Fray José de Anchieta

Jesuit missionary and saint · 1534–1597

Fray José de Anchieta
ConquistaReligion16th CenturySaint and missionary

Jesuit missionary and saint

Jesuit missionary born in San Cristóbal de La Laguna in 1534. Active in Brazil from 1553, he took part in early São Paulo and the first foundation of Rio de Janeiro, and was canonised in 2014.

Early life

José de Anchieta was born on 19 March 1534 in San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife. He studied in Coimbra, joined the Society of Jesus and travelled to Brazil in 1553 as part of the third Jesuit expedition.

Historical role

His work unfolded in São Vicente, Piratininga/São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Jesuit sources link him to early São Paulo and to the first foundation of Rio de Janeiro. He also worked in Tupi, completed a grammar of the language most used on the Brazilian coast and produced catechetical and literary work.

Legacy

He was appointed provincial in 1577 and died on 9 June 1597. Church tradition remembers him as the 'Apostle of Brazil'. Pope Francis signed his decree of canonisation on 3 April 2014.

Timeline

  1. 1534Fray José de Anchieta is born in San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife.
  2. 1553He arrived in Brazil as a Jesuit missionary and began his evangelizing work among Indigenous communities.
  3. 1597Fray José de Anchieta dies in Reritiba, Espírito Santo, Brazil.
  4. 2014Pope Francis signed the decree canonizing José de Anchieta.

Sources and verification