George Gervase
| Blessed George Gervase OSB | |
|---|---|
| George Gervase in Benedictine habit. In the background depictions of his martyrdom and his burial.
George Gervase in Benedictine habit. In the background depictions of his martyrdom and his burial.
| |
| Martyr | |
| Born | c. 1569 – 1571 Bosham, Sussex, England |
| Died | 11 April 1608 (aged 37–39) Tyburn, London, England |
| Beatified | 15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI |
| Feast | 11 April |
George Gervase OSB (1571 – 11 April 1608) was an English Catholic priest of the Order of St. Benedict who worked as a missionary in England during the period of recusancy. He was martyred at Tyburn.
Life
George Gervase was born in Bosham, Sussex. He was left an orphan when he was twelve years of age, and soon after kidnapped by pirates, (probably a lieutenant of Drake, who was then buccaneering on the Spanish Main), and was taken to the West Indies with two of his brothers.[1] He remained in captivity over twelve years. He lost his Catholic faith during that period; but, when at last he was able to return to England, and found that his eldest brother Henry had become a voluntary exile in Flanders in order to be able to practice his faith, George followed him there, and was soon reconciled with the Catholic Church.
After serving as a soldier in Flanders and with the Spanish army, he entered the English College at Douai in 1595, and was ordained priest in 1603.[2] The following year, he went on the English mission, where he worked for over two years. He was arrested in June 1606, and banished with several other clergy.[3]
He then made a pilgrimage to Rome, and there endeavoured to enter the Society of Jesus, but, not being admitted, he returned to Douai, where he was clothed as a novice at the English Benedictine Congregation monastery of St. Gregory’s (now at Downside Abbey). His brother Henry had obtained for him a comfortable living near Lille, being anxious to preserve him from the persecution then raging in England. But George was determined to labour for the conversion of his native land, and succeeded in returning to England. He was soon arrested and incarcerated. Refusing to take the new oath of allegiance on account of its infringing on spiritual matters where Catholics were concerned, he was tried, convicted of the offense of being a priest, and was hanged, drawn, and quartered at Tyburn.[3]
He was beatified in 1929 by Pope Pius XI.[2]
See also
From the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia
George Gervase — (Jervise.)
Priest and martyr, born at Boscham, Suffolk, England, 1571; died at Tyburn, 11 April, 1608. His mother's name was Shelly, and both his father's and mother's families had been long established in the County of Suffolk. Losing both parents in boyhood, he was kidnapped by pirates and carried off beyond seas, remaining in captivity over twelve years. He lost his religion during that period; but, when at last he was able to return to England, and found that his brother Henry had become a voluntary exile in Flanders in order to be able to practise his religion, George followed him there, and was soon reconciled with the Church. He entered the English College at Douai in 1595, and was ordained priest in 1603. He at once went to the English mission. He laboured very successfully for over two years, but was arrested in June, 1606, and banished with several other clergy. He then made a pilgrimage to Rome, and there endeavoured to enter the Society of Jesus, but, not being admitted for some unknown reason, he returned to Douai, where he received the Benedictine habit. His brother Henry had obtained for him a comfortable living near Lille, being anxious to preserve him from the persecution then raging in England. But George was determined to labour for the conversion if his native land, and succeeded in returning to his native England, but was soon arrested and incarcerated. Refusing to take the new oath of allegiance on account of its infringing on spiritual matters where Catholics were concerned, he was tried, convicted of the offense of merely being a priest, under the statute 27 Elizabeth, and was hanged, drawn, and quartered at Tyburn. Some authorities say he did not receive the Benedictine habit until a short time before his death from Father Augustine Bradshaw.
Gillow, Bibl. Dict. Eng. Cath., s. v.; Challoner, Memoirs, II; Snow, Benedictine Necrology.
References
- Back to citation "CatholicSaints. Info » Blog Archive » Mementoes of the English Martyrs and Confessors – Venerable George Gervase, O.S.B., 1608". Retrieved 2026-02-06.
- Back to citation occurrence 2.0 Back to citation occurrence 2.1 "Living for the Future". Saint Meinrad Seminary & School of Theology. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
- Back to citation occurrence 3.0 Back to citation occurrence 3.1 "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: George Gervase". www.newadvent.org. Retrieved 2026-02-06.