Just and eternal God, we offer thanks for the stalwart faith and persistence of thy servants William Wilberforce and Anthony Ashley-Cooper, who, undeterred by opposition and failure, held fast to a vision of justice in which no child of yours might suffer in enforced servitude and misery. Grant that we, drawn by that same Gospel vision, may persevere in serving the common good and caring for those who have been cast down, that they may be raised up through Jesus Christ; who with thee and the Holy Spirit livest and reignest, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Mr. Wilberforce was decidedly “low church” in his theology, so I rather doubt he would approve a “feast day” in his honor. As someone belonging to probably the most “High Church” of the many Christian traditions out there I don’t see him as a saint in the same sense as Ambrose or Basil the Great. But I do see him as one of the greatest men of his age and a great Christian.
“Mr. Wilberforce was decidedly “low church†in his theology, so I rather doubt he would approve a “feast day†in his honor.”
But his sons who were Roman Catholic priests might have!
If his sons were Roman Catholic clergy then I am quite certain they would not have. Rome has never recognized non-Catholics as saints.