The monument to Costanzo Camillus, Jesuit martyr, located in the mainland part of the modern city of Hirado, formerly the town of Tabira

Camillus Costanzo SJ (Bovalino Superiore, 1571 – Hirado, Japan 15 September 1622) was an Italian soldier, law student and Jesuit missionary in Japan. When he was burned alive in 1622, he became a Roman Catholic martyr.[1]

Missionary

Park setting for the monument to Father Costanzo

The Jesuit Order sent Father Costanzo to China; but the Portuguese prevented his entrance into that country.[1]

Instead, he went to Japan. He learned the Japanese language quickly; and he successfully encouraged converts in the region near the city of Sakai.[1]

When all missionaries were banished from Japan, he went to Macau.[1]

Despite the dangers involved in ignoring the Tokugawa shogunate's exclusionary laws (sakoku), he returned in 1621. Disguised as a soldier, he managed to elude capture until April 24, 1622 when he was arrested on the island of Hirado off the western coast of Kyushu.[1]

He was condemned to death and was burned alive on September 15, 1622.[2]

Beatification

Father Costanzo was beatified by Pope Pius IX on May 7, 1867.[3]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Society of Jesus web site: Blessed Camillus Costanzo, Martyr of Japan.
  2. ↑ Merrick, D. A. (1891). Saints of the Society of Jesus, pp. 56-57.
  3. ↑ Tylenda, Joseph N. (1998). Jesuit Saints & Martyrs: Short Biographies of the Saints, Blessed, Venerables, and Servants of God of the Society of Jesus, p. 313.

References

  • Merrick, D. A. (1891). Saints of the Society of Jesus. New York: Benziger. OCLC 18953008
  • Tylenda, Joseph N. (1998). Jesuit Saints & Martyrs: Short Biographies of the Saints, Blessed, Venerables, and Servants of God of the Society of Jesus. Chicago: Jesuit Way. ISBN 978-0-829-41074-7; OCLC 38039730


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