Saint José de Anchieta

His life:

+ Born in Spain in 1534, José entered the Society of Jesus at Coimbra, Portugal, in 1551. Two years later he was sent to the remote Brazilian mission of Quisininga.

+ In 1567, he was appointed superior of the Jesuit Province of Brazil. During his 44 years in Brazil he learned the native languages, composed catechisms, and founded the mission of Sao Paolo.

+ Known as a miracle-worker, José was also a great scholar and founded the first “classical school” in the New World. He used drama and poetry as tools for evangelization and at his death in 1597, he was acclaimed as having been an exceptional missionary, a fact attested to by the great numbers of local tribesmen who attended his funeral.

+ José de Anchieta, the great “apostle of Brazil,” was canonized in 2014.

For prayer and reflection:

“[Saint José] had felt Jesus Christ’s gaze resting on him, and he let him fill him with joy, and he chose the light. This was, and is, his holiness. He did not fear the joy.”—Pope Francis

Prayer

Almighty ever-living God, who have made sacred this day's rejoicing at the glorification of blessed José de Anchieta, graciously grant that we may strive always to keep and to put into practice the faith which, with unquenchable zeal, he strove to proclaim. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal: Common of Pastors—For Missionaries)

Saint profiles prepared by Father Silas Henderson, S.D.S.