Joseph Vaz
Encyclopedia
Blessed
Joseph Vaz (21 April 1651, Benaulim
– 16 January 1711, Kandy
) was a Catholic
Oratorian priest
from Goa
. He is known as the
Apostle of Ceylon.
Fr. Vaz entered Ceylon (now Sri Lanka
) during the Dutch occupation, when Calvinism
was the official religion. He traveled throughout the island bringing the Eucharist
and the sacraments to clandestine groups of Catholics. Later in his mission, he found shelter in the Kandyan kingdom where he was able to work freely. At the time of his death, Fr. Vaz managed to rebuild the Catholic church on the island. On 21 January 1995, he was beatified
by Pope John Paul II
in Colombo
.
, his mother's village. His parents, Cristóvão Vaz and Maria de Miranda, were devout Roman Catholics. Cristóvão belonged to a prominent Goud Saraswat Brahmin Naik family of Sancoale
. He was baptised on the eighth day of the parish church of St. John the Baptist, Benaulim by Fr. Jacinto Pereira. Joseph attended the elementary school in Sancoale. He learned Portuguese
in Sancoale and Latin
in Benaulim. Joseph was a bright pupil and respected by his teachers and fellow students. He made such rapid progress in his studies that his father decided to send him to the city of Goa for further studies; where he did a course in rhetoric
and Humanities
at the Jesuit college of St. Paul. He further studied philosophy
and theology
at the College of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Goa city.
In 1675, Joseph was ordained a deacon by Dom Custódio de Pinho, the Vicar Apostolic of Bijapur
and Golconda
. In 1676, he was ordained a priest by the Archbishop of Goa, Dom Frei António Brandão. Soon after his ordination, he started going barefoot in order to live like the poor and acquired a reputation as a popular preacher and confessor. He opened a Latin school in Sancoale for prospective seminarians. In 1677, he consecrated himself as a "slave of Mary", sealing it with a document known as the "Deed of Bondage".
proposed to him to go to Canara
instead, where the Padroado
authorities in Goa were in conflict with the local authorities belonging to the Propaganda Fide
. Fr. Vaz was appointed the Vicar Forane of Canara by the Padroado in 1681, and sent with the purpose of asserting their jurisdiction against the Propaganda Fide. The Chapter also gave him the esteemed title of "Frame of Canara". Upon his arrival, he found the situation of the Roman Catholic church there to be highly explosive.
The Padroado authorities in Goa were at conflict with those of the Propaganda Fide in Canara, led by the already incumbent Vicar Forane, Bishop Thomas de Castro
. The source of the conflict was that Bishop de Castro's appointment as Vicar Forane of Canara by Pope Clement X on 30 August 1675 was not recognised by the preceding Padroado Archbishop. Consequently, they did not cede the jurisdiction to him despite the Pope's letter of appointment.
The Padroado–Propaganda conflict which ensued divided the Catholics of Canara into two sides—those who recognised the authority of the Padroado Archbishop in Goa versus those who supported Bishop de Castro. Those who recognised the authority of the Padroado were excommunicated by Bishop de Castro, while those who recognised the authority of the Propaganda Fide were excommunicated by the Padroado authorities at Goa. Either group were forbidden from receiving sacraments from the priests of the rival group, on penalty of excommunication.
In a letter dated 14 September 1681, he lamented:
With great diplomacy and humility, Fr. Vaz met Bishop de Castro at Bangalore and after having convinced himself of the legitimacy of the documents, brought about a truce until a direction was received from the new Pope, Innocent XI
. In light of the fact that the bishop had legitimate authority, Fr. Vaz recognised his authority and while continuing to adhere to the Padroado system, zealously worked for the religious welfare of the people. The bishop further agreed to delegate jurisdiction to him conditionally. Fr. Vaz often spoke to him and pleaded with him not to fulminate so many excommunications, but wait for a final decision from the Pope. He pointed out that the Hindus were scandalised and the Christians bewildered by these arguments.
