Alexander Briant
Alexander Briant was an English Jesuit and martyr executed at Tyburn. He converted to Catholicism while at Oxford and later entered the English College at Reims and Douai, where he was ordained a priest. Briant is primarily remembered for his martyrdom and subsequent canonization as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.
- Feast Day
- December 1
- Century
- 16th century
- Country Or Region
- England
Key Facts
- ›He was born in Somerset and studied at Hart Hall and Balliol College, Oxford.
- ›His conversion was influenced by Robert Parsons and his association with Richard Holtby.
- ›He was ordained a priest on March 29, 1578, and assigned to the English mission in Somerset.
- ›Briant was arrested on April 28, 1581, while searching for Robert Parsons.
- ›He was subjected to torture in the Tower of London before being arraigned for high treason.
- ›He was executed by hanging, drawing, and quartering on December 1, 1581, at the age of twenty-five.
About Alexander Briant
Alexander Briant, SJ
Alexander Briant (1556 – 1581) was an English Jesuit priest and martyr, executed at Tyburn. His life and death are primarily remembered for his steadfast faith in the face of persecution and his eventual canonization.
Life and Historical Context
Born in Somerset, Briant received his early education at Hart Hall, Oxford, and later Balliol College, where he was influenced by Robert Parsons. His conversion was solidified through his studies and association with Richard Holtby. After leaving university, he studied at the English College in Reims and then Douai, where he was ordained a priest on March 29, 1578. He was assigned to the English mission in August of the following year and ministered with great zeal in his native county of Somerset.
Trial and Execution
Briant was arrested on April 28, 1581, during a raid aimed at capturing Robert Parsons. He was subsequently imprisoned, first in the Counter, and then in the Tower of London, where he endured torture in an attempt to extract information. It was during his confinement in the Tower that Briant wrote to the Jesuit Fathers in England requesting admission into their society, which was granted. He was arraigned with six other priests on November 16, 1581, at Westminster, charged with high treason, and condemned to death. He reported feeling no pain during the tortures he underwent, attributing it to divine providence. Alexander Briant was executed by being hanged, drawn, and quartered on December 1, 1581, at the age of twenty-five. Edmund Campion and Ralph Sherwin were executed alongside him.
Veneration and Legacy
Alexander Briant was beatified on December 29, 1886, by Pope Leo XIII. He was canonized in 1970 by Pope Paul VI as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales, with a common feast day of October 25. His individual feast day is observed on December 1, the anniversary of his martyrdom. A relic, a corporal bearing the names of five priests including Briant, is preserved at the English College in Rome. In 2023, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Clifton named a pastoral area in his honor, acknowledging his enduring significance.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Alexander Briant born?
Alexander Briant was born on August 17, 1556.
Where did Alexander Briant study?
He studied at Hart Hall, Oxford, and later completed his studies with Robert Parsons at Balliol College.
What led to Alexander Briant's arrest?
He was arrested on April 28, 1581, as part of a persecution party searching for Robert Parsons.
What happened to Alexander Briant during his imprisonment?
He was subjected to torture in the Tower of London. During this time, he wrote a letter requesting admission into the Society of Jesus, which was granted.
When and how was Alexander Briant executed?
He was executed by being hanged, drawn, and quartered on December 1, 1581, at Tyburn. He was twenty-five years old at the time of his death.
Related Saints
Ralph Sherwin
Ralph Sherwin was an English Roman Catholic priest and martyr, executed in 1581. He is remembered for his steadfast faith, his missionary work in England, and his martyrdom alongside Edmund Campion and Alexander Briant. Sherwin was canonized as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.
Edmund Campion
Edmund Campion was an English Jesuit priest and martyr who ministered underground in officially Anglican England. He was arrested, convicted of high treason, and executed at Tyburn. Campion is remembered for his courageous stand for his faith and his intellectual defense of Catholicism.
Charles de Foucauld
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