Blessed Jose de Anchieta
Blessed José de Anchieta (born March 19, 1534 AD in La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands; died June 9, 1597 AD in Reritiba (now Anchieta), Brazil) was a Jesuit missionary, poet, and grammarian who is honored as the "Apostle of Brazil" and as one of the founders of the cities of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Beatified in 1980, he was canonized by Pope Francis in 2014 and is now venerated as Saint José de Anchieta. His feast day is June 9.
A pioneer of the Brazilian mission, Anchieta learned the Tupi language and wrote its first grammar, composed catechisms, poetry, and plays to evangelize the indigenous peoples, and worked for their protection. He spent more than forty years in Brazil in the service of the Gospel.
Stored in Cargo: Blessed Jose de Anchieta
| Blessed Jose de Anchieta | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | June 09 |
| Profession | Jesuit priest; missionary; grammarian; poet |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Society of Jesus (Jesuits) |
| Patronage | Brazil; missionaries; catechists; writers; São Paulo |
| Attributes | Jesuit cassock; grammar of the Tupi language; indigenous peoples of Brazil; writing verses on the sand |
| Birthplace | La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands (Spain) |
| Death Place | Reritiba (now Anchieta), Espírito Santo, Brazil |
| Cause of Death | Natural death; Jesuit missionary and "Apostle of Brazil"; died at Reritiba after more than four decades of missionary labor |
| Primary Shrine | Anchieta, Espírito Santo, Brazil |
Biography
Early life
José de Anchieta was born on March 19, 1534, at La Laguna on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands, of a family of Basque and Canarian origin. He was sent to Portugal for his studies at the University of Coimbra, and there, in 1551, he entered the Society of Jesus, the recently founded order of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Of delicate health and afflicted with a spinal ailment that pained him all his life, he was nonetheless chosen for the missions.
Missionary in Brazil
In 1553 Anchieta sailed for Brazil, a Portuguese colony where the Jesuits had begun the evangelization of the indigenous Tupi peoples. He would spend the remaining forty-four years of his life there. In 1554 he was among the small band of Jesuits who founded the college of São Paulo de Piratininga, the origin of the city of São Paulo; its foundation is dated to the Mass celebrated on the site, and Anchieta is honored as one of the founders of the city.
He mastered the Tupi language and composed the first grammar of it, a landmark of missionary linguistics, as well as catechisms, dictionaries, hymns, poems, and religious plays in Tupi, Portuguese, Spanish, and Latin, using them to teach the faith. He is regarded as a father of Brazilian literature.
Anchieta also served as a peacemaker between the Portuguese and the indigenous peoples and between rival colonial factions. Held for a time as a hostage among the Tamoio during negotiations, he is said to have composed a long Latin poem to the Virgin Mary, writing the verses on the sand of the beach. He took part in the events surrounding the founding and securing of Rio de Janeiro. He was ordained a priest in 1566 and later served as Provincial of the Jesuits in Brazil.
Death and canonization
Worn out by his labors, José de Anchieta died at Reritiba—the place now bearing his name, Anchieta, in the state of Espírito Santo—on June 9, 1597. He was mourned by the indigenous people and colonists alike as a saint and the Apostle of Brazil.
He was beatified on June 22, 1980, by Pope John Paul II. On April 3, 2014, Pope Francis declared him a saint by equipollent (equivalent) canonization, and he is now venerated as Saint José de Anchieta. His feast is kept on June 9.
Significant events
- 1534 — Born at La Laguna, Tenerife, on March 19.
- 1551 — Enters the Society of Jesus in Portugal.
- 1553 — Sails for the mission of Brazil.
- 1554 — Among the founders of São Paulo de Piratininga.
- 1566 — Ordained a priest.
- 1597 — Dies at Reritiba (Anchieta) on June 9.
- 1980 — Beatified by Pope John Paul II.
- 2014 — Canonized by Pope Francis on April 3.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: None
Death location: None
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Dynamic content
Parishes
No parishes dedicated to José de Anchieta have been added to the database yet.
Media
No media found for this saint.
Shrines
Dynamic shrines
No results
No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
Feast day
June 9
Books
Written by
- *Arte de gramática da língua mais usada na costa do Brasil* (the first grammar of the Tupi language)
- Catechisms, dictionaries, hymns, and religious plays in Tupi, Portuguese, and Latin
- *De Beata Virgine Dei Matre Maria* (poem to the Virgin Mary)
Prayers
Authored
There are prayers authored by this saint in prayers list yet.
Intercessory
There are no prayers asking for this saint's intercession in prayers list yet.