During his stay, Fr. Vaz undertook serious missionary activities in Canara
from 1681 to 1684, carrying out a lot of missionary work in Mangalore
, Basroor
, Barcoor
, Moolki, Kallianpur
and other areas, and reviving the spirits and faith of the widely scattered Roman Catholic community. He reconstructed the Rosario Cathedral
in Mangalore and built new churches at Onore
, Basroor, Cundapore
, and Gangolim. He also set up small schools in some of the villages with the co-operation of their inhabitants.
Fr. Vaz's most important contribution, however, was the establishment of a large number of Irmidades
(Confraternities) throughout Canara, where he would periodically celebrat festive occasions with great pomp. Fr. Vaz was compelled to do so due to a shortage of priests, and as such an Irmidade brought together the Catholics of a place where there was no church or resident priest. To this end, he constructed small huts and asked the local Catholics to gather there and recite their prayers. This greatly helped to keep alive and encourage the religious fervor for Christianity.
In his short stay, Fr. Vaz acquired a great and saintly reputation. He did yeoman service to the cause of the upliftment of the downtrodden. Many miracles are attributed to him. A local legend has it that while serving as parish priest of Our Lady of Mercy parish, Paneer, a few kilometres from Mudipu, a few Hindus arrived in the night, asking him to accompany them to administer final sacraments to a sick parishioner in the neighbourhood of Mudipu.
The men had conspired to slay the priest, due to his tireless missionary activities. However, when they reached the top of the Hill, the men tried to kill him. The serene Fr. Vaz knelt down on the rock and held his stick straight on the ground. A light flashed in their midst and the men could see water gushing from the spots where he knelt. Owing to this miracle, the men fled from the scene and Fr. Vaz returned to the parish unharmed. A shrine dedicated to him, Blessed Joseph Vaz Hill shrine was constructed at that very site at Mudipu in Mangalore. It is visited annually by thousands of pilgrims and devotees, seeking blessings and cures for various ailments.
The new Archbishop Dom Manuel de Sousa e Menezes arrived in Goa and was displeased with Fr. Vaz on account of the agreement he had made with Bishop de Castro. When Fr. Vaz sought permission to return to Goa, the request was refused by the Archbishop. After the Archbishop's death, the Cathedral Chapter of Goa allowed him to return to Goa in 1684, replacing him with Fr. Nicholas de Gamhoa, one of his former helpers. In 1685, he joined the Oratory of St. Philip Neri, and was soon appointed a Superior of the Order. Fr. Vaz was also in the Keladi kingdom
in 1686–1687 for a few months on his way to Ceylon, where helped by his companions, he attended to the spiritual needs of the Christians.
1687.
, F. Vaz found a strong Calvinist presence. As Catholic priests
were banned by the Dutch authorities, he had to travel under the guise of a mendicant and to work in secret. He traveled barefoot as an Indian sanyasi.
Fr. Vaz suffered from acute dysentery
, contracted from the terrible traveling conditions. Upon recovering, he began contacting Catholics and hiding from the Dutch. He was taken in and ministered to his secret flock by night. In 1689, taking up his residence in a village called Sillalai where the Catholics were numerous and resolute, Fr. Vaz succeeded in reviving the spirit of the faithful. In 1690, he was forced to change his quarters for Puttalam
, where he worked with great success for a whole year.
, the capital of a native independent kingdom, as his centre of operations. On his arrival, he was deemed to be a Portuguese
spy and was imprisoned with two other Catholics. There he learned Sinhala, the local language. They were left alone by the prison guards as long as they didn't try to escape and he built a hut-church and later a proper church dedicated to Our Lady, and began converting other prisoners.
In 1696, the Kingdom of Kandy
was suffering a serious drought, and king Vimaldharna Surya
asked the Buddhist monks to pray to their gods for rain as there was no rain. He turned to Fr. Vaz, who erected an altar and cross in the middle of the square and prayed. Abundant rain began to fall, while Fr. Vaz and the altar stayed dry. This prompted the King to grant Fr. Vaz license to preach throughout the kingdom.
