Blessed Jan Beyzym
Polish Jesuit who served people with leprosy in Madagascar
- Rank
- Blessed
- Kind
- Priest, Missionary, Religious
- Life
- 1850 – 1912
- Era
- 20th century
- Feast
- 12 October
- Countries
- Ukraine, Madagascar
Life story
Jan Beyzym was born on 15 May 1850 at Beyzymy Wielkie, now in Ukraine. After finishing his schooling in Kiev at the age of 22 he entered the Jesuit novitiate at Stara Wieś on 10 December 1872 and was ordained in Kraków on 26 July 1881. For 17 years he worked as an educator in Jesuit schools at Tarnopol and Chyrów.
He wished to serve people with leprosy and asked to go on mission. In 1898, at the age of 48, he left for Madagascar and was assigned to the leprosarium at Ambahivoraka near Antananarivo.
In 1903 he moved to Marana, near Fianarantsoa, to build a hospital for people with leprosy, with financial help from Poland. It was inaugurated on 16 August 1911.
He died on 2 October 1912 at Fianarantsoa in Madagascar, at the age of 62. Pope John Paul II beatified him on 18 August 2002 at Kraków during a visit to Poland.
Works and witness
- Ordained in Kraków on 26 July 1881
- Taught 17 years in Jesuit schools at Tarnopol and Chyrów
- Went to Madagascar in 1898 and served a leprosarium near Antananarivo
- Built the leprosy hospital at Marana, inaugurated 16 August 1911
- Died in 1912; beatified on 18 August 2002
Saints from the same country
References
- Holy See: biography of Bl. Jan Beyzym for the beatification of 18 August 2002 (vatican.va, ns_lit_doc_20020818_beyzym_en)
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.