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Devasahayam [Lazar] Pillai [ദേവസഹായം പിള്ള / தேவஸஹாயம் பிள்ள / देवसहायं पिल्ल]

 (c. 1712 - † 14th January 1752)

  • Nilakantan Pillai, Nattalam, Kanyakumari
  • Eustache Benoît de Lannoy [വലിയ കപ്പിത്താന്‍] (1715 - † 1 June 1777)
  • Baptism at Holy Family Church, Vadakkankulam, Tirunelveli, by John Baptist Buttari, S. J. (1745); Devasahayam = Lazar / Eleazar = `God hath helped'; [Malabar rites]
  • Arrest: 23rd February 1749; Peruvilai, Puliyoorkurichi, Thovalai
  • † Death at Aralvaimozhi [Aral Kurisadi]
  • Tomb at Cathedral of St. Francis Xavier, Kottar

  • Web page at Kottar

    Bibliography

    1. Mgr. Clement Jose Colocao Leita, S. J.: `Ad limina report describing the martyrdom of Lazarus Devasahayam Pillai', Angengo [അഞ്ചു്തെങ്ങു്], Kingdom of Travancore, 15th November 1756, MS at S. Congr. Concilii Relationes, 237, ff. 53-74. Translated to English by Fr. I. Kulandaiswamy and Fr. A. Gabriel, and revised by George Nedungatt, S. J.
    2. John Baptist Buttari, S. J.: `Vita del Padre Giovanni Battista Buttari della Compagnia di Gesu', Loretto, 1844. Also cf. MS dated 19 May 1757, ARSI, Vitae 95, ff. 55-59.
    3. Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar: `വര്‍ത്തമാനപ്പുസ്തകം' [The Book of Chronicles] (in Malayalam), Luke Mathai Plathottathil (Ed.), St. Mary's Press, Athirampuzha, Kingdom of Travancore, 1936. Written c. 1778-1786.
    4. Henri Hosten, S. J.: `Lazarus Devasahayam, The Travancore martyr', The Examiner, 20 Nov. 1926. pp. 556-557.
    5. C. J. Varkey, Chunkath: `Correspondence between Popes and the Rajas of Travancore in the eighteenth century', Magazine of St. Joseph’s College, Trichinopoly, Febrary 1921.
    6. Paulinus Johann Philipp Wesdin of St. Bartholomew, O. C. D.: `India Orientalis Christiana' [Christianity in the Oriental India] (in Latin), Propaganda Press, Rome, 1794.
    7. Idem: `Viaggio alle Indie Orientali' (in Latin), Propaganda Press, Rome, 1796. Translated to English as `Voyage to the East Indies' by William Johnston, London, England, 1800.

    St. Gonsalo [Gundisalvus, Gonzalo] Garcia, O. F. M. [सन्त् गोण्सालो गार्सिय, ओ. एफ्. एं. / വിശുദ്ധ ഗോണ്‍സാലോ ഗാര്‍സിയ, ഒ. എഫ്. എം.]

    (c. 1557 - † 5th February 1597)

  • Church of St. Gonsalo Garcia, Gass, Bassein (Vasai), Bombay [Founder: Mgr. Louis Caetano D'Souza (1942); Blessed by Mgr. Valerian Cardinal Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay, 8 Jun. 1962, who also offered the first holy mass; Diocese of Vasai]
  • Franciscan Ashram (1926)

  • Sebastian Gonsalves, S. J., Jesuit School, Vasai (1564-1572)
  • Manila, the Philippines (1583-1594)
  • Order of Friars Minor (3 Jul. 1588)
  • † The 26 martyrs of Nagasaki, Japan

  • Catholic Encyclopaedia

  • Beatification: 14 Sep. 1627 (Pope Urban VIII)
  • Canonisation: 8 Jun. 1862 (Pope Pius IX)

    Bibliography

    1. Agostinho de Monte Alverne, O. F. M.: `Panegyric on Gonsalo Garcia'
    2. Fr. Peter A. Fernandez (b. 1864): `The Life of St. Gonsalo Garcia', Bombay, British India.
    3. J. H. Gense, S. J., A. Conti, S. J.: `In the days of Gonsalo Garcia'
    4. `Bombay Examiner', Bombay, India, 12 Mar. 1904.
    5. P. X. Swami: `St. Gonzalo Garcia: Indian martyr on Japanese soil', St. Paul's publications, Bombay, India, 2004.

