7 FEBRUARY

This is the ancient feast of St. Theodore of Amasea, who was martyred around 319. He was one of the most venerated of the soldier saints in the early and medieval Church. Originally arrested for his Christian faith, he was interrogated and released. Ecumenism rating rather low on his list of priorities and completely ignoring the Spirit of Assisi, he took this opportunity to set fire to the temple of Cybele in Amasea. The local adherents of Cybele didn’t take this at all well and he was again arrested, and this time tortured and eventually burned to death.

Blessed Thomas Sherwood is also commemorated today. He was a draper’s assistant in 16th century London. For having said that he considered that if Queen Elizabeth were excommunicated her rule would not be lawful, he was declared guilty of high treason and condemned "to be dragged through the city streets, hung, then cut down, to have his bowels drawn, his head cut off, his body quartered, and the pieces exposed in such places as it should please the Queen to designate.” [Engelbert]