Making the most of his new-found freedom, he made a mission visit to the Dutch controlled areas and visited Catholics in Colombo
. Three missionaries from the Oratory of Goa arrived in 1697 to help him with the news that Bishop Pedro Pacheco of Cochin had appointed Fr. Vaz as Vicar General
in Ceylon. He was organizing the basic mission structure when smallpox
broke out in Kandy. His work with the sick convinced the king to allow Father Vaz freedom in his labours.
Fr. Vaz carried his mission to the main centers of the island. Between 1687 to 1711, he was at the head of a group of Goan Bamonn
priests who under his leadership and inspiration, mixed and moved about under conver sustaining the persecuted Roman Catholic population in Ceylon.
Fr. Vaz returned to Kandy
in 1699 with Fr. Joseph de Carvalho who had been expelled at the instigation of Buddhist monks. He completed the construction of his new church, and went into service for the king, translating Portuguese books into Sinhala. From this vantage point, Fr. Vaz intensified his ministry, and converted some Sinhalese
notables. New missionaries arrived in 1705, which enabled him to organize the mission into eight districts, each led by a priest. He worked on the creation of Catholic literature comparable to that of the Buddhists, and to affirm the rights of Catholics with those of the Dutch Calvinist Government.
, Fr. Vaz's patron, died in 1707, but Vira Narendra Sinha
, his successor, proved to be an even greater supporter. New missionaries arrived in 1708. In 1710, despite health problems, Fr. Vaz took another apostolic trip. On his return, he fell ill. He recovered from a series of infections and fevers, but was left weakened. He undertook eight days of spiritual exercises prescribed by the Rule, but before the seventh day he died at Kandy on 16 January 1711, aged 59.
was first urged upon the consideration of the Holy See
about 1737 by Dom Francisco de Vasconcellos, S.J., Bishop of Cochin, who also claimed jurisdiction over Ceylon.
The process was begun in Goa, and a number of miracle
s were registered. But the non-fulfillment of certain essential formalities led Benedict XIV to cancel the proceedings, with an order, however, that they should be re-instituted. In the areas constituting former South Canara
, he is generally known as Venerable Father Joseph Vaz. On 21 January 1995, he was beatified by Pope John Paul II
in Colombo.
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
Joseph Vaz (21 April 1651, Benaulim
Benaulim
Benaulim also known as Banavali , is a census town in South Goa district in the state of Goa, India. It is a beach town a little south of Margao in Goa, India....
– 16 January 1711, Kandy
Kandy
Kandy is a city in the center of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka; it is both an...
) was a Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
Oratorian priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
from Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
. He is known as the
Apostle of Ceylon.
Fr. Vaz entered Ceylon (now Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
) during the Dutch occupation, when Calvinism
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
was the official religion. He traveled throughout the island bringing the Eucharist
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
and the sacraments to clandestine groups of Catholics. Later in his mission, he found shelter in the Kandyan kingdom where he was able to work freely. At the time of his death, Fr. Vaz managed to rebuild the Catholic church on the island. On 21 January 1995, he was beatified
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
in Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
.
Early life
The third of six children, Joseph Vaz was born in 1651 at BenaulimBenaulim
Benaulim also known as Banavali , is a census town in South Goa district in the state of Goa, India. It is a beach town a little south of Margao in Goa, India....
, his mother's village. His parents, Cristóvão Vaz and Maria de Miranda, were devout Roman Catholics. Cristóvão belonged to a prominent Goud Saraswat Brahmin Naik family of Sancoale
Sancoale
Sancoale is a census town in South Goa district in the Indian state of Goa.-Geography:Sancoale is located at . It has an average elevation of 41 metres .-Demographics:...
. He was baptised on the eighth day of the parish church of St. John the Baptist, Benaulim by Fr. Jacinto Pereira. Joseph attended the elementary school in Sancoale. He learned Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
in Sancoale and Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
in Benaulim. Joseph was a bright pupil and respected by his teachers and fellow students. He made such rapid progress in his studies that his father decided to send him to the city of Goa for further studies; where he did a course in rhetoric
Rhetoric
Rhetoric is the art of discourse, an art that aims to improve the facility of speakers or writers who attempt to inform, persuade, or motivate particular audiences in specific situations. As a subject of formal study and a productive civic practice, rhetoric has played a central role in the Western...
and Humanities
Humanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
at the Jesuit college of St. Paul. He further studied philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at the College of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Goa city.
