Gabriel Gifford
OSB (also known as
Dom Dom or DOM may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Dom (given name), including fictional characters
* Dom (surname)
* Dom La Nena (born 1989), stage name of Brazilian-born cellist, singer and songwriter Dominique Pinto
* Dom people, an et ...
Gabriel of St Mary or french: Gabriel de Sainte-Marie) (1554 – 11 April 1629) was an English
Roman Catholic
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...
Benedictine
, image = Medalla San Benito.PNG
, caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal
, abbreviation = OSB
, formation =
, motto = (English: 'Pray and Work')
, foun ...
monk
A monk (, from el, μοναχός, ''monachos'', "single, solitary" via Latin ) is a person who practices religious asceticism by monastic living, either alone or with any number of other monks. A monk may be a person who decides to dedica ...
who became
Archbishop of Reims
The Archdiocese of Reims (traditionally spelt "Rheims" in English) ( la, Archidiœcesis Remensis; French: ''Archidiocèse de Reims'') is a Latin Church ecclesiastic territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in France. Erected as a diocese ...
.
Life
Born William Gifford in
Hampshire
Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants) is a ceremonial county, ceremonial and non-metropolitan county, non-metropolitan counties of England, county in western South East England on the coast of the English Channel. Home to two major English citi ...
to John Gifford, Esq., of Weston-under-Edge,
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire ( abbreviated Glos) is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn and the entire Forest of Dean.
The county town is the city of Gl ...
, and his wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir George Throckmorton, Knight of
Coughton, Warwickshire
Coughton is a small village located between Studley to the North and Alcester, to the South, in the county of Warwickshire, England. The village lies from Birmingham on the Birmingham–Alcester A435 road, which here follows the line of the ...
,
[Wood 1815] he was sent to Oxford in 1569, where he was entrusted to the care of
John Bridgewater
John Bridgewater was an English clerical historian of the Catholic Confessors under Queen Elizabeth I.
Biography
Bridgewater was born in Yorkshire about 1532; died probably at Trier, about 1596. He proceeded M. A. at Oxford University in 1556, wa ...
, President of
Lincoln College, who was a Catholic at heart.
Gifford remained at Oxford for about four years, part of which time he spent in the celebrated boarding school kept by the Catholic physician, Dr Etheridge, where he had been placed on the compulsory retirement of Bridgewater for refusal to conform. After that period, Gifford, accompanied by his tutor, proceeded to the
Catholic University of Louvain
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
(1573), resumed there his studies, and took the degree of
Master of Arts
A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...
.
After having also obtained his
baccalaureate Baccalaureate may refer to:
* ''Baccalauréat'', a French national academic qualification
* Bachelor's degree, or baccalaureate, an undergraduate academic degree
* English Baccalaureate, a performance measure to assess secondary schools in England ...
in theology on the completion of a four-year course in that science under
Cardinal
Cardinal or The Cardinal may refer to:
Animals
* Cardinal (bird) or Cardinalidae, a family of North and South American birds
**''Cardinalis'', genus of cardinal in the family Cardinalidae
**''Cardinalis cardinalis'', or northern cardinal, the ...
Robert Bellarmine
Robert Bellarmine, SJ ( it, Roberto Francesco Romolo Bellarmino; 4 October 1542 – 17 September 1621) was an Italian Jesuit and a cardinal of the Catholic Church. He was canonized a saint in 1930 and named Doctor of the Church, one of only ...
, Gifford was forced to quit
Leuven
Leuven (, ) or Louvain (, , ; german: link=no, Löwen ) is the capital and largest city of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located about east of Brussels. The municipality itself comprises the historic ...
owing to the disturbances in the
Low Countries
The term Low Countries, also known as the Low Lands ( nl, de Lage Landen, french: les Pays-Bas, lb, déi Niddereg Lännereien) and historically called the Netherlands ( nl, de Nederlanden), Flanders, or Belgica, is a coastal lowland region in N ...
.
Gifford pursued his ecclesiastical studies at Paris, at the
University of Reims
The University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne (; URCA), also known simply as the University of Reims, is a public university based in Reims, France.
In addition to the main campus in Reims, the university has several campuses located throughout t ...
, which he visited (1577) at the invitation of
Cardinal
Cardinal or The Cardinal may refer to:
Animals
* Cardinal (bird) or Cardinalidae, a family of North and South American birds
**''Cardinalis'', genus of cardinal in the family Cardinalidae
**''Cardinalis cardinalis'', or northern cardinal, the ...
William Allen William Allen may refer to:
Politicians
United States
*William Allen (congressman) (1827–1881), United States Representative from Ohio
*William Allen (governor) (1803–1879), U.S. Representative, Senator, and 31st Governor of Ohio
*William ...
, and at the
English College at Rome
The Venerable English College (), commonly referred to as the English College, is a Catholic seminary in Rome, Italy, for the training of priests for England and Wales. It was founded in 1579 by William Allen on the model of the English College, ...
