From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

July 12th - BBs John Wall and John Jones

John Wall, in religion Father Joachim of St. Anna, was the fourth son
of Anthony Wall of Chingle (Singleton) Hall, Lancashire. He was born
in 1620, and when very young, was sent to the English College at
Douai. From there he proceeded to Rome, where he was raised to the
priesthood in 1648. Several years later he returned to Douai and was
clothed in the habit of St. Francis in the convent of St. Bonaventure.
He made his solemn profession on January 1, 1652. So great was the
estimation in which he was held by his brethren, that within a few
months he was elected vicar of the convent, and soon after, master of
novices.

In 1656 he joined the English mission, and for 12 years he labored on Worcestershire under the names of Francis Johnson or Webb, winning
souls even more by his example than by his words. At Harvington to
this day the memory of Blessed Father Johnson is cherished, and
stories of his heroic zeal are recounted by the descendants of those
who were privileged to know and love the glorious martyr.

Some of the charges raised against Father Wall when he was captured,
were that he had said Mass, heard confessions, and received converts
into the Church. He was accidentally found, in December 1678, at the
house of a friend, Mr. Finch of Rushock, and carried off by the
sheriff's officer. He was committed to Worchester jail, and lay
captive for five months, enduring patiently all the loneliness,
suffering, and horrors of prison life, which at that time were
scarcely less dreadful than death itself.

On April 25, 1679, Father John was brought to court. His condemnation
was a foregone conclusion. He was sent back to prison till the king's
further pleasure concerning him should be known; and for another four
months he languished in captivity. It was during this period that he
was offered his life if he would deny his faith, "But I told them,"
said the martyr, "that I would not buy my life at so dear a rate as to
wrong my conscience."

One of Father Wall's brethren in religion, Father William Levison, has
the privilege of seeing the martyr for the space of 4 or 5 hours on
the day before his execution. Father William tells us: "I heard his
confession and communicated him, to his great joy and satisfaction.
While in prison he carried himself like a true servant of his
crucified Master, thirsting after nothing more than the shedding of
his blood for the love of his God, which he performed with a courage
and cheerfulness becoming a valiant soldier of Christ, to the great
edification of all the Catholics, and admiration of all the
Protestants."

Father Wall's martyrdom took place on Red Hill, overlooking the city
of Worcester, on August 22, 1679. His head was kept in the convent at
Douai until the French Revolution broke out and the community fled to
England. What became of it, then, is not known. The Catholics of
Worcester found consolation in remarking, as a proof of his sanctity,
that his grave always appeared green, while the rest of the churchyard
was bare. A large crucifix was raised in the little Catholic
churchyard at Harvington to the memory of this saintly son of St.
Francis, Father Joachim of St. Anna.

Father Joachim of St. Anna was beatified under the name of Blessed
John Wall, December 15, 1929, together with a fellow Franciscan,
Father Godfrey Maurice Jones, and 134 companions.

ON THE VALUE OF THE SOUL
1. The human soul bears the stamp of nobility. God created the
universe with one word. "Let it be made," He said, and it was made.
But for the creation of man the Holy Trinity holds, as it were, a
consultation: "Let us make man to Our own image and likeness" (Gen
1:26). And according to His image and likeness God created man.
"Remember, O man," St. Bernard cries out, "your dignity!" Your soul is
the image of God. Therefore the Holy Spirit warns us: "Keep your soul
and give it honor according to its desert" (Eccli 10:31). Do not let
material baubles dim the image of God that is in you,, nor let the
evil spirit mar it. -- Have you preserved this image in yourself?
2. The soul has been bought at a great price. Jesus Christ came down
from heaven, led a poor life here on earth for 33 years, endured
untold pains, and finally shed His precious blood on the cross to
redeem the souls of men. The church reminds us of this when she
teaches us to pray in the Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus: "Through
Thy labors, through Thy fainting and weariness, through Thy agony and
passion, through Thy cross and dereliction, deliver us, O Jesus!" But
if Jesus did so much to save the souls of men, what sacrifice can be
too great in our effort to save our souls? Ought we not, according to
the admonition of the Apostle (Heb 12:4), strive against sin even unto
blood?
3. The value of the soul surpasses that of all created things. Christ
said: "What does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and suffer
the loss of his own soul?" (Matt 16:26). The soul outweighs all the
things of earth, all treasures, honors, riches. Blessed John strove
for a correct appreciation of material things, which are valueless
when compared with our immortal souls. -- Have you always manifested
this correct appreciation and given evidence of it in your action?

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
O God, who did marvelously create human beings, and still more
marvelously redeem them, grant us Thy grace that with the knowledge
Thou has given us, we may resist sinful desires and deserve to attain
eternal bliss. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)