Saint Justin de Jacobis

Life story

He was born on 9 October 1800 at San Fele in the Kingdom of Naples. In 1818 he entered the Vincentian Congregation of the Mission and was ordained a priest in 1824. For his first years he worked in pastoral ministry in southern Italy, known for his preaching and care for the poor.

In 1839 the Holy See appointed him the first prefect apostolic of Ethiopia (Abyssinia) and he set out for it. Rather than creating communities in opposition to the local Ethiopian Church, he chose a close way of life, learned the language and rites, and opened a seminary to train local priests. One of his best-known collaborators was the Orthodox monk Ghebre Michael, who became Catholic, was ordained a priest, and helped him write a catechism.

In 1847 he was named titular bishop of Nilopolis and vicar apostolic, and he was consecrated in secret in 1849. He faced heavy pressure, expulsion and obstruction, while Ghebre Michael was imprisoned and died of mistreatment, and was beatified in 1926. Justin died of fever on 31 July 1860 in what is now Eritrea. He was beatified in 1939 and canonised on 26 October 1975. His memorial is 31 July.

Works and witness

• Vincentian priest from 1824
• First prefect apostolic of Ethiopia in 1839
• Opened a seminary for native priests
• Wrote a catechism with the monk Ghebre Michael
• Beatified in 1939 and canonised in 1975

Saints from the same country

Saint Agnes, Saint Lawrence, Saint Cecilia, Saint Sebastian

References

• Pope Paul VI, canonisation of Justin de Jacobis, 26 October 1975 (Vatican)
• Congregation of the Mission, biography of Saint Justin de Jacobis
• Martyrologium Romanum

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.