I turned on the TV one night, not so much to really watch but to help me doze off. Pampaantok baga! The show was about the persecution of Catholics in England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I in the 16th century. The intense persecution came about after two attempts by Catholic nobles to depose the Protestant Queen and replace her with Mary, Queen of Scots, her cousin who was a Catholic.
A law prohibiting a Catholic from celebrating the rites of his faith (e.g. Mass) was implemented. Old Catholic families had Mass secretly celebrated in their homes. Hiding places, or what has now been commonly called as priest hole, were built to protect the priest in case suspicious soldiers would suddenly barge into the homes. Harvington Hall in Worcestershire has several priest holes such as the photo above. Other castles and homes that have these are Ripley Castle in North Yorkshire and Chesterton Hall near Cambridge.
One of the holes was just next to a big fireplace and the TV presenter mentioned that, to protect the priest from the fire, his vestment was soaked in water!
It has been said that much of these holes were attributed to St Nicholas Owen, a Jesuit lay brother, who constructed these hiding places. St Nicholas was both architect and engineer of these holes. Eventually, he was arrested, tortured, and killed, but he didn't reveal anything to the authorities.
The house searches of these soldiers were rigorous and could last for a week. More often than not, they leave empty handed. There is a risk that priests hiding in these holes would die due to lack of oxygen (some would hold their breath lest they would be detected) or starvation.
Priests, like in those days, are an endangered species. Although persecution is no longer prevalent in England (and in most parts of the globe), our priests still need that hole, that hiding place to protect them from the perils of this world. Apart from protection, they need that hole where they could be nurtured, where they can recharge when the going gets tough. It's not the hole which shielded the priests of the 16th century. It's not the gadgets or vices that some of them have been allegedly holed up to. It's far better than those.
The hole where priests should hide is the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Lord once spoke these words: "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.…" (Mt 11:28).
As we celebrate the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the 12th of this month, let us entrust to Him all our priests. May they make time to be hidden in this sweet and loving heart so that, when they go out into the world, when they resume their duties, they would touch people's hearts, especially the most hardened ones (Promise of the Sacred Heart of Jesus).
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You!