In 1675, Joseph was ordained a deacon by Dom Custódio de Pinho, the Vicar Apostolic of Bijapur
Bijapur, Karnataka
Bijapur Urdu:بیجاپور city is the district headquarters of Bijapur District of Karnataka state. Bijapur city is well known for its historical monuments of architectural importance built during the rule of Adil Shahi dynasty...
and Golconda
Golconda
Golconda may be:Places:* Golkonda, ruined city and fortress in India* Golconda, Illinois, town in the United States* Golconda, Nevada, former town in the United StatesOther:* Golconda...
. In 1676, he was ordained a priest by the Archbishop of Goa, Dom Frei António Brandão. Soon after his ordination, he started going barefoot in order to live like the poor and acquired a reputation as a popular preacher and confessor. He opened a Latin school in Sancoale for prospective seminarians. In 1677, he consecrated himself as a "slave of Mary", sealing it with a document known as the "Deed of Bondage".
Ministry in Canara (1681–1687)
Fr. Vaz wanted to work as a missionary in Ceylon, and therefore presented his request to go there to the Cathedral Chapter which was administering the Archdiocese of Goa following the vacancy created by the death of Archbishop Brandão on 6 July 1678. However, the Cathedral chapterCathedral chapter
In accordance with canon law, a cathedral chapter is a college of clerics formed to advise a bishop and, in the case of a vacancy of the episcopal see in some countries, to govern the diocese in his stead. These councils are made up of canons and dignitaries; in the Roman Catholic church their...
proposed to him to go to Canara
Canara
Canara can refer to:* Kanara – a region in Karnataka, India* Ovidiu – a town in Constanţa County, Romania...
instead, where the Padroado
Padroado
The Padroado , was an arrangement between the Holy See and the kingdom of Portugal, affirmed by a series of treaties, by which the Vatican delegated to the kings of Spain and Portugal the administration of the local Churches...
authorities in Goa were in conflict with the local authorities belonging to the Propaganda Fide
Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in Rome is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for missionary work and related activities...
. Fr. Vaz was appointed the Vicar Forane of Canara by the Padroado in 1681, and sent with the purpose of asserting their jurisdiction against the Propaganda Fide. The Chapter also gave him the esteemed title of "Frame of Canara". Upon his arrival, he found the situation of the Roman Catholic church there to be highly explosive.
The Padroado authorities in Goa were at conflict with those of the Propaganda Fide in Canara, led by the already incumbent Vicar Forane, Bishop Thomas de Castro
Thomas de Castro
Dom Thomas de Castro was a native of Divar in Goa. The Holy See appointed him Vicar Apostolic of Canara on 30th August 1675. He later founded the famous Milagres Church in Mangalore, South Canara , Karnataka state, India. He was the nephew of Dom Matheus de Castro , the first Indian Bishop of...
. The source of the conflict was that Bishop de Castro's appointment as Vicar Forane of Canara by Pope Clement X on 30 August 1675 was not recognised by the preceding Padroado Archbishop. Consequently, they did not cede the jurisdiction to him despite the Pope's letter of appointment.
The Padroado–Propaganda conflict which ensued divided the Catholics of Canara into two sides—those who recognised the authority of the Padroado Archbishop in Goa versus those who supported Bishop de Castro. Those who recognised the authority of the Padroado were excommunicated by Bishop de Castro, while those who recognised the authority of the Propaganda Fide were excommunicated by the Padroado authorities at Goa. Either group were forbidden from receiving sacraments from the priests of the rival group, on penalty of excommunication.
In a letter dated 14 September 1681, he lamented:
With great diplomacy and humility, Fr. Vaz met Bishop de Castro at Bangalore and after having convinced himself of the legitimacy of the documents, brought about a truce until a direction was received from the new Pope, Innocent XI
Pope Innocent XI
Blessed Pope Innocent XI , born Benedetto Odescalchi, was Pope from 1676 to 1689.-Early life:Benedetto Odescalchi was born at Como in 1611 , the son of a Como nobleman, Livio Odescalchi, and Paola Castelli Giovanelli from Gandino...
