Saint Nicholas Owen

Biography

Saint Nicholas Owen, also known as John Owen or Little John, was born in the 16th century in Oxford, England. He came from a family that was deeply committed to the persecuted Catholic Church, with two of his brothers becoming priests and another working as a printer of underground Catholic books. Nicholas himself followed in his father's footsteps and became a carpenter and mason. Nicholas played a crucial role in the covert work of the Catholic Church in England during a time when Catholicism was heavily persecuted. He worked closely with Saint Edmund Campion, sometimes using the pseudonym John Owen, and was affectionately called Little John due to his short stature. When Father Edmund was martyred, Nicholas openly condemned the atrocity, which led to his own imprisonment. Father Henry Garnet, the Superior of English Jesuits, recognized Nicholas's skills and employed him to construct hiding places and escape routes in various mansions used as secret priest-centers throughout England. During the day, Nicholas worked on regular carpentry and masonry projects at these mansions to avoid arousing suspicion. However, by night, he worked alone, tirelessly digging tunnels, creating hidden passages, and constructing hidden rooms within the houses. These hiding places served as sanctuaries and allowed priests to evade capture by the priest-hunters. It is impossible to determine the exact number of hiding places Nicholas built or the hundreds of priests he helped save, as there are no records of his work. The anti-Catholic authorities eventually became aware of the existence of these hiding places, but they had no knowledge of who was responsible or the extent of Nicholas's work. Due to the dangerous nature of his work and the periodic arrests of Jesuits, Nicholas did not undergo a formal novitiate. However, he received instruction and became a Jesuit Brother in 1577. In 1594, he was arrested in London for his association with Father John Gerard. Despite not realizing his importance, the authorities released Nicholas shortly after his arrest, and he resumed his dangerous work. On 5 November 1605, Nicholas, along with three other Jesuits, sought refuge in Hinlip Hall, a location with at least 13 of his hiding places, to escape the priest-hunters. Nicholas spent four days hiding in one of his secret rooms but eventually surrendered as he had no access to food or water. He was taken to a London prison where he endured endless torture, with his captors seeking information about the underground network of priests and their hiding places. During the torture, Nicholas was subjected to extreme abuse, including being suspended from a wall, chained by his wrists, and having weights attached to his ankles. He was brutally beaten, resulting in his stomach splitting open, spilling his intestines onto the floor. Despite his severe injuries, Nicholas survived for several hours before succumbing to his wounds. His torturer, under orders not to kill him, spread the false claim that Nicholas had committed suicide. However, the truth of his martyrdom was eventually revealed. Nicholas Owen was honored as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales for his unwavering dedication to the Catholic Church and his courageous efforts to protect and save priests from persecution. Saint Nicholas Owen was venerated on 8 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI, who declared his martyrdom. He was later beatified on 15 December 1929 by the same pope and canonized on 25 October 1970 by Pope Paul VI. Although Saint Nicholas Owen is not officially recognized as a patron saint of any specific cause or group, his selfless actions and martyrdom serve as an inspiration to all who face persecution for their faith. His memory is commemorated on various feast days, including 22 March and 25 October as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales, 3 May on some calendars, and 1 December on some calendars.