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.
- Feast Day
- December 1
- Century
- 16th century
- Country Or Region
- England
Key Facts
- ›Born in london on 25 january 1540
- ›Received his early education at christ's hospital school
- ›Ordained a deacon in the anglican church in 1564
- ›Reconciled to the catholic church in douai in 1571 and later joined the jesuits
- ›Entered england in 1580 disguised as a jewel merchant to conduct an underground ministry
- ›Arrested, tortured, and tried for high treason, he was executed at tyburn on 1 december 1581
Campion's Brag, Challenge to the Privy Council
About Edmund Campion
Edmund Campion: Jesuit Priest and Martyr
Edmund Campion (25 January 1540 – 1 December 1581) was an English Jesuit priest and martyr, celebrated for his courageous underground ministry in officially Anglican England. His life and death became a significant event in the religious conflicts of the Elizabethan era.
Early Life and Education
Born in London, Campion received his early education at Christ's Hospital and later attended St John's College, Oxford. He excelled academically, delivering speeches before royalty and earning the patronage of influential figures like William Cecil and the Earl of Leicester. He took the Oath of Supremacy at Oxford, likely upon receiving his B.A. degree in 1560, and later earned a master's degree in 1564.
Religious Journey
Despite his academic success and ordination as an Anglican deacon in 1564, Campion began to question Anglican doctrines and was drawn to Catholic teachings. He left Oxford in 1569 and went to Ireland for private study. In 1571, he escaped to Douai in the Low Countries, where he was reconciled to the Catholic Church and entered the English College. He completed his studies for a Bachelor of Divinity and was ordained a sub-deacon.
Jesuit Vocation and Mission to England
In 1573, Campion traveled to Rome and joined the Society of Jesus, beginning his novitiate in Brünn. He was ordained a deacon and priest by the Archbishop of Prague and spent six years teaching rhetoric and philosophy at the Jesuit college in Prague. In 1580, he was chosen for the Jesuit mission to England, a strictly forbidden undertaking. Campion entered England disguised as a jewel merchant and began his ministry, preaching and administering sacraments to Catholics. His presence and activities, including the clandestine printing of his pamphlet 'Decem Rationes' ('Ten Reasons'), drew the attention of the authorities.
Imprisonment, Trial, and Execution
Campion was arrested at Lyford Grange in Berkshire, betrayed by a spy. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London, subjected to questioning and torture. Despite facing accusations of high treason, he maintained his faith and defended his mission. His trial took place on 20 November 1581, where he and his fellow defendants were found guilty. On 1 December 1581, Edmund Campion was executed at Tyburn, hanged, drawn, and quartered at the age of 41.
Veneration and Legacy
Edmund Campion was beatified by Pope Leo XIII in 1886 and canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1970 as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales. His feast day is celebrated on December 1st. The ropes used in his execution are preserved at Stonyhurst College, serving as a reminder of his martyrdom and faith.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Edmund Campion born and where?
Edmund Campion was born in London on January 25, 1540. He was the son of a bookseller in Paternoster Row, near St Paul's Cathedral.
What was Edmund Campion's early education?
He received his early education at Christ's Hospital school. At the age of 13, he was chosen to make a complimentary speech when Queen Mary visited the city.
Why did Edmund Campion leave the Anglican Church?
Campion began to question Anglican teachings and was open to Catholic doctrines, though he was ordained a deacon in the Anglican Church. He struggled inwardly and left Oxford in 1569 for Ireland for private study and research.
How was Edmund Campion captured?
While ministering in England, Campion was betrayed by a spy named George Eliot, who had pretended to be a Catholic. He was captured at Lyford Grange and taken to London with an inscription on his hat identifying him as 'Campion, the Seditious Jesuit'.
What happened to Edmund Campion during his imprisonment?
Campion was imprisoned in the Tower of London, including in a cell called 'Little Ease'. He was tortured on the rack two or three times and underwent four public disputations with his Anglican adversaries.
What was Edmund Campion's sentence and execution?
He was found guilty of treason and sentenced to be hanged, drawn, and quartered. Campion was executed at Tyburn on December 1, 1581, at the age of 41.
When was Edmund Campion venerated?
Edmund Campion was beatified by Pope Leo XIII in 1886 and canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1970 as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales. His feast day is celebrated on December 1.
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