GERVASE, GEORGE, BL.

Benedictine priest and martyr; b. Bosham, Sussex, England, c. 1569–71; d. hanged, drawn, and quartered at Tyburn (London), April 11, 1608. Although born into two well-established families (Jervis and Shelly) of Suffolk, George suffered much in his short life. He was orphaned while young. Thereafter he was kidnapped to the West Indies. During his 12–year captivity, he lost his faith. Upon returning to England he learned that his brother Henry was suffering voluntary exile in Flanders so that he could continue to practice his religion. George tracked him down and was reconciled to the Church, entered the seminary at Douai (1595), and was ordained a priest at Cambrai (1603). Immediately thereafter he began his ministry in England, which was interrupted in June 1606 by arrest and banishment. After making a pilgrimage to Rome and unsuccessfully seeking admittance to the Society of Jesus, he returned to Douai, where he received the Benedictine habit at St. Gregory's. He was arrested soon after arriving in England and condemned under the statute 27 Elizabeth. Some authorities say he did not receive the Benedictine habit until a short time before his death from Fr. Augustine Bradshaw. He is the protomartyr of St. Gregory's Abbey (now Downside). He was beatified by Pius XI on Dec. 15, 1929.

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]