Saint Juan del Castillo
Spanish Jesuit missionary martyred in Paraguay in 1628
- Rank
- Saint
- Kind
- Martyr, Priest, Religious, Missionary
- Life
- 1596 – 1628
- Era
- 17th century
- Feast
- 17 November
- Countries
- Spain, Paraguay
Life story
Juan del Castillo was born on 14 November 1596 at Belmonte in the Toledo region of Spain. He studied law for a year at the University of Alcalá and entered the Jesuit novitiate in Madrid in 1614.
In 1616 he was sent to South America with Alonso Rodríguez, and the two studied theology at Córdoba. He was ordained a priest in 1623 or 1624 and worked in the mission settlements (reducciones) among the Guaraní in Paraguay, beginning at Itapúa. In 1628 Roque González invited him to help found the mission of the Assumption, on 15 August, and put him in charge of it.
His companions Roque González and Alonso Rodríguez were killed on 15 November 1628 at the mission of All Saints by men of the chieftain Nheçu (also Nezú), who opposed the missions. Nheçu's men then came for Castillo, found him praying in his room, took him into the forest and beat him to death. The Jesuit biography gives 16 November 1628; some sources say 17 November. His body was burned.
Pope Pius XI beatified all three in January 1934, and Pope John Paul II canonized them on 16 May 1988 at Asunción, Paraguay. His memorial is usually given as 17 November.
Works and witness
- Studied law, then entered the Jesuits in 1614
- Sailed to South America in 1616 and studied theology at Córdoba
- Worked in Guaraní mission settlements in Paraguay
- Put in charge of the new mission of the Assumption in 1628
- Killed in mid-November 1628; canonized on 16 May 1988
Saints from the same country
References
- Jesuits Global: 'Saint Juan del Castillo' (jesuits.global/saint-blessed/saint-juan-del-castillo)
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.