    St. John Salvador de Brito [Britto], S. J. (São João de Brito, S. J. / Arulanandar / அருளனன்தர்) [புனித ஜோண் டி ப்ரிட்டோ, எஸ். ஜெ. / വിശുദ്ധ ജോണ്‍ ഡി ബ്രിട്ടോ, എസ്. ജെ. / सन्त् जोण् डि ब्रिट्टो, एस्. जे.]

    (1st March 1647 - † 4th February 1693)

  • Stamps issued in 1948, the central one in 1946. Design by Salvador Barata Feyo (bas relief), the central one by Albert Sousa. Sc# 691, 692, 467, 690, 689.

  • Page to Peter II
  • Society of Jesus (17 Dec. 1662)
  • Sampalur [Saint Paul Village], Ambazhakkad, Irinjalakuda (15 Mar. 1673 - 1676)
  • Malabar rites
  • Madura mission; Trichinopoly [Archdiocese of Madurai]
  • † St. John de Brito Shrine, Oriyur; Ramanathapuram (Ramnad) (1734) [Diocese of Ramanathapuram; Diocese of Sivagangai (Latin)]
  • Tomb at Lisbon, Portugal

    `I await death and I await it with impatience. It has always been the object of my prayers. It forms today the most precious reward of my labours and my sufferings.'
    -- Letter to Francisco Laynes, S. J., Superior, 3 Feb. 1693.

  • Catholic Encyclopaedia

  • Beatification: 21 Aug. 1853 (Pope Pius IX)
  • Canonisation: 22 Jun. 1947 (Pope Pius XII)

  • Roberto de Nobili, S. J. (1577-1656)
  • St. Roberto Cardinal Bellarmine, S. J. (1542-1621)
  • Dom Aleixo de Menezes, O. S. A.; Mgr. Francisco Ros, S. J.

  • Costanzo Giuseppe Beschi, S. J. (Veeramamunivar / வீரமாமுனிவர்) (1680-1746)
  • Basilica of Poondi Matha, Poondi, Thiruvaiyaru, Tanjore
  • Adaikala Matha Shrine, Elakurichi, Perambalur
  • Perianayagi Matha Shrine, Konakuppam, Cuddalore
  • Church of Our Lady of Assumption, Kamanayakkanpatti, Tuticorin
  • Tomb at Sampalur [Saint Paul Village], Ambazhakkad, Irinjalakuda
  • Wikipaedia

  • Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health, Velankanni, Nagapattinam [Lourdes of the East; Notre Dame de Lourdes; Basilica of Our Lady of Fatima]
  • Basilica of Our Lady of Snows, Kallikulam, Tirunelveli

