St. Edmund Campion

Edmund was born in London on January 25, 1540 and educated at Oxford. A brilliant student, Campion impressed Queen Elizabeth I on her visit to the school; tempted by honors he took the Oath of Supremacy, becoming an Anglican, but he soon repented this decision. He traveled to Ireland and then to the Catholic seminary in Douai, France. In 1573 he entered the Jesuits at Rome and was ordained in 1578. Completing his training he was sent back to England, hiding his identity; he worked to strengthen Catholics in their faith and draw Protestants back to the fold. He was betrayed to the English authorities in 1581, imprisoned, tortured, and tried in a sham trial for treason. He was sentenced to death on the charge of treason, although in reality it was for his priestly ministry. Edmund Campion was hung, drawn, and quartered on December 1, 1581. He was canonized as one of the Forty English and Welsh Martyrs in 1970.