Are you willing? The Charterhouse Martyrs

 I am reading a history of the London Charterhouse. One of the things which struck me today was the line which referred to St. Thomas More's years here, between 1499 and 1503, when he lived in the same manner as the religious there, the Carthusians.

Years later, he saw these same men dragged on hurdles, "like bridegrooms to their weddings" through his window in the Tower of London.

Now, what came to my mind was the years of preparation these monks had for a holy death, and the years of formation St. Thomas More had for his martyrdom.

Formation has been a topic in my perfection series. Without formation, we cannot advance to the enjoyment of the Love of God.

We cannot build up the Kingdom.

In 1538, the entire order of Carthusians, the entire monastery was suppressed. Here is a list of all the martyrs.

• Saint John Houghton, prior of the London Charterhouse, executed at Tyburn, London, on May 4, 1535.
• Saint Robert Lawrence, prior of Beauvale Charterhouse, executed at Tyburn, London, on May 4, 1535.
• Saint Augustine Webster, prior of Axholme Charterhouse, executed at Tyburn, London, on May 4, 1535.
• Blessed Humphrey Middlemore, vicar of the London Charterhouse, executed at Tyburn, London, on June 19, 1535.
• Blessed William Exmew, procurator of the London Charterhouse, executed at Tyburn, London, on June 19, 1535.
• Blessed Sebastian Newdigate, choir monk of the London Charterhouse, executed at Tyburn, London, on June 19, 1535.
• Blessed John Rochester, choir monk of the London Charterhouse, exiled by the government to the Charterhouse of St Michael at Hull in Yorkshire, executed at York on May 11, 1537, by being hanged in chains from the city battlements until dead.
• Blessed James Walworth, choir monk of the London Charterhouse, exiled by the government to the Charterhouse of St Michael at Hull in Yorkshire, executed at York on May 11, 1537, by being hanged in chains from the city battlements until dead.
• Blessed William Greenwood, laybrother of the London Charterhouse, died of starvation in Newgate Prison, London on June 6, 1537
• Blessed John Davy, deacon, choir monk of the London Charterhouse, died of starvation in Newgate Prison on June 8. 1537
• Blessed Robert Salt, laybrother of the London Charterhouse, died of starvation in Newgate Prison, London on June 9, 1537
• Blessed Walter Pierson, laybrother of the London Charterhouse, died of starvation in Newgate Prison, London on June 10, 1537
• Blessed Thomas Green (perhaps alias Thomas Greenwood), choir monk of the London Charterhouse, died of starvation in Newgate Prison, London on June 10, 1537
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• Blessed Thomas Scryven, laybrother of the London Charterhouse, died of starvation in Newgate Prison, London on June 15, 1537
• Blessed Thomas Redyng, laybrother of the London Charterhouse, died of starvation in Newgate Prison, London on June 16, 1537
• Blessed Richard Bere, choir monk of the London Charterhouse, died of starvation in Newgate Prison, London on August 9, 1537
• Blessed Thomas Johnson, choir monk of the London Charterhouse, died of starvation in Newgate Prison, London on September 20, 1537
• Blessed William Horne, laybrother of the London Charterhouse, hanged, disembowelled, and quartered at Tyburn, London on August 4, 1540. from Wiki and thanks

What these men had in common with St. Thomas More was preparation. Are you willing to be prepared for the hard times which are coming? Are you willing?