Alexander Briant facts for kids
Quick facts for kids SaintAlexander Briant S.J. |
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| Priest and Martyr | |
| Born | 17 August 1556 Somerset, England |
| Died | 1 December 1581 (aged 25) Tyburn, London, England |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 29 December 1886 by Pope Leo XIII |
| Canonized | 25 October 1970 by Pope Paul VI |
| Feast | 1 December (individual) 25 October (along with Forty Martyrs of England and Wales) 29 October (one of the Douai Martyrs) |
| Attributes | noose in neck, knife in chest, martyr's palm, crown of martyrdom, crucifix |
Alexander Briant (born August 17, 1556 – died December 1, 1581) was an English Jesuit (a member of a Catholic religious order). He was a priest who was put to death in Tyburn, England, because of his faith. He is remembered as a martyr.
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Life
Alexander Briant was born in Somerset, England. He started studying at Hart Hall, Oxford (now Hertford College), when he was quite young. There, he learned from Robert Parsons. He finished his studies with Parsons at Balliol College. Being around Parsons and another person named Richard Holtby helped him decide to become a Catholic.
After leaving university, he went to the English College at Reims and then to the English College, Douai. He became a priest on March 29, 1578. In August of the next year, he was sent back to England to work as a priest in his home county of Somerset. He worked very hard there.
On April 28, 1581, people who were against Catholics were looking for Robert Parsons. Instead, they arrested Alexander Briant. Another person, Gilbert Bodey, was arrested with him. Gilbert Bodey was punished and then put in prison. He was later released and managed to escape to Reims.
Trial and Execution
Alexander Briant was taken to the Tower of London. People tried to make him share secrets by hurting him. Even during this difficult time, Briant wrote a letter asking to join the Jesuit order, which was allowed.
On November 16, 1581, he and six other priests were brought to court in Westminster. They were accused of treason, which meant being against the queen and the country. They were sentenced to death. In his letter, Alexander Briant wrote that he felt no pain during the harsh treatments he went through. He said, "Whether this that I say be miraculous or no, God knoweth."
He was 25 years old when he was executed on December 1, 1581. He suffered a lot during his execution. Edmund Campion and Ralph Sherwin were also put to death with him on that day.
Becoming a Saint
Alexander Briant was declared "blessed" (a step towards sainthood) on December 29, 1886, by Pope Leo XIII. He was later made a saint on October 25, 1970, by Pope Paul VI. He is one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales. These martyrs share a special day of remembrance on October 25. Alexander Briant's own special day is celebrated on December 1, the day he died.
A special piece of cloth called a corporal is kept at the English College in Rome. It has the names of five priests sewn into it, and Alexander Briant's name is one of them. This cloth is considered a relic because it was used by him.
See also
In Spanish: Alejandro Briant para niños