    Bibliography

    1. Fernando Pereira de Brito (brother): `Historia do nascimento, vida e martyrio do Beato João de Brito da Companhia de Jesus, Martyr da Asia, e Protomartyr da Missao do Madura' (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal, 1722; Second edition: 1852.
    2. Chavara Kuriakose Elias of the Holy Family, T. O. C. D.: `നാളാഗമങ്ങള്‍' [Chronicles] (in Malayalam), Prior General, Carmelites of Mary Immaculate, Karikkamury, Ernakulam, India, 1981. Original MSS c. 1841-1871 mostly at St. Joseph's Monastery, Mannanam, India. Bound in the present form by Jerome Poothottam of St. Mary, T. O. C. D., and analysed for authorship by Anselm Perumalil, T. O. C. D. An analysis of the provenance, chronology, and historical integrity of the MSS appears in the preface (unattributed), pp. xi-xxxii. Reprinted: 1985.
    3. A. Saultiere, S. J.: `Red sand: a life of St. John de Britto', Madurai, India, 1947.
    4. Albert Bessières: `St. Jean de Britto, martyr 1447-1693: le nouveau François-Xavier' (in French), Toulouse, France, 1945.
    5. C. A. Moreschini: `San Giovanni de Britto: missionario e martire', Florence, Italy, 1943.
    6. A. N. Nevett, S. J.: John de Britto and his times', Anand, India, 1980.
    7. Vincent Cronin: `A pearl to India: the life of Roberto de Nobili', E. P. Dutton, 1959.
    8. Domenico Ferroli, S. J., D. Sc. (13 Nov. 1887 - † 4 Oct. 1970; s. of Bernardo F. and Catterina Bidoli; Prof. of Mathematics, University of Bangalore): `The Jesuits in Malabar', King and Co., The National Press, 36 Dickenson Road, Bangalore Cantonment, India, 2 Volumes, 1939, 1951.
    9. Idem: `The Jesuits in Mysore', Xavier Press, Calicut, India, 1955.
    10. Idem: `I Saniassi romani: o, Storia di una missione dimenticata' (in Italian), Messagero di S. Antonio, Padua, Italy, 1961.
    11. Idem: `Ethica', Catholic press, 1947, expanded from `Moral science: a four years' course of moral instruction for college students', 1932.
    12. Idem: `The queen's goal', Deccan printing house, 1947.
    13. St. Roberto Cardinal Bellarmine, S. J.: `De arte bene moriendi' [The art of dying well], London, England, 1620.
    14. Idem: `De Æterna felicitate sanctorum' [The eternal happiness of the Saints], London, England, 1616.
    15. Idem: `De ascensione mentis in Deum' [Steps of Ascension to God], London, England, 1615.
    16. V. Lawrence Sundaram, S. J.: `A great Indian Jesuit: Fr. Jerome D'Souza (1897-1977), priest, educationist, and statesman', Gujarat Sahithya Prakash, Anand, India, 1986.

    Joseph Vaz, C. O. [जोसफ् वाज़्, सि. ओ. / ஜோஸஃப் வாஸ், ஸி. ஒ. / ജോസഫ് വാസ്, സി. ഒ.]

    (21st April 1651 - † 16th January 1711)

  • Catholic Encyclopaedia
  • Oratory of St. Philip Neri (25 Sep. 1685) [Birmingham; Oxford]
  • Kandy, Ceylon
  • Tomb unknown

  • Beatification: 21 Jan. 1995
  • Web page

    Bibliography

    1. Mgr. Władysław Michał Zaleski: `The Apostle of Ceylon: Fr. Joseph Vaz, 1651-1711', 1911.

    Chavara Kuriakose Elias of the Holy Family, T. O. C. D. [ക. നി. മൂ. സ. ചാവറ കുരിയാക്കോസ് ഏലിയാ ദ് തുഹമ്മാ കന്തീസാ / पवित्र् परिवार् के चावर कुरियाक्कोस् एलियास्, टि. ओ. सि. डि.]

    (10th February 1805 - † 3rd January 1871)

  • Stamp issued on 20 Dec. 1987 by R. Venkataraman. Sc# 1193, SG# 1280.

