Today is the Feast of St Edmund Campion (1540-1581, Martyr. Although his Feast Day didn’t make it in the liturgical calendar, his heroic life was not left unnoticed. Edmund was born on January 25, 1540, in London. Originally raised a Catholic, he received a scholarship to St. John’s College in Oxford. He was a very popular and brilliant young student. In fact, Edmund was chosen to deliver a welcoming speech to Queen Elizabeth when she visited the college. A group of his fellow students were attracted by his happy nature and his many talents. They made him their leader. Even the queen and her chief ministers admired this attractive young man. Edmund became an Anglican deacon in 1564.

But Edmund began to have doubts about Protestantism. He went to Ireland to study. Becoming convinced of the authenticity of the Catholic Church, he considered returning to the Catholic religion. At the time, there was a persecution of Catholics in England. Edmund knew that he would lose the queen’s favor and all his chances for a great career if he chose to become a Catholic. The young man prayed and reached his decision. He would become a Catholic anyway.

After he had escaped from England, Edmund studied to become a priest. He entered the Society of Jesus. When the Holy Father decided to send some Jesuits to England, Father Campion was one of the first to go. The night before he left, one of his fellow priests wrote over his doorway: “Father Edmund Campion, martyr.” Although he knew what danger faced him, the holy priest set out cheerfully. In fact, he had many a laugh because of his disguise as a jewel merchant.

In England he preached with great success to Catholics who had to meet with him in secret. Spies of the queen’s men were everywhere trying to catch him. He wrote: “I won’t escape their hands much longer. Sometimes I read letters that say, ‘Campion has been caught!’” It was a traitor who finally brought about the Jesuit’s capture. Edmund was imprisoned in the Tower of London, where he was visited by the government officials who had been so fond of him. It seems that even Queen Elizabeth came. But none of their threats or promises could make him give up the Catholic faith. Nor could tortures break him. In spite of all his sufferings, he still defended himself and his fellow priests in such a marvelous manner that no one could answer him.

Yet the enemies of the Church condemned him anyway. Before he was put to death, St. Edmund forgave the man who had betrayed him. He even helped save the man’s life. St. Edmund Campion died at Tyburn gallows on December 1, 1581. He was about forty-one years old. Pope Paul VI canonized him in 1970 as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales. (iMissal, Saint a Day)

St. Edmund Campion studied his faith, was deeply convinced of its truth, and was heroic in witnessing to it. Like him, we can always try to understand our faith better. Let’s ask him for the grace to be true to our convictions and values.

In honor of him let us take time to reflect on his words and be proud of your Catholic faith.

❦  To be a Catholic is my greatest glory.

❦  His last words before he died were: “As to the treasons which have been laid to my charge, and for which I come here to suffer, I desire you all to bear witness with me that I am thereto altogether innocent…I am a Catholic man and a priest; in that Faith I have lived, and in that Faith do I intend to die. If you esteem my Religion treason, then I am guilty; as for the other treason, I never committed any, God is my judge.” 

St. Edmund Campion, pray for us.

St. Clare, pray for us.

St. Joseph, pray for us.

Hail Mary full of grace…

Peace in Christ,

Father Vincent-Vuong Nguyen

St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church

Houston, TX