She chose a more painful death to spare her family. In 1970, she was canonzied as one of the 40 Martyrs of England and Wales. Here is the story of her life, her devotion to the Eucharist, and her staunch faithfulness to the Catholic Faith.

    The encyclical suggests new directions and active participation instead of a merely passive role of the faithful in the liturgy, in liturgical ceremonies and in the life of their parish. The encyclical also emphasizes the importance of the Eucharistic cult. Mediator Dei is one of the more important encyclicals of Pope Pius XII. The encyclical condemned certain excesses of liturgical reform and stressed the importance of the union of sacrifice and altar with communion, which greatly directed additional reforms during Vatican II.