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Feast of St. John de Brito
February 4
Also known as the Apostle of
Madura.
John de Brito was born in March of 1647 to Portuguese nobility, the son of the governor
of Brazil. He was a Jesuit at age 15 and studied at the University of
Coimbra.
He volunteered for the missions in India in 1673, where he was
sent to Madura. Though he was often mistreated and even tortured by the locals,
he converted 10,000 people. His success made
the Brahmins, the highest Indian caste, angry and they decided to get rid of him.
John and his catechists were imprisoned, tortured, and ordered to leave the
country. When he refused, the rajah ordered John executed. He was dismembered
and beheaded on February 11, 1693 in Oreiour, India.
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