Thompson, James, Bl.
THOMPSON, JAMES, BL.
Priest, martyr; alias Hudson; b. Yorkshire; hanged at Knavesmire in York, Nov. 28, 1582. He entered the seminary at Rheims, Sept. 19, 1580. By special dispensation he received all the minor orders and was ordained priest in 12 days at Soissons in May 1581. His entry into the English mission, however, was delayed until August due to an illness. He was arrested just a year later (Aug. 11, 1582). Thompson's frank admission of his priesthood before the Council of the North amazed everyone, because he had been away from England for less than one year. Thereafter he was imprisoned, loaded with double irons. When he could no longer pay for his private cell, he was confined to the castle. On November 25 he was condemned for high treason. During his hanging three days later, he raised his hands to heaven, then beat his breast with his right hand, and finally made a great sign of cross. In spite of his sentence, he was neither disemboweled nor quartered. His remains were buried under the gallows. Thompson was beatified by Pope Leo XIII on May 13, 1895.
Feast of the English Martyrs: May 4 (England).
See Also: england, scotland, and wales, martyrs of.
Bibliography: r. challoner, Memoirs of Missionary Priests, ed. j. h. pollen (rev. ed. London 1924; repr. Farnborough 1969). j. h. pollen, Acts of English Martyrs (London 1891).
[k. i. rabenstein]