Today we celebrate the memorial of Saint Nicholas Owen.

Nicholas was born in Oxford; As a humble artisan, he saved many Christians in England during the Penal Era, when various states punished Christians for practicing their faith. Nicholas used his talents by building multiple hiding places for priests to hold ceremonies throughout England.

Because of the quality of his work—which he completed entirely as both an architect and a builder—raiders frequently failed to notice priests hiding from them. Nicholas was an expert at locating and inventing hiding spots, such as underground tunnels, tight crevices, and impregnable nooks.

At one point, he even managed to plan the two Jesuits’ escape from the Tower of London. Every time Nicholas set out to create one of these hiding places, he began by partaking in the holy Eucharist and continued to pray to God during the lengthy and hazardous construction procedure.

After spending many years performing his peculiar job, Nicholas joined the Society of Jesus. He served as a lay brother, although he kept his affiliation with the Jesuits a secret for good reasons.

He had many near escapes until being apprehended himself in 1594. Nicholas was subjected to prolonged torture but refused to provide the names of other Catholics. “Little John” was released when someone paid a ransom, and he returned to work. He was held captive once more in 1606. This time, he endured horrible punishments before dying in agony. The jailers attempted to imply that he had confessed and killed himself, but his bravery and hardships quickly gained recognition.

In 1970, Nicholas Owen, one of the 40 Martyrs of England and Wales, was declared a saint.

Source: franciscanmedia.org