Jan De Neve
Heist 20.08.1836 - Glasgow 28.07.1866
Jan De Neve studied at the minor seminary in Roeselare between 1855 and 1866 and was one of Gezelle’s first fifth year class students (poësis 1857-1858). His intentions to study at the English Seminary in Bruges failed. In early October 1860 De Neve then left for the seminary in Douai, but was not accepted there. He entered the Passionist order at Saint Saviour’s Retreat in Broadway (Worcestershire) where he was professed on November 12th, 1861 adopting the name P. Hubertus Benedictus Labre. On March 7th, 1862 he moved to Saint Joseph’s Retreat, Highgate (London) to study theology. Gezelle and Eugeen Van Oye visited him during Gezelle’s second journey to England, in the summer of 1862.
On June 12th, 1865 De Neve was ordained priest in St Anne’s Sutton near Liverpool. He was assigned to the Retreat of St Mungo’s monastery in Glasgow. In early December 1865 he moved from Sutton to Glasgow. He served as a priest at the hospital and died of typhus in 1866. In 1867 a description of his life and his last letter to Gezelle were published in Rond den Heerd (By the Fireside).
On June 12th, 1865 De Neve was ordained priest in St Anne’s Sutton near Liverpool. He was assigned to the Retreat of St Mungo’s monastery in Glasgow. In early December 1865 he moved from Sutton to Glasgow. He served as a priest at the hospital and died of typhus in 1866. In 1867 a description of his life and his last letter to Gezelle were published in Rond den Heerd (By the Fireside).
