Martyrdom
John de Brito's preaching led to the conversion of Thadiyathevan (தடியத் தேவன்), a Marava prince who had several wives. When Thadiyathevan was required to dismiss all his wives but one, a serious problem arose. One of the wives was a niece of the neighboring king, the Sethupathi (சேதுபதி) who took up her quarrel and began a general persecution of Christians. De Brito and the catechists were taken and carried to the capital, Ramnad, the Brahmins clamouring for his death. Thence he was led to Oriyur (ஓரியூர்), some thirty miles northward along the coast, where he was executed by beheading on 11 February 1693.
Brito was beatified by Pope Pius IX on August 21, 1853. He was later canonized by Pope Pius XII on June 22, 1947. St. John de Brito's feast day is February 4.
Read more about this topic: John De Brito
Famous quotes containing the word martyrdom:
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