. In light of the fact that the bishop had legitimate authority, Fr. Vaz recognised his authority and while continuing to adhere to the Padroado system, zealously worked for the religious welfare of the people. The bishop further agreed to delegate jurisdiction to him conditionally. Fr. Vaz often spoke to him and pleaded with him not to fulminate so many excommunications, but wait for a final decision from the Pope. He pointed out that the Hindus were scandalised and the Christians bewildered by these arguments.
During his stay, Fr. Vaz undertook serious missionary activities in Canara
Canara
Canara can refer to:* Kanara – a region in Karnataka, India* Ovidiu – a town in Constanţa County, Romania...
from 1681 to 1684, carrying out a lot of missionary work in Mangalore
Mangalore
Mangalore is the chief port city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is located about west of the state capital, Bangalore. Mangalore lies between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghat mountain ranges, and is the administrative headquarters of the Dakshina Kannada district in south western...
, Basroor
Basrur
Basrur / Basroor is a village in Kundapur taluk in Udupi district of Karnataka.Historically Basrur was also called as Barcelor, Barcalor, Basnur, Bares, Abu-Sarur and Barsellor.-History:...
, Barcoor
Barkur
Barkur is a cluster of 3 villages [Hosala, Hanehalli, Kachoor] in Udupi district of the Karnataka state in South India. The place is located on the bank of river Seeta.-History:...
, Moolki, Kallianpur
Kallianpur
Kallianpur is a hamlet of Tonse-East village about six km from Udupi. It is a developed hamlet with all modern amenities like schools, college, hospital, good transport and communication facilities. The people of Kallianpur have survived many ages and still retain great positions with attachment to...
and other areas, and reviving the spirits and faith of the widely scattered Roman Catholic community. He reconstructed the Rosario Cathedral
Our Lady of Rosary of Mangalore
Church of Our Lady of Rosary of Mangalore , or Rosario Cathedral at Bolar is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Mangalore, dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary. It was the first Roman Catholic church in the Canara region...
in Mangalore and built new churches at Onore
Honavar
Honavar or Honnavar , is a port town in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka, India. The town is the headquarters of Honnavar taluk.- History :...
, Basroor, Cundapore
Kundapura
-Languages and culture :The town mainly consists of Kannadigas who speak Kundagannada, Konkanis and Tuluvas. The Goud Saraswat Brahmins who fled Goa during the Portuguese arrival in the 16th century arrived by Boat in Basrur and some settled in Kundapura and surrounding villages. These people and...
, and Gangolim. He also set up small schools in some of the villages with the co-operation of their inhabitants.
Fr. Vaz's most important contribution, however, was the establishment of a large number of Irmidades
Confraternity
A confraternity is normally a Roman Catholic or Orthodox organization of lay people created for the purpose of promoting special works of Christian charity or piety, and approved by the Church hierarchy...
(Confraternities) throughout Canara, where he would periodically celebrat festive occasions with great pomp. Fr. Vaz was compelled to do so due to a shortage of priests, and as such an Irmidade brought together the Catholics of a place where there was no church or resident priest. To this end, he constructed small huts and asked the local Catholics to gather there and recite their prayers. This greatly helped to keep alive and encourage the religious fervor for Christianity.
In his short stay, Fr. Vaz acquired a great and saintly reputation. He did yeoman service to the cause of the upliftment of the downtrodden. Many miracles are attributed to him. A local legend has it that while serving as parish priest of Our Lady of Mercy parish, Paneer, a few kilometres from Mudipu, a few Hindus arrived in the night, asking him to accompany them to administer final sacraments to a sick parishioner in the neighbourhood of Mudipu.
The men had conspired to slay the priest, due to his tireless missionary activities. However, when they reached the top of the Hill, the men tried to kill him. The serene Fr. Vaz knelt down on the rock and held his stick straight on the ground. A light flashed in their midst and the men could see water gushing from the spots where he knelt. Owing to this miracle, the men fled from the scene and Fr. Vaz returned to the parish unharmed. A shrine dedicated to him, Blessed Joseph Vaz Hill shrine was constructed at that very site at Mudipu in Mangalore. It is visited annually by thousands of pilgrims and devotees, seeking blessings and cures for various ailments.
