St. Edmund Campion Novena
Contents
Show HideSt. Edmund Campion struggled with his faith in his early life. He had a lot of questions about it. He came home to the Catholic Church after a long period of studying. In fact, his dedication to study is one of the things he is best known for. He ended up paying the ultimate price for his faith: martyrdom.
Pray the St. Edmund Campion novena with us to ask for his intercession!
About St. Edmund Campion
St. Edmund was born in England in 1540. He excelled academically from an early age. He enrolled at the prestigious St. John’s College in Oxford at the age of 15. After graduating from college, he became a fellow and continued his studies at the university.
One of the most notable experiences from his childhood was welcoming Queen Mary. His role was to deliver a welcome address upon her arrival. He was selected from among his classmates for this honor.
Later in life, he was selected to make another welcome address before a queen. This time it was before Queen Elizabeth I. It would have lasting effects on his life and career. She was impressed by the eloquence of his speech. She was so moved by it that she introduced him to influential advisors in the government. In return, he formally recognized her as England’s authority and became an Anglican deacon.
The decision to break from Catholicism made him uneasy on an intellectual level. This uneasiness launched him into study. Through that study, he realized that the Truth was actually found in Catholic teaching. He eventually returned to the faith and moved to Ireland. St. Edmund remained in Ireland for a time and founded a university there.
Edmund’s interest in education wasn’t his only reason for going to Ireland. England was also becoming increasingly hostile towards Catholics. The excommunication of his former patron, Queen Elizabeth I, made it even more dangerous for him to be in England.
Instead, St. Edmund traveled to France. He studied the faith and decided to become a Jesuit. He had to walk barefoot to Rome to begin his studies for the priesthood. Once in Rome, he studied to become a priest. He was ordained in 1578 and taught at the Jesuit College in Prague.
After being ordained, St. Edmund was asked to join a mission to England. He refused at first, since he knew he was hated and hunted there. Finally, he agreed and set off for his home country.
Upon arriving, St. Edmund was on the run from the beginning. He would hide out in the homes of secret Catholics. He would teach and say Mass in secret. Eventually, he was betrayed and handed over to the authorities. He had only been in England for a little over a year.
The English government imprisoned and tortured him for three months before finding him guilty of treason. They sentenced him to death.
St. Edmund was brutally murdered for his faith. It wasn’t enough for his captors to simply hang him. Before his death, they also cut off his genitals and ripped out his stomach. They set fire to it and then cut off his body in pieces until he was dead. *
St. Edmund is the patron saint of the British Jesuit Province and pandemics.
St. Edmund’s Feast Day: December 1
Why Pray the St. Edmund Novena?
St. Edmund is a wonderful intercessor for all those who are studying. He is particularly inspirational for those who are studying theology or the Faith, especially at the collegiate level. His dedication to knowledge is inspirational!
Those who are struggling with questions about the Faith will also benefit from prayers to St. Edmund. He too struggled with his faith during a pivotal moment in his life. However, he ultimately chose Catholicism over a promising future. This decision cost him his life.
Finally, English Catholics can thank St. Edmund for his bravery in standing up for his faith and paving the way to tolerance of Catholicism in the country.
You can pray the St. Edmund Novena for any intention!
St. Edmund Campion Novena Prayers
St. Edmund Campion Novena - Day 1
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Edmund, there was a time in your life when you strayed from the Catholic Church. You did it out of loyalty to the queen and to rise in status.
It wasn’t long though before the Truth of the Catholic Faith called you home.
St. Edmund, I also sometimes struggle with the Faith. It can be so much easier to not be Catholic. Sometimes it’s to fit in or other times it’s simply doubt about God and the truths of the faith. How can we really believe all of these teachings? They don’t always make logical sense.
Your knowledge of the Faith is what brought you back. Please help me to also have that strong knowledge of the Faith so that it is never shaken by my doubts. Inspire me to learn more about our Creator and His promises. Bring to my mind all the times I was sure about the Faith. Remind me of God’s love for me, even when I doubt! And encourage me to use my questions as motivation to learn more.
Please also keep in mind my intentions:
(State your intentions here)
O Lord, thank you for the revelation of Yourself in the Bible. Help me come to understand and love you more every day!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Edmund Campion Novena - Day 2
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Edmund, you knew that returning to England meant you would die. Yet, you were obedient to your superiors and eventually died a horrific death because of your faith.
I pray that I will not have to die because of my faith. I ask that you give me the courage to act as you did, St. Edmund, if it is ever required of me.
However, I do know that I am called to die to myself daily. I have to die to my selfishness. I have to die to my pride. I have to die to my self-centeredness. I have to die to my sin.
Grant me the strength to oppose these forces in my life, St. Edmund. Pray for me, that I may be courageous and faithful to the end, just like you. Intercede on my behalf that I may pass this test until it comes easily. Remind me of Christ’s own sacrifice for me when I am tempted to give in to weakness. And allow my sacrifices to be a way of witnessing to others!
Please also pray for my intentions:
(State your intentions here)
O Lord, none have suffered for faith more than You! Help me to remain always grateful for Your great gift upon the cross. Grant me the grace to oppose the sins You died to save me from so I may love You better.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Edmund Campion Novena - Day 3
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Edmund, you were known for your great devotion to learning, especially about God. It was this very pursuit of knowledge and the truth that brought you back to the faith!
St. Edmund, please inspire in me a desire to learn more about God. Open up the Scriptures and the Church Fathers so that I may better understand them.
