[Catholics Only] Gunpowder Plot Anniversary

Fenwick said:

Today is November 5th, the 414th anniversary of the plot to destroy the House of Lords, assassinate James I of England and reinstate of a Catholic monarchy in 1605.

The day is commemorated by some with Guy Fawkes Night, where a bonfire is lit as a symbol of the failed attempt by Fawkes and his co-conspirators.

How are we supposed to feel about this as Catholics? Given that the traditionally villainous character of Fawkes was a Catholic warrior? (Having previously fought against Dutch Reformers for Catholic Spain in the Eighty Years War).

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I suppose we could have a Henry VIII day and celebrate his dead wives. I donno.

You have Thanksgiving - we have Guy Fawkes

So ??

Anhelyna said:

You have Thanksgiving - we have Guy Fawkes

So ??

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The OP asked for Catholics only. Are you Catholic? Great. Your information still says Eastern Orthodox. You might want to update that.

I use this as one of my examples in moral theology when I teach it to students.

It always has a good discussion. We should not support what he tried to do, but remember the English martyrs.

We can also on this day remember Fr. Henry Garnett SJ. The Jesuit priest who was hunted down, tortured, drawn and quartered.

He was the confessor to many men in the plot and tried to dissuade them from any violence. He was executed for keeping the seal of confession.

We abandoned Guy Fawkes night years ago in Australia, due to the risks of fireworks - bushfires, rockets flying through neighbour's windows, pets going crazy and so on.

The following paragraph was lifted from a blog written by a British expatriate who migrated to Australia (I think). Back home in Britain they still had Guy Fawkes night, although he didn't miss it much.

Bonfire Night in Australia: 5th November and No Fireworks!

But it hasn’t always been this way in Australia. Back in the olden days, well the 1970s, Australia did celebrate bonfire night. But towards the end of that decade the public sale of fireworks was banned throughout most of Australia to prevent misuse, personal injury and bushfires. Makes perfect sense.

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In Australia though, the religious background to it was just about unknown. When I was a kid, my sole interest on Guy Fawkes Night was letting off crackers and fireworks. The historical and religious background meant absolutely nothing.

Anhelyna said:

You have Thanksgiving - we have Guy Fawkes

So ??

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So to some of us who are 12th generation direct descendants of those Pilgrims, Thanksgiving is more of a personal holiday, and a recognition of what our own ancestors endured in order to form a new country under God, with Liberty and Justice for all.

You probably have confused our Thanksgiving with the Declaration of our Independence, and the subsequent Fourth of July Celebration.

That Fourth of July holiday is held/ celebrated with firecrackers to mark our determination to be a free people, entitled to Life, Liberty, and representation, not repression.

Fenwick said:

Today is November 5th, the 414th anniversary of the plot to destroy the House of Lords, assassinate James I of England and reinstate of a Catholic monarchy in 1605.

The day is commemorated by some with Guy Fawkes Night, where a bonfire is lit as a symbol of the failed attempt by Fawkes and his co-conspirators.

How are we supposed to feel about this as Catholics? Given that the traditionally villainous character of Fawkes was a Catholic warrior? (Having previously fought against Dutch Reformers for Catholic Spain in the Eighty Years War).

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As a guess, I would say about the same way as we feel about the French Revolution.
But at least we did eventually elect a Catholic President (who was later assassinated).

We need to elect more Catholics (who will follow the beliefs of the Church) into office.

Bob Crowley said:

We abandoned Guy Fawkes night years ago in Australia, due to the risks of fireworks - bushfires, rockets flying through neighbour's windows, pets going crazy and so on.

The following paragraph was lifted from a blog written by a British expatriate who migrated to Australia (I think). Back home in Britain they still had Guy Fawkes night, although he didn't miss it much.

Bonfire Night in Australia: 5th November and No Fireworks!



In Australia though, the religious background to it was just about unknown. When I was a kid, my sole interest on Guy Fawkes Night was letting off crackers and fireworks. The historical and religious background meant absolutely nothing.

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Have you watched "The Doctor Blake Mysteries"? They are set in Ballarat in the early 1950's. In one episode, a murderer used the fireworks set off for Guy Fawkes day to mask his gunshot that killed a woman.

tz620q said:

Have you watched "The Doctor Blake Mysteries"? They are set in Ballarat in the early 1950's. In one episode, a murderer used the fireworks set off for Guy Fawkes day to mask his gunshot that killed a woman.

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I didn't know the Doctor Blake Mysteries had gotten to the good old USA. Usually it's the other way round - the US shows come over here. My wife watched it when it was on, so she no doubt saw the incident. I was probably fooling around on the computer, wasting time on "Christian Forums" or something, so she wouldn't have bothered to tell me.

As a useless footnote, we didn't have many bonfires on the 4th November. It was usually just fireworks.

I can understand bonfires in the UK - it must be freezing by the 4th of November.

Yesterday here just south of Brisbane (8th November, 4 days after GF Day), the temperature out on the patio in the shade was 37.9 degrees Centigrade, or 100.22 degrees Fahrenheit for those who still use it.

Who needs a bonfire?

Today is the night again!
Who has been there?

I was.
Once in England, once in Sotland.
And in Germany several times.

Bonfire Night

[Video]
Guy Fawkes Bonfire Festival Too Big for Brits

Tomorrow will be the day

spicoli said:

Today is November 5th

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Has this thread been forgotten over the years?

Red Gold said:

Has this thread been forgotten over the years?

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No, you have just been Out-Fawkes'd.

Red Gold said:

Has this thread been forgotten over the years?

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The Gunpowder plot led to 2 more centuries of Catholic animus in England, so I don't really get into the jolly fireworks part of the day except as great English satire.

On a related note, I heard a story about the American Liberty Bell. This bell was bought and placed in Philadelphia and when the U.S. gained it's independence from England, the bell was rang so loud and long that it cracked. Recently the American Procrastinator's Club found out that the bell had been cast in England and that the company still was in business. To show their Procrastinator pride, they sent a letter to the company asking for a refund. The English company replied they would gladly refund the cost if the club could ship it back in its original packaging.