Blessed Edward James Biography
Blessed Edward James Biography, Feast Day, Date of Birth, Country of Birth, Profession, Place of Work, Date of Death, Place of Death, Beatification Date, Canonization Date |
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| Date of Birth | N/A |
|---|---|
| Country of Birth | United Kingdom of Europe |
| Matrimony/Holy Orders | Blesseds who were Not Married |
| Profession | Priest |
| Place of Work | England |
| Date of Death | 1 October 1588 |
| Place of Death | England |
| Feast Day | October 1 |
| Beatification | Beatified by 15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI |
| Canonization | Canonized by precongrigation |
| Patron Saint of | N/A |
Blessed Edward James Biography
He was born at Barton, Breaston, near Long Eaton, Derbyshire. James was educated at Derby School, St John’s College, Oxford, the English college at Rheims and the Venerable English College at Rome. Around 1583 October, James was ordained as a priest in Rome by Bishop Thomas Goldwell, the last survivor of the English bishops who had refused to accept the Protestant Reformation.
He was captured on board a ship at Littlehampton, Sussex, on 19 April 1586, with three other priests, Thomas Bramston, George Potter, and his fellow martyr, Ralph Crockett, and all were charged with being Catholic priests and coming into the realm of England, contrary to an Act of Parliament of 1584. They were sent to London and put in prison there on 27 April 1586, where they remained for more than two years without trial.
Spanish Armada failure attempted to invade England which was defeated in July and August 1588, the government of Queen Elizabeth I wanted revenge, and the priests in its custody became a target. All four of them, Ralph Crockett, James, John Oven, and Francis Edwardes, were sent for trial at Chichester on 30 September 1588. Both of them were condemned to death for being priests and entering England, but Oven then took the Oath of Supremacy, in accordance with the Act of Supremacy 1559, and was reprieved. During October 1, 1588, the other three were drawn on a hurdle to Broyle Heath, near Chichester, where Edwardes recanted and was also reprieved. James and Crocket continued to refuse to recant and to take the oath and were executed at Chichester, after absolving each other.
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