The new Archbishop Dom Manuel de Sousa e Menezes arrived in Goa and was displeased with Fr. Vaz on account of the agreement he had made with Bishop de Castro. When Fr. Vaz sought permission to return to Goa, the request was refused by the Archbishop. After the Archbishop's death, the Cathedral Chapter of Goa allowed him to return to Goa in 1684, replacing him with Fr. Nicholas de Gamhoa, one of his former helpers. In 1685, he joined the Oratory of St. Philip Neri, and was soon appointed a Superior of the Order. Fr. Vaz was also in the Keladi kingdom
Keladi Nayaka
Keladi Nayaka Kingdom were an important ruling dynasty of post-medieval Karnataka, India. They initially started to rule as a feudatory of the Vijayanagar Empire...
in 1686–1687 for a few months on his way to Ceylon, where helped by his companions, he attended to the spiritual needs of the Christians.
Sri Lanka mission (1687–1711)
Hearing of the distressful situation of the Catholics of Ceylon who reportedly had no priests for many years, Fr. Vaz desired to go to their rescue. But instead he was named Superior of the Canara Mission, a post which he occupied for three years. On his return to Goa in 1684, he spent his time preaching in the villages, and joined the Oratorians then recently established in Goa, at the Church of the Holy Cross of Miracles. He was soon named superior there. In 1686, Fr. Vaz obtained permission to give up this office and to proceed to Ceylon. Disguised as a mendicant, he reached the port of Tuticorin on EasterEaster
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
1687.
Jaffna mission
On landing at JaffnaJaffna
Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical...
, F. Vaz found a strong Calvinist presence. As Catholic priests
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
were banned by the Dutch authorities, he had to travel under the guise of a mendicant and to work in secret. He traveled barefoot as an Indian sanyasi.
Fr. Vaz suffered from acute dysentery
Dysentery
Dysentery is an inflammatory disorder of the intestine, especially of the colon, that results in severe diarrhea containing mucus and/or blood in the faeces with fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, dysentery can be fatal.There are differences between dysentery and normal bloody diarrhoea...
, contracted from the terrible traveling conditions. Upon recovering, he began contacting Catholics and hiding from the Dutch. He was taken in and ministered to his secret flock by night. In 1689, taking up his residence in a village called Sillalai where the Catholics were numerous and resolute, Fr. Vaz succeeded in reviving the spirit of the faithful. In 1690, he was forced to change his quarters for Puttalam
Puttalam
Puttalam is the capital city of the Puttalam District in North Western Province, Sri Lanka.-History:The history of this dry zone dates back to the arrival of Prince Vijaya, nearly 2500 years ago, when his vessel washed ashore. The name "Puttalam" may be a modification of the Tamil word Uppuththalam...
, where he worked with great success for a whole year.
Kandy mission
In 1692, Fr. Vaz settled in KandyKandy
Kandy is a city in the center of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka; it is both an...
, the capital of a native independent kingdom, as his centre of operations. On his arrival, he was deemed to be a Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
spy and was imprisoned with two other Catholics. There he learned Sinhala, the local language. They were left alone by the prison guards as long as they didn't try to escape and he built a hut-church and later a proper church dedicated to Our Lady, and began converting other prisoners.
In 1696, the Kingdom of Kandy
Kingdom of Kandy
Kingdom of Kandy was an important independent monarchy of Sri Lanka, located in the central and eastern portion of the island. It was founded in late 15th century and endured until the early 19th century...
was suffering a serious drought, and king Vimaldharna Surya
Vimaladharmasurya II of Sri Lanka
Vimaladharmasurya II was a king of Kandy who succeeded his father, Rajasinghe II. He allowed Joseph Vaz to settle in his kingdom and allowed him to preach the Christian faith.-Sources:*...
asked the Buddhist monks to pray to their gods for rain as there was no rain. He turned to Fr. Vaz, who erected an altar and cross in the middle of the square and prayed. Abundant rain began to fall, while Fr. Vaz and the altar stayed dry. This prompted the King to grant Fr. Vaz license to preach throughout the kingdom.