, to which he was admitted as a student on 15 September 1579. Having been ordained priest in March 1582, he was recalled to Reims by Allen to be the professor of theology at the English College there.
The degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred on Gifford in December 1584 by the Jesuit University of
Pont-Ã -Mousson
Pont-Ã -Mousson () is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France. Its inhabitants are known as ''Mussipontains'' in French. It is an industrial town (mainly steel industry), situated on the river Moselle. Pont-Ã -Mouss ...
(now the
University of Nancy
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, th ...
), after which, returning to Reims, Gifford taught theology at intervals for nearly twelve years. Upon Allen's elevation to the cardinalate, Gifford accompanied him to Rome in the capacity of chaplain, and it is said that during this visit he resided for a time in the household of
Charles Borromeo
Charles Borromeo ( it, Carlo Borromeo; la, Carolus Borromeus; 2 October 1538 – 3 November 1584) was the Archbishop of Milan from 1564 to 1584 and a cardinal of the Catholic Church. He was a leading figure of the Counter-Reformation combat a ...
. About this time (1597) Gifford was appointed to the deanery of
Lille
Lille ( , ; nl, Rijsel ; pcd, Lile; vls, Rysel) is a city in the northern part of France, in French Flanders. On the river Deûle, near France's border with Belgium, it is the capital of the Hauts-de-France Regions of France, region, the Pref ...
, which office
Pope Clement VIII
Pope Clement VIII ( la, Clemens VIII; it, Clemente VIII; 24 February 1536 – 3 March 1605), born Ippolito Aldobrandini, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 2 February 1592 to his death in March 1605.
Born ...
conferred on him at the urging, it is alleged, of the
Archbishop of Milan
The Archdiocese of Milan ( it, Arcidiocesi di Milano; la, Archidioecesis Mediolanensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Italy which covers the areas of Milan, Monza, Lecco and Varese. It has l ...
. This dignity he retained for about ten years, and, after his withdrawal from Lille (c. 1606), he was made "Rector magnificus" of
Reims University
The University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne (; URCA), also known simply as the University of Reims, is a Lists of universities in France, public university based in Reims, France.
In addition to the main campus in Reims, the university has seve ...
. In 1608, Gifford, who had always esteemed the
Benedictines
, image = Medalla San Benito.PNG
, caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal
, abbreviation = OSB
, formation =
, motto = (English: 'Pray and Work')
, foun ...
, and befriended them in many ways, took the habit of that order under the
religious name
A religious name is a type of given name bestowed for a religious purposes, and which is generally used in such contexts.
Christianity
Catholic Church Baptismal name
In baptism, Catholic Church, Catholics are given a Christian name, which should ...
of Gabriel of St Mary and subsequently became
prior
Prior (or prioress) is an ecclesiastical title for a superior in some religious orders. The word is derived from the Latin for "earlier" or "first". Its earlier generic usage referred to any monastic superior. In abbeys, a prior would be l ...
of the Monastery of St. Lawrence at
Dieulouard
Dieulouard (; formerly Dieulwart) is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France. Dieulouard is located between Pont-Ã -Mousson and Nancy, on the left bank of the Moselle. It is the location of the Gallo-Roman city of ...
(Dieulewart), now
Ampleforth Abbey
Ampleforth Abbey is a monastery of Benedictine monks a mile to the east of Ampleforth, North Yorkshire, England, part of the English Benedictine Congregation. It claims descent from the pre-Reformation community at Westminster Abbey through th ...
in England.
In 1611, Gifford was sent to
Brittany
Brittany (; french: link=no, Bretagne ; br, Breizh, or ; Gallo language, Gallo: ''Bertaèyn'' ) is a peninsula, Historical region, historical country and cultural area in the west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known ...
to lay the foundation of a small community of his order at
St. Malo. He was favourably received by the bishop, and a chair of divinity was assigned to him. He was one of the nine
definitor
{{Catholic Church hierarchy sidebar, Administrative and pastoral titles
In the Catholic Church, a definitor (Latin for 'one who defines') is a title with different specific uses. There are secular definitors, who have a limited amount of oversight ...
s chosen in 1617 to arrange the terms of union among the Benedictine congregations in England; he was elected first president of the province in May of the same year. In 1618, Gifford was consecrated
coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop (or bishop coadjutor) is a bishop in the Catholic, Anglican, and (historically) Eastern Orthodox churches whose main role is to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese. The coadjutor (literally, "co ...
to Cardinal
Louis III, Cardinal of Guise
Louis de Lorraine known as the ''Cardinal de Guise'' (22 January 1575 – 21 June 1621, Saintes, Charente-Maritime, Saintes) was the third son of Henry I, Duke of Guise and Catherine of Cleves.
Life
His ecclesiastical post was entirely a sinecure ...
, Archbishop of Reims, with the
titular title of Bishop of Arcadiopolis in Thrace. On the death of Guise, he succeeded to the archbishopric, becoming also, by virtue of his office, Duke of Reims and First Peer of France. Concerning his administration of Reims, Joseph Bergin has written,
"Despite vast experience, he was too old by 1622 to achieve much in
hebadly neglected diocese."
