This book was written in 1935 only five years after Waugh's conversion into the Catholic Church. It is no surprise that one of the great writers of the last century such as Evelyn Waugh would turn out a great book.Įdmund Campion is a biography of the Jesuit Saint Edmund Campion who was martyred in the aftermath of the Protestant Reformation and the increasingly severe penal laws in England. It is always good to read about the saints, but the writing of those who write on the saints is not always good. At his trial a great show of disputation of doctrine was made, but all this, according to Mr. But he had given heart to the English of his faith by surreptitious preaching and surreptitious administrations of the sacraments. He was charged with treason he had not committed treason. He was charged with sedition he had incited no rebellion. Doubtless it is true, as Evelyn Waugh adduces documentary evidence to show, that Campion was falsely convicted. From that moment on his days might fittingly be described as a progress toward the cross.
Though he knew that sooner or later his life would be forfeit, Campion, ten years before the defeat of the Spanish Armada, landed once again on English soil.
Then Rome ordered him to England to give what mental and religious sustenance he could to the persecuted brethren. "For several years Campion, of the Jesuit order and ordained priest, had been on the Continent. Readers might enjoy excerpts from Percy Hutchison's 1936 review in the New York Times: It also includes remarks by modern Waugh aficionados like Joseph Pearce and George Weigel and a new introduction by Fr. Ignatius' new hardcover edition is superbly done, with a tight binding, attractive dust jacket, high quality paper, and a very readable font. Instead, at a time when being Catholic meant persecution and an uncertain future, Campion chose not only conversion, but ordination as a Jesuit and near-certain death.
The brilliant Oxford scholar was destined for any career he chose in Elizabeth's Protestant England. Kudos to the good people of Ignatius Press for introducing new generations to Waugh's masterful biography of St.
the courageous martyr and "seditious Jesuit" Edmund Campion in his famous "Brag" I never had mind, and am strictly forbidden by our Father that sent me, to deal in any respect with matter of State or Policy of this realm, as things which appertain not to my vocation, and from which I do gladly restrain and sequester my thoughts." "My charge is, of free cost to preach the Gospel, to minister the Sacraments, to instruct the simple, to reforme sinners, to confute errors- in brief, to crie alarme spiritual against foul vice and proud ignorance wherewith many my dear Countrymen are abused.
0 kommentar(er)
