Yesterday was the Feast of Ss Edmund Campion, Ralph Sherwin, and Alexander Briant, the Martyrs of Douai or the Martyrs of Oxford. They were alumni of both.
From Fr Hunwicke's Mutual Enrichment
In the old English diocesan Calendars which preceded the 1970s, a number of admirable traitors cluster on this day or near it (depending on your view of Elizabeth Tudor ... perhaps she was the Traitor).
S Edmund Campion, S John's College and Douay; S Ralph Sherwin, Exeter College and Douay; S Alexander Briant, Hart Hall and Douay. Sometimes one or other of those three is commemorated; sometimes it is Blessed Edmund Campion and his Companions; sometimes the Blessed Martyrs of Douay College; sometimes the Blessed Martyrs of Oxford University. (Vide the old calendars for Birmingham, Portsmouth, Northampton, Westminster, Plymouth, Liverpool, Nottingham.)
December 1 1581, four hundred and forty years ago today, was the day when those three Saints died for Christ at Tyburn; omnes Oxonienses, Duacenses omnes. And, of course, all three now canonised (in 1970 by S Paul VI, a completely genuine pope, poor practised-upon poppet).
Those old calendars are now out of date (except for sedevacantists who contest the canonisations of Papa Montini), and I doubt if Arthur Roche regards their updating as the first priority on his busy daily schedule. In the spirit of Canon 19, it seems to me proper (having asked "What would the nice old Sacra Rituum Congregatio have done?") to celebrate, as a second class feast, or Greater Double, "Saint Edmund Campion and the Holy and Blessed Martyrs of Oxford University".
Come to think of it: it is probable that these three great Saints were hanged, drawn, and quartered for celebrating the 'Pian' edition of the Roman Rite (which had been taught at Douay since 1576.)
If topicality may respectfully be predicated of martyrs, these three must be jolly toppingly topical now in this saeculum pravissimum Traditionis Custodum.
In view of the CDF legislation of 2020, I think it must also now be lawful to say Mass and Office of these Saints and Blesseds even in dioceses other than those listed above. (I certainly would; I remember looking up at the list of Douay martyrs in Allen Hall and the mighty and admirable Mgr Andrew Wadsworth murmuring to me "They're all yours now".)
Ora, Ora, Ora pro nobis! Orate omnes!
In any case, led by PF, we are all surely being led far beyond mere law nowadays!
You will find no shameful Legalism, no arrogant Rigidity on this blog!!
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