The English Jesuit's life changed course suddenly when the Superior General in Rome decided to open a mission in England. Father Campion was one of the first to be assigned to it. He stopped in Rome on his way back to England and joined Father Rober Persons and Brother Ralph Emerson. They turned north and joined other recruits for the new mission at Saint Omer in Flanders. English spies in Flanders learned of their impending departure and informed the English ports of entry, who awaited their arrival. Campion and Emerson left the Continent on the evening of June 24. Campion disguised himself as a "Mr. Edmonds," a jewelry merchant. Port authorities were suspicious, but Campion answered their questions adequately and they let the merchant enter. 
The three were taken to the Tower of London on July 22, where Campion was put in a cell so small he could neither stand upright nor lie down. After three days there he was brought to Leicester house, where he met Queen Elizabeth for a second time. She offered him the opportunity to renounce his Catholic faith and become a Protestant minister, with the offer of great advancement. He refused and was returned to his cell; five days later he was tortured on the rack. He had four conferences with Anglican divines, something he himself had requested in the book rationes decem, but the disputations were inconclusive, partly because the first one was held shortly after he had been tortured. The government determined that he should be executed, but they needed a stronger charge than the fact that he was a Catholic priest. On Nov. 14, the priests were led to Westminster Hall where charges were raised against them that they had formed a conspiracy against the life of the queen, had exhorted foreigners to invade the country and had entered England with the intent of fomenting rebellion to support the invaders. At his trial six days later, Campion was asked to raise his right hand and take an oath; he was unable to do so because of recent torture, so another one of the priests had to lift his arm for him. Campion attempted to defend all the priests by pointing out their motives were religious, not political; but they were found guilty of high treason and condemned to be hanged, drawn and quartered. The priests joined in singing the Te Deum when they heard the verdict. “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy.” (Luke 21:34)
What’s your go-to remedy for drowsiness? Perhaps you set aside obligations and take a power nap so that you have more energy to devote to the task when you awaken. Maybe you drink extra coffee and keep plugging away or take a jog around the block. Perhaps you take a long look at what made you drowsy in the first place. You may end up adjusting your schedule so that you can sleep longer at night, seeing if you might be able to delegate some of the more monotonous aspects of your work.
These are all viable, logical solutions, and they may be effective in dealing with everyday drowsiness. But spiritual drowsiness calls for something more than human logic. In fact, the author of today’s first reading uses water as a powerful image of God’s power to energize and nourish us: “The angel showed me the river of life-giving water, sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb” (Revelation 22:1).
Many factors can contribute to spiritual drowsiness, and Jesus suggests two that are polar opposites to each other. One is “carousing,” a self-indulgence that deafens us to God’s call to put off sin and put on the new life of Christ. The other is “the anxieties of daily life.” This has to do with our tendency to be super-responsible—and thus get weighed down by the worries that come with all our responsibilities. As noble as this may sound, it can make us forget that all we have and are come to us as precious gifts from our heavenly Father.
So what’s the answer? Drink deeply of the river of life. If you are going to expend extra energy to fight off drowsiness, do it in prayer. Push through any sense of monotony that has crept in to your prayer life. Change your routine. Instead of sitting and meditating, stand up and sing. Recite the creed over and over again until you feel the words coming alive. Devote one prayer time a week to doing nothing but listing God’s attributes and praising him for them, one by one. Do anything that will propel you into the presence of the Lord, and let him refresh you and renew your energy.
“Holy Spirit, when I am weary, refresh me in your life-giving stream.”
Revelation 22:1-7; Psalm 95:1-7
