April 11 Blessed George Gervase

George had quite the life. Raised Catholic in England, he was kidnapped by pirates after his parents died when he was 12. He ended up on Sir Francis Drake’s ship, sailing around the world, living the sailor’s life. Upon returning to England he returned to his childhood faith. He became a priest in Flanders. He was  immediately sent on a mission to England during the time the English were killing priests. He survived two years before being arrested and banished. After a pilgrimage to Rome and joining the Benedictines, he once again returned to England. This time he was quickly arrested, sentenced to death, hanged, drawn and quarter at the Tyburn.