Blessed Ambrose Fernandez
Blessed Ambrose Fernandez (born c. 1551 AD in Sisto, Portugal; died March 14, 1620 AD in Suzuta, Japan) was a Portuguese-born Jesuit lay brother who went as a missionary to Japan and died there after prolonged imprisonment during the Tokugawa persecution of Christians. He is among the 205 Martyrs of Japan beatified on November 24, 2008. His feast day is March 14.
Stored in Cargo: Blessed Ambrose Fernandez
| Blessed Ambrose Fernandez | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | March 14 |
| Profession | Jesuit lay brother; missionary to Japan; martyred by imprisonment |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Society of Jesus (Jesuits); Japanese Catholic martyrs tradition; 205 Martyrs of Japan; Portuguese Catholic mission |
| Patronage | Japan; Portugal; Jesuit lay brothers; those who die slowly from mistreatment in prison; missionaries in hostile territories |
| Attributes | Jesuit lay brother's dress; palm frond of martyrdom; Japanese landscape; missionary cross; Portuguese imagery |
| Birthplace | Sisto (Sisто), Portugal |
| Death Place | Suzuta, Japan |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom by exposure and starvation; died March 14, 1620, in Suzuta, Japan; he was approximately 69 years old; he had been imprisoned by the Tokugawa authorities for his Christian faith and activities as a Jesuit lay brother; after prolonged imprisonment under extremely harsh conditions (exposure to cold, starvation, denial of medical care), he died; his death from mistreatment during imprisonment is recognized as martyrdom; beatified 2008 |
| Primary Shrine | Nagasaki, Japan — Japanese Martyrs sites; March 14 feast; Jesuit veneration |
| Liturgical Class | Not in universal Roman calendar; March 14 feast in Japan and Jesuit Order |
| Historic Class | Not in 1962 calendar |
Biography
Ambrose Fernandez was born c. 1551 in Portugal. He entered the Society of Jesus as a lay brother and went as a missionary to Japan, where he served in the Jesuit mission for many years.
As the Tokugawa persecution of Christians intensified in the 1610s, Fernandez was arrested for his Christian activities. He was subjected to prolonged imprisonment under harsh conditions — exposure, starvation, and denial of care. He died on March 14, 1620, at Suzuta, Japan, as a result of this mistreatment at approximately 69 years of age.
He was beatified among the 205 Martyrs of Japan at Nagasaki on November 24, 2008.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Sisto (Sisто), Portugal
Death location: Suzuta, Japan
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Feast day
March 14
Veneration
Blessed Ambrose Fernandez was a Portuguese Jesuit lay brother who died from harsh imprisonment during the Tokugawa persecution in Japan on March 14, 1620. Beatified among the 205 Martyrs of Japan, 2008. Feast March 14.
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