Blessed George Gervase
Blessed George Gervase, an English Benedictine martyr, died 400 years ago. Born at Bosham, Sussex, in 1569, he served under Sir Francis Drake in his expedition to the West Indies. But in 1603, he was ordained at Cambrai, and later became a Benedictine...
Blessed George Gervase, an English Benedictine martyr, died 400 years ago. Born at Bosham, Sussex, in 1569, he served under Sir Francis Drake in his expedition to the West Indies. But in 1603, he was ordained at Cambrai, and later became a Benedictine monk at Douai.
He returned to England, and was hanged, drawn and quartered for his priesthood at Tyburn, London, on April 11, 1608 - just over four centuries ago. Blessed George is the proto-martyr of St George's Benedictine Abbey at Douai, which was later transferred to England, at Downside, near Bath. He was beatified by Pope Pius XI in 1929.