher, a prosperous mercer and Agnes, his wife. His father died when he was just 8 years old, his mother remarried and had another 4 children.
Due to his aptitude for learning, his mother proposed he attend the University of Cambridge at the age of 15.
John received a Master of Arts degree and at the age of 22, was elected a ‘Fellow’, a privileged member of his college. He also received a papal dispensation to be ordained a priest despite being under the canonical age.
So much progressed in such a short time. Several years after being ordained, he resigned this benefice to become proctor of the University. He was also appointed master debater and chaplain and confessor to the mother of King Henry VII. He received his Doctorate of sacred theology and was then elected as Vice Chancellor. He was also the President of Queens’ College.
He placed great weight upon pastoral commitment, above all popular preaching, and was dedicated to prayer for the dead. A stern and austere man, he was known to place a human skull on the altar during Mass and on the table during meals.
By the age of 35 he was appointed Bishop of Rochester, the poorest diocese in England, and became the University’s Chancellor. He also tutored King Henry VIII, but it was not long before he came into conflict with the new King.
England had emerged from a prolonged civil war when the Lutheranism movement began in the 1520s. Martin Luther was excommunicated and condemned as an outlaw. John had published a 200,000-word response to Martin of which he did not respond.
The battle against heterodox teachings increasingly occupied his time with publications, debates, and preaching.
When King Henry VIII tried to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, John became her chief supporter and appeared on her behalf with directness and firmness and a readiness to die on the behalf of the indissolubility of marriage. The King was enraged, composed his own Latin address to answer, but Fisher responded without fear of royal anger. The King never forgave him as the battle was sent to Rome, removing John’s personal involvement.
Fisher engaged in secret activities to overthrow the King by communicating with foreign diplomats. When the King secretly wed Anne Boleyn, Fisher was imprisoned to thwart his efforts, but a pardon was granted afterwards.
He was imprisoned again in 1534 when he refused an oath to the King and his new “queen”. The following year, the Pope made John a Cardinal with the hopes of easing the harsh treatment he was receiving. Instead, he was charged with treason, denying that the King was the Supreme Head of the Church of England. With a large public outcry, he was beheaded on Tower Hill on June 22, 1535.
The King had John’s body treated with malice and his head was placed on a pole on London Bridge. He was given no funeral prayer.
His feast day is June 22.
For God’s Glory.
