By Caroline Liberatore (Rated G)
Saint Edmund Campion is notably remembered and celebrated yearly with a feast day on December 1st. Although there are many components of his later life which we annually recall and commemorate, his entire life was remarkable upon examination. Campion distinguished himself from a young age during his upbringing in London. When he was only 13, he was chosen to acknowledge Queen Mary with an address when she first took the throne. Soon after, he was welcomed to study at St. John’s College of Oxford by its very own founder. This commenced what would be years of an influential and distinguished academic career.
Campion then moved his focus towards the Church by becoming a deacon in an Anglican Church and detangling himself from involvement at Oxford. This decision led him to move to Dublin in 1570, pursuing both academic and ecclesial endeavors. Although during this time the culture was becoming increasingly more hostile towards Catholics, this was the moment in which Campion chose to dedicate himself specifically to the Catholic Church.
Campion then made the costly decision to travel on foot to Rome in the aim to become a Jesuit. He studied fervently, eventually becoming a priest by 1578. As a Jesuit, Campion went on mission to minister to the Catholic Church in England which was meeting in secret. This eventually led to his demise, as he was exposed in his mission and arrested less than a year later. Shortly after, he was imprisoned, tortured, and martyred in the name of treason for his service to Christ and the Church.
May we, as Edmund Campion, commit our lives unto death to the mission and message of our Savior, Christ Jesus.
LogoSophia Magazine 