Saint John de Britto
Portuguese Jesuit who lived as a Tamil ascetic and was executed in 1693
- Rank
- Saint
- Kind
- Martyr, Missionary, Priest
- Life
- 1647 – 1693
- Era
- 17th century
- Feast
- 4 February
- Countries
- Portugal, India
Life story
He was born on 1 March 1647 in Lisbon into a Portuguese noble family. He entered the Jesuits in 1662 and studied at the University of Coimbra. He reached the Madurai mission in India in 1673 and worked among the Maravar people under the Tamil name Arul Anandar.
Following the method of Roberto de Nobili, he adapted how he presented Christian teaching to local culture: he wore yellow cotton robes and lived as a Tamil sannyasi, avoiding meat, eggs, fish and wine. In 1684 the Maravar ruler imprisoned him and then expelled him. From 1687 he served as procurator of the missions in Lisbon, and in 1690 he returned to India with 24 new missionaries.
A persecution launched by the Sethupathi king of Ramnad followed the conversion of a Maravar prince, which led to a dispute over his wives. John was arrested, taken to Ramnad and then to Oriyur (Orur), where he was executed on 4 February 1693.
Pope Pius IX beatified him on 21 August 1853 and Pope Pius XII canonised him on 22 June 1947. He is often cited as an example of cultural adaptation in seventeenth-century mission work.
Works and witness
- Entered the Jesuits in 1662 and reached Madurai in 1673
- Lived as a Tamil sannyasi following Roberto de Nobili
- Imprisoned and expelled in 1684
- Returned to India in 1690 with 24 missionaries
- Executed at Oriyur on 4 February 1693
Patron of
Diocese of Sivagangai (India)
Saints from the same country
References
- Martyrologium Romanum (4 February)
- Butler's Lives of the Saints, entry for 4 February
- Decrees of beatification (1853) and canonisation (1947)
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.