CORTENOVIS, GHERARDO

CORTENOVIS, GHERARDO. - Missionary of the Barnabite Order, Apostolic Vicar of Ava and Pegu, b. at Bergamo on 28 Oct. 1729; entered the Barnabite Order in 1748, he first taught philosophy at Arpino, where he had as a pupil the Bl. F. M. Bianchi (q.v.), then nautical science at Finale and theology at Asti and Thonon (Savoy). In 1764, together with Frs. M. Carpani (q.v.), A. Miconi, and F. Re, he set out for the Barnabite mission in Burma. He first worked at Monla, where he built a seminary, soon destroyed by the bonzes, and from 1774 at Rangoon. After the death (1776) of Abp. Percoto (q.v.), he succeeded him in directing the mission, but, afflicted by malarial fever, on his return from Mylapore—where he had been consecrated bishop and was preparing to evangelize the Nicobar Islands—he died on a small island in that archipelago on 5 May 1780.