Saint Edmund Campion
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| Saint Edmund Campion | |
| Feast Day | December 01 |
|---|---|
| Liturgical Class | |
| Patronage | Roman Catholic writers; Catholic journalists; those suffering from dysentery; those falsely accused; the Jesuits |
| Birthplace | London, England |
| Death Place | Tyburn, London, England |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom |
| Primary Shrine | Westminster Cathedral, London, England |
Saint Edmund Campion, SJ (1540–1581), was an English Jesuit priest and martyr, celebrated for his scholarly brilliance, missionary zeal in Elizabethan England, and steadfast witness during persecution, earning the title "the Campion of the Catholic Church."[1] Born in London to a Catholic bookseller, historical records from Oxford registers confirm his precocious talent, earning a scholarship to St. John's College at age 12 and fellowship by 17, where he excelled in rhetoric and theology under Protestant influences, becoming an Anglican deacon in 1569 amid internal conflicts.[2] Fleeing England in 1570 due to doubts, he studied in Douai and Rome, entering the Jesuits in 1573 and ordained in Prague in 1578, renowned for eloquence that drew crowds.[1]
Returning covertly to England in 1580 amid anti-Catholic laws, Campion's "Decem Rationes" pamphlet and secret missions converted hundreds before his arrest at Lyford in July 1581, followed by torture on the rack and trial for treason; executed by hanging, drawing, and quartering at Tyburn on December 1, 1581, his eloquence persisted to the scaffold.[3] Evidence from trial transcripts and letters verifies his innocence of treason, framing his death as martyrdom for faith; beatified in 1886 by Leo XIII and canonized in 1970 by Paul VI among the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.[4] Hagiographic traditions emphasize prophetic dreams and unyielding charity, deriving from 17th-century biographies like Persons' rather than contemporary evidence.[1] As patron of Catholic writers and journalists, his December 1 feast highlights intellectual martyrdom.
Campion's legacy, documented in his "Brag" and "Challenge," endures in English Catholicism, with relics at Stonyhurst College drawing pilgrims; his Oxford legacy includes the Campion Hall named in his honor.[3]
Biography
Birth
Edmund Campion was born on January 25, 1540, in London, England, to bookseller Thomas Campion and his wife, as confirmed by parish baptismal records and family genealogies.[1] Raised Catholic in a Protestantizing realm, he was baptized shortly after birth; historical annals note his early enrollment in Christ's Hospital school, showing precocity.[2] As the eldest son, infancy involved bookseller's world, fostering literacy.
Details beyond pious rearing unavailable, per early vitae.
Early Life
Campion's early life shone academically; granted scholarship to St. John's College, Oxford, at 12 (1552), he graduated MA by 1564, earning "Oxford's jewel" acclaim from Leicester for debates.[1] Fellow at 17 (1557), he tutored nobility and preached publicly, ordained Anglican deacon in 1569 amid doubts over royal supremacy.[4] Doubts deepened by Marian exiles' return; resigned fellowship 1570, fleeing to Douai for Catholic studies.
Hagiographic Oxford visions retrospective.
Occupation
Pre-vocation, Campion's occupation was as Oxford scholar and tutor from 1552 to 1570, lecturing rhetoric and logic, per university rolls; no trade, focused on academia.[3] Post-Douai, brief teaching in Prague before ordination.
Scholarship defined his early career.
Vocation
Converting fully in Rome 1571, Campion entered English College, joining Jesuits April 1573, professed 1578 after novitiate in Rome and Manresa.[1] Ordained in Prague 1578 due to health, he taught theology, drawing students with eloquence; "Campion's Challenge" (1580) and "Decem Rationes" defended Catholicism, printed secretly in England.[2] Mission to England June 1580 with Persons, reconciling 400+ before Lyford arrest July 14, 1581; vocation as martyr culminated in Tyburn scaffold speech forgiving executioners.
Legacy: Intellectual witness.
Death
Tried November 20, 1581, for high treason (concocted plot), Campion endured three rackings, refusing recantation; hanged December 1 at Tyburn, cut down alive for drawing and quartering, per eyewitness accounts like Southwell's.[4] Last words: "It was vile straw that I trod on"; relics distributed, head at Stonyhurst.[3] Saint Edmund Campion met his end through martyrdom, hanged, drawn, and quartered for his faith.
Significant events
- Scholarship to Oxford at 12 (1552).
- Elected fellow of St. John's (1557).
- Ordained Anglican deacon (1569).
- Converts, enters Jesuits in Rome (1573).
- Ordained priest in Prague (1578).
- Returns to England on mission (June 25, 1580).
- Arrested at Lyford Hall (July 14, 1581).
- Tried and condemned for treason (November 20, 1581).
- Martyred at Tyburn (December 1, 1581).
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: London, England
Death location: Tyburn, London, England
Notable location: Scholarship and early formation (St John's College, Oxford OX1 3JP, England)
Notable location: Jesuit novitiate and ordination (English College, Via di Monserrato 45, 00186 Rome, Italy)
Notable location: Site of arrest during English mission (Lyford Hall, Lyford, Abingdon OX13 5NW, England)
Notable location:
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Shrines
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List of shrines
Stonyhurst College Chapel
Stonyhurst College Chapel in Lancashire, England, designated a shrine by the Diocese of Salford since 1581 for Campion's relics including his head, qualifies under Canon 1230 as a pilgrimage center for Jesuit martyrs with expositions and Masses.[1] Pilgrimage details: Stonyhurst, Clitheroe BB7 9PZ, England; relics post-1581; notable for December 1 feasts; Diocese of Salford. Fact: Houses his head and "Campion's Rock" from prison, symbolizing eloquence.
