Miguel de Carvalho
| Blessed Miguel de Carvalho, SJ | |
|---|---|
| Born |
1579 Braga, Portugal |
| Died |
25 August 1624 Ōmura, Japan |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 7 July 1867 by Pope Pius IX |
| Feast | 25 August |
Blessed Miguel de Carvalho. also known as Michael Carvalho, (1579 – 25 August 1624) was a Roman Catholic Missionary from Portugal. He was beatified in July of 1867 by Pope Pius IX.[1][2]
Biography
Miguel was born in Braga, in 1579, to a noble and wealthy family.[3] In 1597, he joined the Society of Jesus in Coimbra.[4][5] In 1602, he studied in Portuguese India.[6] After completing his studies of philosophy and theology at St. Paul's College in Goa, he received the sacrament of ordination to the priesthood.[1][4][5] For several years, his vocation was a professor of theology at the Academy[1] On 21 August 1621, he arrived in Japan, after traveling from Portuguese India through Manila, Malay, and Portuguese Macau.[1][6][7] The situation in Japan was resulting in measures aimed at reducing the impact of the growing number of Catholics in social life.[1] After a period of intense missionary activity by the Catholic Church, Hidetada Tokugawa, the second shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty, issued a decree which banned the practice and teaching of the Christian faith, and under the threat of loss of life, all the missionaries had to leave Japan. This decree started the bloody persecution of Christians, which lasted several decades.[1]
On Amakusa, Miguel hid in plain view, disguised as a soldier for two years, where he assimilated the Japanese language and principles of inculturation.[7] When the local governor openly confessed that Miguel was a missionary, and the actual purpose of his stay was to preach the Gospel and to convert the locals to Christianity, he was expelled from the island.[1][6] With the help of fellow believers, he went to Nagasaki, where the Jesuit Provincial, Fr. Francisco Pacheco advised him to remain prudent in the implementation of the apostolate and directed him to care for a small group living in a suburban area.[1] On 22 July 1623, as he returned from the pastoral ministry in Ōmura, Miguel was arrested due to an accusation from an informant.[4][7] In the local prison, he joined Pedro Vásquez OP, Luis Sotelo OFM and two Japanese Franciscans, Ludovicus Sasada OFM and tertiary Ludovicus Baba.[7] Miguel spent his time in captivity with the celebration of daily Mass and prayer.[7] On 24 August, a death sentence was ordered, which was performed the next day in Ōmura.[4][1] On 25 August 1624, Miguel and his companions were burned at the stake.[1]
Legacy
The steadfastness and joy that he showed convicts in the face of martyrdom for the faith, aroused the admiration of his contemporaries.[4][7]
Miguel was beatified by Pope Pius IX on 7 July 1867.[2] The death of the martyrs is commemorated by an obelisk in Ōmura.[8]
In the Roman Catholic Church, his feast day is celebrated on 25 August[4], as well as 10 September, the anniversary of the massacre of 205 Japanese martyrs in Ōmura, and the Jesuits mention it also 4 February.[5]
Blessed Miguel de Carvalho is the patron saint of the department of philosophy at the Catholic University of Portugal, Braga Campus.[9]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Fros SJ, Henryk “Book of names and saints”, pp. 423-37, 2007 ISBN 978-83-7318-736-8
- 1 2 Molinari SJ, Paolo. "Martiri dichiarati Santi della Compagnia di Gesu", Roman Curia Pontifical Academies
- ↑ Leite SJ, José. "Beato Miguel de Carvalho", Evangelizo, 2015-06-13
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Borrelli, Antonio "Blessed Michael Carvalho, Jesuit martyr", 2005-02-22
- 1 2 3 "Blessed Mikael Carvalho 1579-1624", 2015-06-13
- 1 2 3 Rochford SJ, Tom "Blessed Miguel Carvalho", Society of Jesus, 2015
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Fros SJ, Henryk “Saints and Blessed of the Society of Jesus”, Kraków: Wydawnictwo Apostolstwa Modlitwy, pp. 108-9, 1992, ISBN 83-85304-50-9
- ↑ "放虎原（ﾎｳｺﾊﾞﾙ）殉教地", 2015-06-13
- ↑ "Universidade Católica Portuguesa – Faculdade de Filosofia de Braga. História", date = 2015-06-13