Please also intercede on behalf of all students. Inspire them to seek the Truth in their chosen subject. Provide them opportunities to study and do well on their exams.
At the same time, I also ask that you let me be a good teacher: either by trade, in my family, or simply as an evangelist. Help me to tell everyone I meet about God so that all may grow in knowledge of Him!
Finally, I also pray that you intercede on behalf of these intentions:
(State your intentions here)
God, thank You for revealing Yourself through Your creation, Your Word, and the Eucharist. Help me to come to know You better every day!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Edmund Campion Novena - Day 4
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Edmund, you certainly did some traveling in your lifetime. You took on a strenuous journey to Rome. Not only that, but you walked barefoot the whole way! Your devotion to becoming a Jesuit must have been strong. I sometimes don’t even want to walk up the stairs without complaining!
Oftentimes, when I travel, I’m so focused on where I’m headed that I forget to stop and seek. When I travel, remind me to slow down and not worry about my destination. Help me to enjoy the journey. Offer me opportunities to see God in His creation, especially in the little things.
I also pray for the safety of all travelers, especially those who are traveling soon among my family and friends. Please intercede on behalf of all modes of travel. Encourage all operators to be alert, and protect my loved ones and all people from malicious danger.
Please also keep in mind my other intentions:
(State your intentions here)
St. Edmund, pray for us and for all travelers!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Edmund Campion Novena - Day 5
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
There was a time in your life where you doubted the Faith, St. Edmund.
You exchanged your faith for allegiance to Queen Elizabeth. However, you soon realized that you had made a mistake. Your pursuit of the truth led you back to Catholicism.
There are many who question their faith daily. Sometimes that leads them to fall away from the Church. Please bring them back, St. Edmund, just as you came back. I especially ask you to help guide my family and friends who have wandered away because of their doubts.
I also ask that you intercede on behalf of all those who have questions about the Faith. Help us to find answers! If there are no answers that we can comprehend, please give us the grace of faith and surrender to God.
I also ask that you keep in mind my intentions:
(State your intentions)
O God, I know in my heart that You are true, even when my mind is not entirely convinced. Please help me to trust in You always! Jesus, I trust in You!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Edmund Campion Novena - Day 6
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Queen Elizabeth’s influence is what first caused you to turn away from the faith, St. Edmund. You had to recognize her role as the head of the Church of England to receive the benefits of that connection. When you decided to return to the Catholic faith and England, your reward was being tortured and killed for your faith.
There are many areas of the world where people are not free to practice their faith. I beg you to intercede on behalf of all those who are persecuted for their faith, St. Edmund. Reward them for their faithfulness and give them courage.
Sometimes, persecuted people have the strongest faith! Thank you for my ability to practice my faith and help me to have this same strong faith despite easier circumstances. Help me not to grow lazy because of the “easiness” of practicing my faith.
At the same time, I also ask that you pray for all those who are in authority, especially in government. Help them to uphold and protect Christian principles, especially the importance of life.
Please also intercede on behalf of my other intentions:
(State your intentions here)
Lord, You are the only true authority in heaven and on earth. Please help our earthly leaders to walk in Your ways and trust in You.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Edmund Campion Novena - Day 7
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Your ability as a public speaker was so acclaimed, St. Edmund, that you made addresses before two queens in your lifetime! One of them was so moving that Queen Elizabeth befriended you.
I’m often called upon to speak about God in my life. Yet sometimes I freeze up and don’t know what to say. I’m afraid of offending others, so I don’t say anything at all.
During those times, could you help me, St. Edmund? Help my evangelization to be clear and eloquent. Help me to do justice to our God and His laws without seeming judgmental. Help my words to always come from a place of love.
Most of all, help my evangelization to be persuasive. Provide me with solid reasons and answers to life’s questions. Allow me to always be a resource for those who want to know more about God.
Finally, help my actions and words to direct all of the glory back to God.
Please also keep in mind my intentions:
(State your intentions here)
O Lord, let my words, thoughts, and actions reflect You always!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Edmund Campion Novena - Day 8
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
You were certainly dedicated to the priesthood, St. Edmund. You walked barefoot all the way to Rome just to pursue your vocation! And then, you held to your vow of obedience and journeyed to England even though you knew death awaited you there.
St. Edmund, those in religious life are certainly under attack today. Please be with all of those in religious life, especially priests, whom the devil likes to attack the most. Protect them from all physical and spiritual harm. Stand guard at the doors to their souls, warding off temptation. Strengthen them in their vocation and help their lives to witness to God’s love.
Please also guide me in my own vocation, St. Edmund. Help me to be open to God’s will in my life and to actively listen to His call for it.
I also ask that you keep in mind my intentions:
(State your intentions here)
Thank you for the gift of vocations, God! Help my vocation to draw me ever closer to You so I may become more like Your Son every day.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Edmund Campion Novena - Day 9
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Edmund, at one time, you had fallen away from the Church. Yet, you eventually ended up dying for that very Faith you’d abandoned. That goes to show that anyone can come back!
I encounter people all the time who do not know God. They do not know how much He loves them. They think of faith as only a set of restrictive rules.
I want to show them that there is more!
I desire to tell them about God’s mercy and love. But when I have the opportunity, I get frightened or can’t find the words to say. Can you help me, St. Edmund?
Please intercede on behalf of all those who do not know God. Even more, help me to be someone who can lead them home. Grant me the grace to show God’s love to them!
At this time, I also request that you pray on my behalf for my intentions:
(State your intentions here)
O Lord, I know that You only want to love everyone. Help me to be a minister of that Divine Love to bring others to You!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.