    Works

    1. നാളാഗമങ്ങള്‍ [Chronicles] (1830-1870)
  • Kainakary, Kuttanad
  • Chennamkary

  • Palackal Thoma Malpan, Pallippuram, Shertallay
  • Porukara Thoma Malpan, Kalloorkad, Champakulam, Kuttanad
  • [Ka]rmaleeththa [ni]shpaadhuka [moo]nnaam [sa]bha/കര്‍മ്മലീത്ത നിഷ്പാദുക മൂന്നാം സഭ/ക. നി. മൂ. സ. [Third Order of Carmelites Discalced/T. O. C. D./Carmelite order of the St. Thomas Christians], Monastery of St. Joseph, Mannanam (11 May 1831)
  • Malpan, St. Joseph's Seminary, Mannanam (16 Feb. 1844)
  • Vicar-General of Verapoly for the St. Thomas Christians (1861-1871) [Bishops: Mgr. Bernardine Bacinelli of St. Teresa, O. C. D. (1853-1868), Mgr. Leonard Mellano of St. Louis, O. C. D. (1868-1897)]
  • Church of St. Philomena, Koonammavu
  • Carmelite order for women of the St. Thomas Christians, St. Teresa's Convent, Koonammavu (13 Feb. 1866) [Leopold Maria Beccaro of Jesus, O. C. D.; Mar Aloysius Pareparambil (Louis Pazheparambil); Euphrasia Rose Eluvathingal Cherpukaran of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, T. O. C. D. [Biography; Eluvathingal; Ollur]]
  • † Death and funeral at Church of St. Philomena, Koonammavu
  • Tomb at Monastery of St. Joseph, Mannanam (reïnterred: 1889)

  • Beatification: 8 Feb. 1986
  • Web page at Mannanam

    Bibliography

    1. Leopold Maria Beccaro of Jesus, O. C. D.: `A short biography of Fr. Chavara', Mary Immaculate Press, Koonammavu, Kingdom of Cochin, 1872. Reprinted: Mannanam, India, 2003.
    2. Chavara Kuriakose Elias of the Holy Family, T. O. C. D.: `നാളാഗമങ്ങള്‍' [Chronicles] (in Malayalam), Prior General, Carmelites of Mary Immaculate, Karikkamury, Ernakulam, India, 1981. Original MSS c. 1841-1871 mostly at St. Joseph's Monastery, Mannanam, India. Bound in the present form by Jerome Poothottam of St. Mary, T. O. C. D., and analysed for authorship by Anselm Perumalil, T. O. C. D. An analysis of the provenance, chronology, and historical integrity of the MSS appears in the preface (unattributed), pp. xi-xxxii. Reprinted: 1985.
    3. C. J. Varkey, Chunkath: `The Syrian Carmelite Congregation in Malabar', St. Joseph's Press, Mannanam, 1944. [A souvenir of the inauguration of Sacred Heart College, Thevara, 14th August 1944]
    4. Pius PP. IX (Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti): `Quæ in patriarchatu' [Encyclical on the Church in Chaldæa and discontent of the St. Thomas Christians], 16th November 1872.
    5. Pius PP. XII (Eugenio Pacelli): `Orientalis ecclesiæ' [Encyclical on St. Cyril, Patriarch of Alexandria], 9th April 1944.

    St. Alphonsa Anna Muttathupadam [Muttathupadathu] of the Immaculate Conception, F. C. C. [നിര്‍മ്മലോത്ഭവത്തിന്റെ വിശുദ്ധ അല്‍ഫോണ്‍സാ അന്ന മുട്ടത്തുപാടം, എഫ്. സി. സി. / निर्मलोत्भव् के विशुद्ध् अल्फोण्सा अन्न मुट्टत्तुपाटं, एफ्. सि. सि.]

    (19th August 1910 - † 28th July 1946)

  • Left: Funeral on 29 Jul. 1946 (with father Muttathupadam Cherian Ouseph facing her head); Right: Detail from funeral.

  • Forane Church of St. Mary, Kudamaloor [കുടമാളൂര്‍]

  • Mgr. Charles Lavigne
  • Franciscan Clarist Congregation [Poor Clares]
  • Third Order of St. Francis [Puthenparambil Thommechan]
  • St. Alphonse de Liguori [d. 1 Aug. 1787; Feast: 2 Aug.; Postulancy of St. Alphonsa: 2 Aug. 1928; Mar Varkey Vithayathil, C. Ss. R.]

    `In my early days I made more progress in my spiritual life than at present. I loved God more ardently. I took great care to avoid all faults. I had nothing special to mention in my first confession. I zealously aspired to become a saint. I felt that desire while I was reading the biography of St. Thérèse de Lisieux.'
    -- St. Alphonsa (quoted in K. C. Chacko, Kadankavil, in `Sr. Alphonsa', p. 32, from Romulus Mampuzhackal, T. O. C. D., p. 19).

