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Saint Alexander Briant
Mary's Dowry Productions
O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our most gentle Queen and Mother look down in mercy upon England, thy dowry, and upon us who greatly hope and trust in thee.
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COMING SOON!
CURRENTLY IN PRODUCTION
A new documentary produced by
Mary's Dowry Productions
on one of our great English Martyrs:
Saint Alexander Briant
.
This new film presents the life of this inspiring Elizabethan Martyr who bravely died a gruesome death in defence of the Catholic Faith during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
Saint Alexander Briant was born in Somerset in 1556 and became a Roman Catholic while at University in Oxford. He travelled to Douai and then Rheims and after years of study he was ordained a priest. He was tutored by the Jesuit priest Fr. Robert Persons.
Saint Alexander Briant
Catholic Priest - English Martyr
Executed in London - 1581
The agony of his starvation and thirst was just the beginning of his torments. Fr. Alexander was subjected to extreme tortures as he was questioned about the whereabouts of Fr. Robert Persons and was told to deny the Catholic Faith and conform to the Church of England. He had long iron spikes thrust under his nails, the thumbscrews were used upon him and he was placed in 'The Scavenger's Daughter' which caused his nose, fingers and toes to bleed. On the 'Rack' he started to laugh at his torturers and said 'Is this all you can do?"
After a sham trial, Fr. Alexander Briant was sentenced to death, to be hanged, drawn and quartered at the infamous Tyburn Triple Gallows under Statute 27 Elizabeth. He held a Cross that he had made in prison and upon which he had drawn a Figure. When it was snatched from him he told them: "You can tear it from my hands but not from my heart."
After a sucessful mission with Fr. Robert Persons (who was the most hunted man in England) Fr. Alexander was eventually captured in London when a servant discovered outlawed Catholic artefacts in his room. A silver Chalice was discovered on his person and so he was arrested and thrown into prison. After being held for many days without food or water, his thirst was so great that he tried to catch rainwater in his hat as it leaked into his cell.
In 1579 Fr. Alexander Briant set off in disguise for his homeland of England so as to minister the outlawed Sacraments to the Catholic Englishmen and women, even though it
was illegal by law to be in England as a Catholic priest.
He had to watch his friends die first but even witnessing the butchery upon Fr. Edmund Campion and Fr. Ralph Sherwin failed to lead him to conform to the State Church of England. He remained steadfast in his Catholic Faith and stepped up to the gallows to die for his priesthood. He was hanged, drawn and quartered on December 1st 1581 and because the executioner failed to secure the noose he suffered a particularly painful end. He was scarcely 25 years old.
Fr. Alexander arrived at Tyburn having been dragged behind a horse on a hurdle through the foul and muddy streets of London.
This first film on St. Alexander Briant, who is one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales, will use a blend of original portrayals, sacred artwork, maps, historical imagery and facts, narration and music to present the unique and heroic life of this young Englishman.
COMING SOON!
"I should be able to bear and suffer it patiently." - St. Alexander Briant, when told that he was to endure more racking.
"I am a soldier of the Cross, and this is my standard unto death." - Saint Alexander Briant.
"You can tear it from my hands but not from my heart!"
- Saint Alexander Briant.
