Inácio de Azevedo

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Inácio de Azevedo

Inácio de Azevedo (Germanized Ignatius von Azevedo , * 1526, 1527 or 1528 in Porto , † July 15, 1570 near La Palma ) was a Portuguese missionary from the order of the Jesuits .

After he and 39 companions were killed by Huguenot privateers during the crossing to Brazil near the Canary Islands , they were named Forty Martyrs of Brazil ( Quarenta Mártires do Brasil ) by Pope Pius IX in 1854 . beatified .

biography

Inácio de Azevedo was born in Porto in northern Portugal around 1527. His father was the nobleman Manuel de Azevedo , Comendador de São João de Alpendurada ; his younger brother Jerónimo de Azevedo later became Viceroy of India .

Inácio joined the Jesuit Order on November 28, 1548. After graduation and ordination , he founded the St. Anthony College in Lisbon and the St. Paul College in Braga , where he was rector . Inácio de Azevedo was vice- provincial of Portugal as early as 1558 .

In 1566 he was sent as a visitor to Brazil by Superior General Francisco de Borja , where he founded a college in Rio de Janeiro the next year . De Azevedo then traveled through the Portuguese colony for two years and attended numerous Jesuit schools and missions before returning to Europe to report in 1569. When he arrived in Europe, he was appointed Provincial of Brazil and given the task of recruiting more missionaries. Inácio de Azevedo convinced about seventy Jesuits, most of whom were still students or novices , to accompany him to Brazil.

On June 5, 1570, the flotilla, consisting of several ships, set out to cross the Atlantic. A week later they reached Madeira Island , the first stopover. There it was learned that the French Huguenot privateer Jacques de Sores was making the waters unsafe nearby, which resulted in the flotilla remaining in port and four of the Jesuits disembarking. Azevedo and the captain of his ship Santiago , however, decided to venture on to the Canary Island of La Palma , the second stopover where they wanted to deliver various goods and take up supplies , despite the danger . 40 Jesuits stayed on the ship with Azevedo.

The ship is said to have reached Tazacorte on the west coast of La Palma safely , where the Jesuits were holding a service in the church. Then they wanted to sail on to Santa Cruz de La Palma on the east coast, but were overtaken by five pirate ships at the southern cape near Fuencaliente and overwhelmed by the buccaneers. The Huguenots cruelly killed several Jesuits, including Inácio de Azevedo, the rest were thrown overboard and drowned. Only a Jesuit named João Sanches survived, as he was needed as a cook on one of the buccaneers' ships . After the privateers had called at La Rochelle , he was able to flee to Portugal and thus brought the news of the martyrdom and death of the Jesuits.

On May 11, 1854, Pope Pius IX spoke. Inácio de Azevedo and his companions blessed as martyrs . The day of remembrance is July 15 , within the Jesuit order January 19 .

Stone crosses in about 20 meters water depth

To the south of Fuencaliente de la Palma, 40 stone crosses were erected under water at the lighthouse of Fuencaliente in the 1970s, to commemorate Inácio de Azevedo and his murdered companions. The place is now a well-known diving area .

literature

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personal data
SURNAME Azevedo, Inácio de
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Azevedo, Ignatius of
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Portuguese missionary from the order of the Jesuits, martyr, blessed
DATE OF BIRTH between 1526 and 1528
PLACE OF BIRTH postage
DATE OF DEATH July 15, 1570
Place of death near La Palma