This article is different from the others I have written so far: it is a book recommendation. The book in question is the autobiography of the Jesuit priest John Gerard (1564-1637).
Two well-known memoirs written by priests who served during the period of communist persecution are those of Cardinal Mindszenty, former Archbishop of Esztergom (“Emlékirataim,” “Memoirs”), and Dominic Tang, former Apostolic Administrator of Guangzhou (“How inscrutable his ways!”).
The autobiography of Father John Gerard is different, since the events described in the book take place in 16th-17th century England, during the Reformation and the Counter-Reformation.
The book was originally written in Latin, and its only manuscript was kept at Stonyhurst College. It was translated into English by Jesuit priest G. R. Kingdon and published in London in 1886 by Burnes and Oates. There is a newer translation available as well.
Historical context
The English Reformation broke out, when Henry VIII decided to break with the Catholic Church, because he wanted to have his valid marriage to Catherine of Aragon annulled. When the pope refused his request for an annulment, he declared himself the “head” of the “Church of England”. His successor, Queen Mary, tried to get the country back to the Catholic Church, but her successor, Queen Elizabeth, chose Protestantism again. People who stayed Catholic anyway were called “recusants” (“recusare” means “to refuse” in Latin).
In order to preserve the faith in England, three Catholic seminaries, called “English Colleges” were set up in continental Europe: one in Rome, one in Valladolid (Spain) and another one in Douai (then part of the Spanish Netherlands, now in France).
Any Catholic priest was guilty of treason simply by being in England, and the punishment for treason was hanging, drawing and quartering. Helping priests to hide was also punishable with death. This situation persisted until the end of the 17th century, after which there was more tolerance, and the anti-Catholic laws were gradually repealed from the end of the 18th century onward.
About the author
John Gerard was born into a noble family in England on October 4, 1564. He studied at the English College in Rome and returned to England in 1588, the year the Spanish Armada attacked. There was great distrust of Catholics in society and he was forced into hiding. Gerard successfully hid for eight years, traveling around in England, staying in the homes of Recusant families and celebrating Masses in private houses.
Twice during his stay in England, he successfully hid in “priest holes”, which were hiding places created for Catholic priests in private homes. Gerard was friends with Blessed Nicholas Owen, a carpenter who traveled around England and built at least a hundred priest holes for minimal pay. Owen was later caught and tortured to death.
When staying in London, Gerard adopted the persona of “Mister Thompson”, a “gentleman of moderate means”. He often played cards. Sometimes he played in public with friends who knew his real identity, with the understanding that after the game, each one would give back the money to its original owner.
One of the highlights of the book is his description of how he escaped from the famous prison known as the Tower of London. He befriended one of the jailers, and with his help and the help of others, like Owen, he climbed down on a rope and fled.
The White Tower in the Tower of London. Image by Terry Hassan in 2023, CC-BY-NC-SA 2.0, here.
After the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, the persecution of Catholics intensified, and Gerard was accused of being implicated in the plot. He managed to print flyers denying his involvement and distributed them in London. He successfully hid for 9 days in a priest hole with a small opening for food. However, staying in England became to dangerous for him, and he left the country in disguise among the entourage of the Spanish ambassador.
He went to Rome and taught at the English College. He died at the age of 72 on July 27, 1637.
There are quite a few humorous details in the book, for example when he explains that “gentlemen” like to talk about hunting.
In the book, the author mentions many martyrs who were later beatified, including Robert Southwell, a Jesuit priest and his good friend, Edward Oldcorne, another Jesuit, and Anne Line, who ran a safe house for priests. He describes her life in an entire chapter.
Gerard collected two relics. One was golden cross from Anne Line, which she left to him in her will. The other was a bag from Blessed John Rigby (who was called “Thomas Rigby” in the book).
It should be noted that the word “heretic” is used a bit too often in the book, and Father Gerard expresses himself somewhat harshly a few times. On the other hand, it is interesting to see that he calls the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury the “pseudo-archbishop of Canterbury”.