Gabriel Gifford
Encyclopedia
Gabriel Gifford originally William Gifford (1554 – 11 April 1629) was an English Roman Catholic churchman, a Benedictine
who became Archbishop of Reims
.
, the son of John Gifford, Esquire, of Weston-under-Edge, Gloucestershire
, and Elizabeth, daughter of Sir George Throckmorton, Knight, of Coughton, Warwickshire
. He was sent to Oxford in 1569, where he was entrusted to the care of John Bridgewater
, 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 Etheridge, whither he had been removed on the compulsory retirement of Bridgewater for refusal to conform.
After this period, Gifford, accompanied by his tutor, proceeded to the Catholic University of Louvain (1573), resumed there his studies, and took the degree of M.A. After having also obtained his baccalaureate in theology on the completion of a four year's course in that science under Cardinal Bellarmine, Gifford was forced to quit Leuven
owing to the disturbances in the Low Countries
.
He pursued his ecclesiastical studies at Paris, at Reims, which he visited (1577) at the invitation of William Allen, and at the English College at Rome, of which he was admitted a member on 15 September 1579. Having been ordained priest in March, 1582, he was recalled to Reims by Allen as professor of theology at the English College.
The degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred on him in December of 1584 at Pont-à-Mousson
in Lorraine
, after which, returning to Reims, Gifford taught theology at intervals for nearly twelve years.
On 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
. About this time (1597) Gifford was preferred to the deanery of Lille
, which office Pope Clement VIII
conferred on him at the instance, it is alleged, of the Archbishop of Milan. This dignity he retained for about ten years, and, after his withdrawal from Lille (c. 1606), he was made "rector magnificus" of Reims University
. In 1608, Gifford, who had always esteemed the Benedictines, and befriended them in many ways, took the habit of that order and subsequently became prior at Dieulouard
(Dieulewart).
In 1611, Father Gabriel of St. Mary, as Gifford was known in religion, went into Brittany
and laid 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 definitors chosen in 1617 to arrange the terms of union among the Benedictine congregations in England, of which province he was elected first president in May of the same year. In 1618, Gifford was consecrated coadjutor bishop
to Cardinal Louis III, Cardinal of Guise
, Archbishop of Reims, with the title of Episcopus Archidaliæ (Bishop of Archidal). 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.
, he had acquired a high reputation as a preacher. His writings include:
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, a treatise in favour of the Ligue.
The "Sermones Adventuales" (Reims, 1625) were a Latin rendering by Gifford of discourses originally delivered in French. He assisted Dr. Anthony Champney
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.
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
who became Archbishop of Reims
Archbishop of Reims
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Reims is an archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in France. Erected as a diocese around 250 by St. Sixtus, the diocese was elevated to an archdiocese around 750...
.
Life
He was born in HampshireHampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, the son of John Gifford, Esquire, of Weston-under-Edge, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire 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....
, and Elizabeth, daughter of Sir George Throckmorton, Knight, of Coughton, Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
. He was sent to Oxford in 1569, where he was entrusted to the care of John Bridgewater
John Bridgewater
John Bridgewater, known also as Aquapontanus, was an English clerical historian of the Catholic Confessors under Queen Elizabeth I Tudor.-Biography:...
, President of Lincoln College
Lincoln College, Oxford
Lincoln College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It is situated on Turl Street in central Oxford, backing onto Brasenose College and adjacent to Exeter 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 Etheridge, whither he had been removed on the compulsory retirement of Bridgewater for refusal to conform.
After this period, Gifford, accompanied by his tutor, proceeded to the Catholic University of Louvain (1573), resumed there his studies, and took the degree of M.A. After having also obtained his baccalaureate in theology on the completion of a four year's course in that science under Cardinal Bellarmine, Gifford was forced to quit Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
owing to the disturbances in the Low Countries
Low Countries
The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
.
He pursued his ecclesiastical studies at Paris, at Reims, which he visited (1577) at the invitation of William Allen, and at the English College at Rome, of which he was admitted a member on 15 September 1579. Having been ordained priest in March, 1582, he was recalled to Reims by Allen as professor of theology at the English College.
The degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred on him in December of 1584 at Pont-à-Mousson
Pont-à-Mousson
Pont-à-Mousson is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.Population : 14,592 . It is an industrial town , situated on the Moselle River...
in Lorraine
Lorraine (province)
The Duchy of Upper Lorraine was an historical duchy roughly corresponding with the present-day northeastern Lorraine region of France, including parts of modern Luxembourg and Germany. The main cities were Metz, Verdun, and the historic capital Nancy....
, after which, returning to Reims, Gifford taught theology at intervals for nearly twelve years.
On 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
Charles Borromeo was the cardinal archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Milan from 1564 to 1584. He was a leading figure during the Counter-Reformation and was responsible for significant reforms in the Catholic Church, including the founding of seminaries for the education of priests...
. About this time (1597) Gifford was preferred to the deanery of Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
, which office Pope Clement VIII
Pope Clement VIII
Pope Clement VIII , born Ippolito Aldobrandini, was Pope from 30 January 1592 to 3 March 1605.-Cardinal:...
conferred on him at the instance, it is alleged, of the Archbishop of Milan. This dignity he retained for about ten years, and, after his withdrawal from Lille (c. 1606), he was made "rector magnificus" of Reims University
Reims University
Reims University was one of the largest and most important universities in Europe during the Middle Ages. It was established in 1548 by papal bull, but shut down in 1793, during the French Revolution....
. In 1608, Gifford, who had always esteemed the Benedictines, and befriended them in many ways, took the habit of that order and subsequently became prior at Dieulouard
Dieulouard
Dieulouard is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France. Dieulouard is located between Pont-à-Mousson and Nancy, on the left bank of the Moselle River. It is the location of the Gallo-Roman city of Scarpone.-See also:...
(Dieulewart).
In 1611, Father Gabriel of St. Mary, as Gifford was known in religion, went into Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
and laid 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 definitors chosen in 1617 to arrange the terms of union among the Benedictine congregations in England, of which province he was elected first president in May of the same year. In 1618, Gifford was consecrated coadjutor bishop
Coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
to Cardinal Louis III, Cardinal of Guise
Louis III, Cardinal of Guise
Louis de Lorraine known as the Cardinal de Guise was the third son of Henry I, Duke of Guise and Catherine of Cleves....
, Archbishop of Reims, with the title of Episcopus Archidaliæ (Bishop of Archidal). 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.
Works
Before his death, which occurred in 1629 at ReimsReims
Reims , a city in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France, lies east-northeast of Paris. Founded by the Gauls, it became a major city during the period of the Roman Empire....
, 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, a treatise in favour of the Ligue.
The "Sermones Adventuales" (Reims, 1625) were a Latin rendering by Gifford of discourses originally delivered in French. He assisted Dr. Anthony Champney
Anthony Champney
Anthony Champney was an English Roman Catholic priest and controversialist.-Life:He studied at Reims and Rome...
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.