Making the most of his new-found freedom, he made a mission visit to the Dutch controlled areas and visited Catholics in Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
. Three missionaries from the Oratory of Goa arrived in 1697 to help him with the news that Bishop Pedro Pacheco of Cochin had appointed Fr. Vaz as Vicar General
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
in Ceylon. He was organizing the basic mission structure when smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
broke out in Kandy. His work with the sick convinced the king to allow Father Vaz freedom in his labours.
Fr. Vaz carried his mission to the main centers of the island. Between 1687 to 1711, he was at the head of a group of Goan Bamonn
Roman Catholic Brahmin
The Roman Catholic Brahmin, also referred to asBamonn in Konkani, is a caste among the Goan and Mangalorean Catholics, of modern-day descendants of Konkani Brahmin converts to Roman Catholicism.-Origins:In Goa, the Brahmins were originally engaged in the priestly occupation, but had taken up...
priests who under his leadership and inspiration, mixed and moved about under conver sustaining the persecuted Roman Catholic population in Ceylon.
Fr. Vaz returned to Kandy
Kandy
Kandy is a city in the center of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka; it is both an...
in 1699 with Fr. Joseph de Carvalho who had been expelled at the instigation of Buddhist monks. He completed the construction of his new church, and went into service for the king, translating Portuguese books into Sinhala. From this vantage point, Fr. Vaz intensified his ministry, and converted some Sinhalese
Sinhalese people
The Sinhalese are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group,forming the majority of Sri Lanka,constituting 74% of the Sri Lankan population.They number approximately 15 million worldwide.The Sinhalese identity is based on language, heritage and religion. The Sinhalese speak Sinhala, an Indo-Aryan language and the...
notables. New missionaries arrived in 1705, which enabled him to organize the mission into eight districts, each led by a priest. He worked on the creation of Catholic literature comparable to that of the Buddhists, and to affirm the rights of Catholics with those of the Dutch Calvinist Government.
Death
King Vimaldharna Surya IIVimaladharmasurya II of Sri Lanka
Vimaladharmasurya II was a king of Kandy who succeeded his father, Rajasinghe II. He allowed Joseph Vaz to settle in his kingdom and allowed him to preach the Christian faith.-Sources:*...
, Fr. Vaz's patron, died in 1707, but Vira Narendra Sinha
Vira Narendra Sinha of Sri Lanka
Vira Parakrama Narendra Sinha was the last Sinhalese King of Sri Lanka of the Kingdom of Kandy. The son of Vimaladharmasurya II, he came to the throne when he was seventeen years old and reigned for 32 years....
, his successor, proved to be an even greater supporter. New missionaries arrived in 1708. In 1710, despite health problems, Fr. Vaz took another apostolic trip. On his return, he fell ill. He recovered from a series of infections and fevers, but was left weakened. He undertook eight days of spiritual exercises prescribed by the Rule, but before the seventh day he died at Kandy on 16 January 1711, aged 59.
Beatification
The subject of his beatificationBeatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
was first urged upon the consideration of the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
about 1737 by Dom Francisco de Vasconcellos, S.J., Bishop of Cochin, who also claimed jurisdiction over Ceylon.
The process was begun in Goa, and a number of miracle
Miracle
A miracle often denotes an event attributed to divine intervention. Alternatively, it may be an event attributed to a miracle worker, saint, or religious leader. A miracle is sometimes thought of as a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature. Others suggest that a god may work with the laws...
s were registered. But the non-fulfillment of certain essential formalities led Benedict XIV to cancel the proceedings, with an order, however, that they should be re-instituted. In the areas constituting former South Canara
South Canara
South Canara was a district under the British empire, located at . It was bifurcated in 1859 from Canara district. It was the undivided Dakshina Kannada district...
, he is generally known as Venerable Father Joseph Vaz. On 21 January 1995, he was beatified by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
in Colombo.