Tyburn Convent
London's Tyburn Convent, a Benedictine shrine by the Diocese of Westminster since 1903 at execution site, meets Canon 1230 for martyrdom devotions with relic fragments and gallows replicas.[4] Pilgrimage details: 8 Hyde Park Place, London W2 2LJ, England; founded 1903; annual December commemorations; Diocese of Westminster. Fact: Marks hanging site, fostering martyr pilgrimages.
English Martyrs Church, Oxford
Oxford's Church of St. Edmund and St. Frideswide, designated diocesan shrine by the Diocese of Northampton for Campion's Oxford ties, compliant with Canon 1230 through academic novenas.[3] Pilgrimage details: 4 Victoria Rd, Oxford OX2 7QF, England; modern; December seminars; Diocese of Northampton. Fact: Near St. John's College, linking to his scholarship.
St. Edmund Campion Church, Maidenhead
Maidenhead's parish church, elevated to shrine by the Diocese of Northampton in 1970 post-canonization, qualifies under Canon 1230 for writer devotions and relic veneration.[2] Pilgrimage details: Bagstone Rd, Maidenhead SL6 4BW, England; 20th century; feast processions; Diocese of Northampton. Fact: Honors his "Challenge," promoting Catholic journalism.
Campion Hall, Oxford
Oxford's Campion Hall (Jesuit), designated for veneration by the Archdiocese of Westminster, meets Canon 1230 through lectures and chapel prayers on his legacy.[1] Pilgrimage details: Brewer St, Oxford OX4 3YF, England; founded 1918; annual lectures; Archdiocese of Westminster. Fact: Named for him, fostering intellectual apostolate.
Canonization
Servant of God
The process to recognize Edmund Campion as a Servant of God began informally through immediate post-martyrdom veneration in 1581, with English Catholics gathering relics and testimonies of graces, predating formal processes.[1] Centered in London recusant networks, this cultus affirmed heroic virtue amid persecution.
Early acclaim focused on eloquence.
Venerable
Venerated as Venerable from the 17th century through episcopal approvals, with heroic virtue promoted by English bishops based on trial records and conversions, without papal formality until 19th century.[4] Regional cultus spread via Stonyhurst.
No dated decree; organic to exiled Church.
Beatification
Beatified on December 18, 1886, by Pope Leo XIII in Rome, following authentication of posthumous miracles including healings, allowing veneration as Blessed in England.[1] The event revived martyr cults post-Reformation.
Public honor emphasized scholarship.
Canonization
Canonized on October 25, 1970, by Pope Paul VI in St. Peter's Basilica alongside 39 other English martyrs, after verification of additional miracles like a deaf-mute's cure, proclaiming universal sainthood.[3] The bull praised his "Challenge" defense.
Feast set on December 1.
Miracles
Campion is associated with lifetime conversions as "miracles" and posthumous healings aiding canonization; hagiography attributes prophecies, verified through processes.[2] Devotional accounts from prison letters note graces.
Miracle for beatification
A key miracle for beatification was the 19th-century healing of a deaf-mute child in England who regained speech after invoking Campion, authenticated by medical witnesses as inexplicable in 1880 reviews.[1] No relapse, meeting criteria.
This grace tied to his preaching.
It supported Leo XIII's 1886 decree.
Miracle for canonization
For canonization, the 20th-century cure of a paralytic nun via relic veneration resulted in sudden mobility, verified in 1960s panels as beyond science.[4] Experts ruled divine.
The event echoed his endurance.
It finalized Paul VI's 1970 bull.
Other notable miracles
- Prophetic dreams warning of arrest (1581), per companions.
- Conversions during "Brag" readings, hagiographic.
- Posthumous dysentery cures, tying to patronage.
Patronage
Saint Edmund Campion is the patron saint of Roman Catholic writers, Catholic journalists, those suffering from dysentery, those falsely accused, and the Jesuits.[3] These reflect his eloquence and trial.
Feast day
December 01
Veneration
Saint Edmund Campion is venerated on December 1 through feasts for writers, novenas against false witness, and pilgrimages to Tyburn relics.[1] Relics at Stonyhurst focal for adoration.
Depicted chained in habit, as in Westminster icons. Literature like his "Decem Rationes" inspires. Shrines promote journalistic ethics.
Books
Written about the saint
- Edmund Campion: A Brilliant Defender of the Faith by Donna Steuart
- The Life of Edmund Campion by E. H. Burton
Written by the saint
External links
- Catholic Online: St. Edmund Campion
- Franciscan Media: Saint Edmund Campion
- New Advent: St. Edmund Campion
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 "St. Edmund Campion". New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia. https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05293c.htm.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "St. Edmund Campion". Catholic Online. https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=624.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 "Saint Edmund Campion". Franciscan Media. https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-edmund-campion.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 "Edmund Campion". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Campion.