    `I do not wish to act or speak according to my inclinations. Every time I fail, I will do penance. ... I want to be careful never to reject anyone. I will only speak sweet words to others. I want to control my eyes with rigour. I will ask pardon of the Lord for every little failure and I will atone for it through penance. No matter what my sufferings may be, I will never complain and if I have to undergo any humiliation, I will seek refuge in the Sacred Heart of Jesus.'
    -- St. Alphonsa (quoted in Biography at the Vatican).

    `I am absolutely incapable of describing it in words. I fall into some kind of trance on the nights following the convulsion. I cannot describe the visions I see during the trance. It appears to me that Our Divine Lord comes to me, caresses me and pours out upon me all the affectionate sweetness of His Sacred Heart. The whole room seems to be flooded with the splendour of God. I do not know any more details. The happiness of the moment is unbounded and limitless.'
    -- St. Alphonsa (quoted in K. C. Chacko, Kadankavil, in `Sr. Alphonsa', p. 53).

    `With the most profound conviction in my heart and as one who has known this religious very intimately, I affirm that we are now participating in the last rites of a saintly person. If the world had realised her intrinsic worth, unprecedented crowds including hundreds of priests and bishops from all over India would have assembled here. They would have rushed and clamoured for even a glimpse of this body and for some precious relic or token of this person. I assure you, that as far as human judgment can be relied on, this young nun was not much less saintly than the Little Flower of Lisieux.'
    -- Romulus Mampuzhackal, T. O. C. D., Eulogy at funeral, 29 Jul. 1946 (quoted by K. C. Chacko, Kadankavil, in `Sr. Alphonsa', p. 13, from Romulus Mampuzhackal, T. O. C. D., pp. 197-200).

    `O Lord Jesus, hide me in the wound of Your Sacred Heart. Free me from my desire to be loved and esteemed. Guard me from my evil attempts to win fame and honour. Make me humble till I become a small spark in the flame of love in Your Sacred Heart. Grant me the grace to forget myself and all worldly things. Jesus, sweet beyond words, convert all worldly consolations into bitterness for me. O my Jesus, Sun of Justice, enlighten my intellect and mind with Your sacred rays. Purify my heart, consume me with burning love for You, and make me one with You. Amen.'
    -- Prayer composed by St. Alphonsa (quoted in Romulus Mampuzhackal, T. O. C. D., pp. 130-131).

  • Canonisation: 12 Oct. 2008
  • Biography

  • Web page at Bharananganam; Forane Church of St. Mary

    Bibliography

    1. St. Thérèse de Lisieux: `L'Histoire d'une Âme' [The story of a soul]. [Internet archive]
    2. Romulus Mampuzhackal, T. O. C. D.: `സ്നേഹബലി' [Snaehabali / Sacrifice in Love] (in Malayalam), Bharananganam, Palai, India.
    3. K. C. Chacko, Kadankavil: `Sr. Alphonsa', Trivandrum, Travancore-Cochin, India, 1949. Reprinted: 2000.
    4. Fr. Kurian C. Muttathupadam: `Nun so blessed', Jalandhar, India, 11 Oct. 2008.
    5. Emmanuel Muttathupadam, T. O. C. D. [ക. നി. മൂ. സ. Mani Kathanar]: `പുതിയ നിയമം' [The New Testament] (in Malayalam), translation of the New Testament of the Holy Bible, St. Joseph's Press, Mannanam, Kingdom of Travancore, 1938. `Ecclesiasticus' (1926), `Proverbs' (1928), `Tobit' (1941), `The four gospels' (1935), `പഞ്ചഗ്രന്ഥി' [Pentateuch] (in Malayalam).

  • Stamps issued on 19 Jul. 1996 and 16 Nov. 2008; Obverse and reverse of Rs. 5/- coin issued on 23 Aug. 2009.

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