Saint Ambrose Edward Barlow (10 September): Butler's Lives of the Saints

About this sermon

Saint Ambrose Edward Barlow was a Benedictine priest and English martyr who courageously served the persecuted Catholics of Lancashire until his death in 1641. Born in 1585 to Sir Alexander Barlow near Manchester, Edward studied abroad before entering the Benedictine monastery of Saint Gregory in Douai. Taking the religious name Ambrose, he was ordained in 1617 and sent back to England as a missionary priest. For more than two decades, Father Ambrose ministered secretly around Leigh. He lived simply among the poor, devoted most of his limited income to basic necessities, and became known for his zeal, humility, wit, cheerfulness, and remarkable patience with those who insulted him. One eyewitness compared his joyful temperament to the spirit of Saint Thomas More. In 1628, he administered the final sacraments to Saint Edmund Arrowsmith. The martyr later reportedly appeared to him in a dream, warning Father Ambrose that his own suffering would follow. Father Ambrose was arrested on Easter Sunday in 1641 after celebrating Mass and preaching at Morleys Hall. When questioned, he openly admitted that he was a priest and condemned England’s anti-Catholic penal laws as barbaric and unjust. Offered freedom if he would cease his ministry, he answered: “I am not a seducer, but a conductor of people to the true and ancient religion.” He was executed at Lancaster on September 10, 1641, and was canonized among the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales. Saint Ambrose Barlow, pray for us! 00:00 Saint Ambrose Edward Barlow 00:17 The English Benedictines at Douai 00:26 A former prisoner enters the monastery 00:35 His family and early life 00:49 Becoming the Benedictine Ambrose Barlow 00:56 Ordination and the Lancashire mission 01:05 His apostolate around Leigh 01:21 Choosing a life of evangelical poverty 01:46 Austerity, illness and contentment 02:03 His wit and resemblance to Saint Thomas More 02:19 Responding to enemies with kindness 02:27 Christmas Midnight Mass under persecution 02:50 His piety, humility and temperance 03:14 Saint Edmund Arrowsmith’s prophetic warning 03:29 Thirteen years awaiting martyrdom 03:38 Priests ordered to leave England 03:52 Arrested after Easter Mass 04:06 Imprisonment in Lancaster Castle 04:14 Father Ambrose admits that he is a priest 04:29 Condemning the penal laws as unjust 04:46 Offered freedom if he abandons his ministry 04:55 “A conductor to the true and ancient religion” 05:04 Condemned to death 05:25 His final journey and martyrdom 05:41 Benedictines celebrate his heavenly victory 05:57 The surviving relics of Saint Ambrose Barlow SEO Hashtags https://sensusfidelium.com/the-lives-of-the-fathers-martyrs-and-other-principal-saints/september/ Get Butler's Lives of the Saints here: https://loretopublications.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=102&url=1 #SaintAmbroseBarlow #CatholicSaints #EnglishMartyrs #Benedictine #CatholicFaith #LivesOfTheSaints #Martyrdom #CatholicHistory #PersecutionOfCatholics #BlessedAmbrose 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