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Foxe's Book of Martyrs (view source)
Revision as of 00:46, December 19, 2017
, 00:46, December 19, 2017info on contrasting Roman Martyrology published the same century as Foxe's Book of Martyrs - added link to http://breviary.net/martyrology/mart.htm
'''Foxe's Book of Martyrs''' is the popular title of John Foxe's '''''The Actes and Monuments'''''. It is a [[polemic]]al work of [[Protestant Reformation|Protestant history]] and [[martyr]]ology, first published in English in 1563 by John Day. It presents an overview of the history of Christian persecutions, beginning with the [[Early Christianity|early Christians]], through the [[Middle Ages]], with praise for the [[Albigensians]] and the [[Waldensians]], and includes a polemical account of the sufferings of Protestants under the [[Catholic Church]], with particular emphasis on England and Scotland. The book was highly influential in those countries and helped shape lasting popular notions of Catholicism there, especially the claim that the [[Catholic Church]] was founded by the [[Devil]], resists the truth of God, opposes the [[Bible]], and teaches [[Paganism|pagan]] doctrines of devils from the pit of hell. The book went through four editions in Foxe's lifetime and a number of later editions and abridgements, including some that specifically reduced the text almost immediately to an abbreviated '''''Book of Martyrs'''''.
'''Foxe's Book of Martyrs''' is the popular title of John Foxe's '''''The Actes and Monuments'''''. It is a [[polemic]]al work of [[Protestant Reformation|Protestant history]] and [[martyr]]ology, first published in English in 1563 by John Day, the same year that the [[Council of Trent]] was concluded. It presents an overview of the history of Christian persecutions, beginning with the [[Early Christianity|early Christians]], through the [[Middle Ages]], with praise for the [[Albigensians]] and the [[Waldensians]], and includes a polemical account of the sufferings of Protestants under the [[Catholic Church]], with particular emphasis on England and Scotland. The book was highly influential in those countries and helped shape lasting popular notions of Catholicism there, especially the claim that the [[Catholic Church]] was founded by the [[Devil]], resists the truth of God, opposes the [[Bible]], and teaches [[Paganism|pagan]] doctrines of devils from the pit of hell. The book went through four editions in Foxe's lifetime and a number of later editions and abridgements, including some that specifically reduced the text almost immediately to an abbreviated '''''Book of Martyrs'''''.
The criticism which the work provoked in all quarters led to the publication of a "corrected" edition in 1570, two more during his life (1576 and 1583) and five more revisions within another one hundred years (1596, 1610, 1632, 1641, 1684). The edition of 1684 consists of three folio volumes of 895, 682, and 863 pages respectively. Each page has two columns and over eighty lines. Besides introductory material the first volume contains the story of early Christian persecutions, a sketch of medieval church history and an account of the [[John Wyclif|Wyclifite movement]] in England and on the continent; the second volume treats the reigns Henry VII and Edward VI; and the third volume that of Catholic Mary ("''Bloody Mary''", Queen of England). A large number of official documents have been included, injunctions, articles of accusation, letters. The book is illustrated throughout by woodcuts, some symbolizing the triumph of the Reformation, most depicting the sufferings of the martyrs. Two modern editions, both unsatisfactory, in eight volumes, were published in 1837-41 and 1877.
The criticism which the work provoked in all quarters led to the publication of a "corrected" edition in 1570, two more during his life (1576 and 1583) and five more revisions within another one hundred years (1596, 1610, 1632, 1641, 1684). The edition of 1684 consists of three folio volumes of 895, 682, and 863 pages respectively. Each page has two columns and over eighty lines. Besides introductory material the first volume contains the story of early Christian persecutions, a sketch of medieval church history and an account of the [[John Wyclif|Wyclifite movement]] in England and on the continent; the second volume treats the reigns Henry VII and Edward VI; and the third volume that of Catholic Mary ("''Bloody Mary''", Queen of England). A large number of official documents have been included, injunctions, articles of accusation, letters. The book is illustrated throughout by woodcuts, some symbolizing the triumph of the Reformation, most depicting the sufferings of the martyrs. Two modern editions, both unsatisfactory, in eight volumes, were published in 1837-41 and 1877.
The most readable popular and recent editions of this work are widely esteemed by Conservative [[Evangelical Christians]] and [[Fundamentalism|Fundamentalists]] who oppose Catholic and Orthodox [[Doctrine|doctrinal teachings]] and [[dogma]]s.
The most readable popular and recent editions of this work are widely esteemed by Conservative [[Evangelical Christians]] and [[Fundamentalism|Fundamentalists]] who oppose Catholic and Orthodox [[Doctrine|doctrinal teachings]] and [[dogma]]s.
==The Roman Martyrology==
It is interesting to note that the ''Martyrologium Romanum'', the Roman Martyrology, was updated, then authorized and published by the Catholic Church seven years after the first publication of John Foxe's ''Actes and Monuments'' in 1576.
The Roman Martyrology was first published in 1583 by [[Pope Gregory XIII]], who the year before had decreed the revision of the calendar called, after him, the [[Gregorian Calendar]]. A second edition was published the same year. The third edition was made obligatory wherever the Roman Rite was in use. Many Catholics martyred for their faith during the English and Protestant Reformations were included, such as [[Thomas More]] who was beheaded under [[Henry VIII]].
In 1630 [[Pope Urban VIII]] ordered a new edition. In 1748 a revised edition by [[Pope Benedict XIV]] appeared, who personally worked on the corrections: he suppressed some names, such as those of [[Clement of Alexandria]] and [[Sulpicius Severus]], but kept others that some had objected to, such as [[Pope Siricius]]. Since then, the Roman Martyrology has remained essentially unchanged, except for the addition of new saints canonized during the subsequent years.
==See also==
==See also==
[[Thomas More]]
[[Thomas More]]
[[Council of Trent]] 1545-1563
[[Inquisition]]
[[Inquisition]]
;See Also
;See Also
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Martyrology Roman Martyrology - Wikipedia]
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Martyrology Roman Martyrology - Wikipedia]
*[http://breviary.net/martyrology/mart.htm Roman Martyrology - Confraternity of Ss. Peter & Paul (breviary.net)] ''introduction and text link''
*[http://www.boston-catholic-journal.com/roman-martyrology-complete-in-english-for-daily-reflection.htm ''Martyrologium Romanum'' - Roman Martyrology: Complete in English for Daily Reflection (boston-catholic-journal.com)] includes Catholics martyred for their faith during the Protestant Reformation
*[http://www.boston-catholic-journal.com/roman-martyrology-complete-in-english-for-daily-reflection.htm ''Martyrologium Romanum'' - Roman Martyrology: Complete in English for Daily Reflection (boston-catholic-journal.com)] includes Catholics martyred for their faith during the Protestant Reformation