Works
Before Guifford's death, which occurred in 1629 at
Reims
Reims ( , , ; also spelled Rheims in English) is the most populous city in the French department of Marne, and the 12th most populous city in France. The city lies northeast of Paris on the Vesle river, a tributary of the Aisne.
Founded by ...
, he had acquired a high reputation as a preacher. His writings include:
*"Oratio Funebris in exequiis venerabilis viri domini Maxæmiliani Manare præpositi ecclesiæ D. Petri oppidi Insulensis" (Douai, 1598);
*"Orationes diversæ" (Douai);
*"Calvino-Turcismus", etc. (Antwerp, 1597 and 1603).
The latter work, begun by Dr. Reynolds, Clifford completed and edited. He translated from the French of
Fronto-Ducæus, S.J., "The Inventory of Errors, Contradictions, and false Citations of Philip Mornay, Lord of Plessis and Mornay". He also wrote, at the request of the
Duke of Guise
Count of Guise and Duke of Guise (pronounced ¡É¥iz were titles in the French nobility.
Originally a seigneurie, in 1417 Guise was erected into a county for René, a younger son of Louis II of Anjou.
While disputed by the House of Luxembourg (1 ...
, a treatise in favour of the
Ligue
The Catholic League of France (french: Ligue catholique), sometimes referred to by contemporary (and modern) Catholics as the Holy League (), was a major participant in the French Wars of Religion. The League, founded and led by Henry I, Duke of ...
.
The "Sermones Adventuales" (Reims, 1625) were a Latin rendering by Gifford of discourses originally delivered in French. He assisted Dr.
Anthony Champney Anthony Champney (c. 1569 in England – c. 1643 in England) was an English Roman Catholic priest and controversialist.
Life
He studied at Reims (1590) and Rome (1593). As priest he was imprisoned at Wisbech Castle, and was active against the J ...
in his "Treatise on the Protestant Ordinations" (Douai, 1616); other of Gifford's MSS. were destroyed in the burning of the monastery at Dieulouard in 1717.
Notes
References
*''Douay College: The First and Second Diaries of the English College, Douay and an Appendix of Unpoublished Documents'', ed. T. F. Knox. Records of the English Catholics under the Penal Laws, vol. I (London, 1878)
*
*
* Essays an orderly narration of the events in Gifford's life.
Further reading
*
*Marlot, Histoire de Rheims, IV (1846), 450 535 sqq.;
*Snow, Benedictine Chronology, 37;
*Duthilloeul, Bibliographie Douaisienne (Douai, 1842), 46-47 (no. 119);
*Lewis Owen, Running Register (1626), 91:
*
John Pits
John Pitts (also Pits, Pitseus) (1560 – 17 October 1616) was an English Roman Catholic scholar and writer.
Life
Pitts was born in Alton, Hampshire in 1560 and attended Winchester College. From 1578 to 1580 he studied at New College, Oxfor ...
, ''De Angliæ Scriptoribus'', 809;
*
S. R. Gardiner
Samuel Rawson Gardiner (4 March 1829 – 24 February 1902) was an English historian, who specialized in 17th-century English history as a prominent foundational historian of the Puritan revolution and the English Civil War.
Life
The son of ...
, History of England, I, 140;
*
Ralph Weldon
Ralph Weldon (baptised 1606 – 1676) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1654 to 1656. He fought in the Parliamentary army in the English Civil War.
Weldon was the son of Sir Anthony Weldon of Swanscombe, Kent. He wa ...
, ''Chron. Notes'', 105, 159.
*
*
*Ropartz, S. (1877). "Un livre de controverse contre les Calvinistes," (one of Gifford's books)
For a more intimate insight into certain phases of Gifford's character, see
*Butler in ''
The Month
''The Month'' was a monthly review, published from 1864 to 2001, which, for almost all of its history, was owned by the English Province of the Society of Jesus and was edited by its members.
History
''The Month'', founded and edited by Frances M ...
'', CIII (1904);
*
John Hungerford Pollen, ibid. (1904);
*Knox, Letters of Card. Allen (1882);
*private documents and letters, some of which are published in the ''Appendix Documentorum Ineditorum'' (Douay Diaries), xxii (326), lxi (395), etc.;
*
Charles Dodd
Hugh Tootell (1671/72 – 27 February 1743) was an English Catholic historian. He is commonly known under his pseudonym Charles Dodd.
Life
Tootell was born in Lancashire. He was tutored by his uncle, Christopher Tootle, before studying with ...
, ''Church Hist. of England'', ed. Tierney (London, 1839), II.
;Attribution
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gifford, Gabriel
1554 births
1629 deaths
Clergy from Hampshire
English expatriates in France
Old University of Leuven alumni
Nancy-Université alumni
16th-century English Roman Catholic priests
Academic staff of Reims University (1548–1793)
English Benedictines
Benedictine priors
Archbishops of Reims
Benedictine bishops
17th-century Roman Catholic archbishops in France
17th-century peers of France