An Oratorian from Goa – India, A Collie, A Beggar in Sri Lanka

Maria Imelda de Souza

He is none other than our own Goan St. Jose Vaz. Born in the picturesque village of Benaulim, Salcette, Goa on 21* April, 1561, on a Friday to spiritually minded parents, adorned with Christian virtues: Cristovam Vaz from Sancoale and Maria Miranda from Benaulim. He was baptized on the eight day of his birth on a Friday, on 28″ April 1561 at St. John the Baptist Church, Benaulim, by the Jesuit Parish Priest Fr. Jacinto Pereira and was named Jose Vaz.

The day Jose Vaz was born, his father Cristovam Vaz saw a bright star shining in the firmament at noon over the house he was born, which made him record in his family diary that in course of time his son would achieve greatness, so he wrote thus: “On the 21″ April 1561, a son was born to me who was baptised on the eighth day of his birth and was named Jose Vaz, who in time will become a great man”. For sure it came to be true as the hand of God was upon him. Jose Vaz was canonized a saint by Pope Francis on January, 14″ 2015 at Galle Face Green, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

His parents Cristovan Vaz and Maria Miranda had six children: three boys and three girls and Jose was their third child. They gathered for common prayers and spiritual reading everyday at a particular time.

Jose Vaz grew up in the love of God. He spent much time praying at night while his family thought he was asleep. He did likewise in the morning when getting up.

He had a tender devotion to Mary, the Mother of God.

While going to school and returning home, he would often recite the Rosary. He used to attend Mass, receive Holy Communion, be an altar server, make Way of the Cross and so on. He used to reach out to the less fortunate children and the poor in the village. His mother would refer to him as “Meu santinho” (my little saint)

After completing his primary studies (primeiro and segundo grau) at Sancoale and then Latin in Benaulim, with distinction, he joined the Jesuit College of St. Paul in Old Goa to study Humanities as he chose to serve God, as a priest. Through prayer and devotion to the Blessed Sacrament he achieved great strength and firmness in the faith and holiness.

After successfully completing his studies at the Jesuit College, he joined the Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas run by the Dominican Fathers at Old Goa. There, he completed his Philosophical and Theological studies with distinction. For his companions, Jose Vaz was an example of virtue and a mirror of perfection.

In 1674, he was ordained a Subdeacon and in 1675, a Deacon by the Bishop D. Custodio Pinho. In 1676, he was ordained priest by the Archbishop of Goa Dom Frei. Antonio Brandao at the age of 26.

As soon as he was ordained priest, he began his apostolic work in his village. He soon became the much sought after priest, confessor, preacher and friend. The Governor of Goa D. Rodrigo da Costa chose him to be his confessor and counsellor. From the day he was ordained priest till his death, he used to walk barefooted, even if he had to go places like jungles and marshy places. He was known as a Saint by everyone.

On 5* August 1677, he wrote his famous ‘Letter of Captivity’ at the altar of the Statue of Our Lady of Health in the Church of Sancoale. In it, he surrendered himself as a Perpetual Slave of Mary and decided to carry out his mission barefooted. This enabled him later on to enter Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

In March, 1681, he was sent to Kanara as the Superior of the Mission where he did his apostolic work for about four years. There he built bridges of peace, administered to the sick and the dying and to the Catholics who were spiritually abandoned.

After his return from Kanara, he sought permission from his Archbishop to be a member of a newly formed community at the Church of the Holy Cross of Miracles, Old Goa, which he joined on 28.4.1685. He helped the community to adopt the Rules of the Institute of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri, popularly called Oratorians. He was elected Superior and became the real founder of the Institute, in India, which rendered great service to the Church in Sri Lanka.

After six months stay in Goa, he left for Ceylon (Sri Lanka) along with two Portuguese Oratorians, Fr. Paulo De Souza and a lay brother Estevam Sequeira and a boy named João. He carried with him only his Breviary, items needed for Mass and his vestments.

They travelled down the coast of India through Mangalore. On reaching Tellichery, he realized that one of his companions would not be allowed to proceed because of his fair complexion, so he advised them both to return to Mangalore, while he and Joāo continued their journey. He and João entered Sri Lanka under the guise of coolies due to anti-Catholic sentiments of the Dutch who had occupied Ceylon (Sri Lanka). The journey took twenty days during which they fell sick before landing ashore in April 1687.

His epic entry into Ceylon (Sri Lanka) was a daring feat, a risk on his own life to help those persecuted for their faith, deprived of priests and churches for over forty years and forced to renounce their Catholic Faith.

He bore all insults, affronts and blows when trying to locate Catholic families in the Island. His race, language and culture was different from that of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) yet he alone began the great ‘adventure’ of the spiritual re-conquest of Ceylon (Sri Lanka).

Jose Vaz and Joāo would go about from door to door as beggars to look for traces of Catholicism. They were disappointed to learn that there were few Catholics left.

With faith and determination, they carried out their begging errands. Jose Vaz wore a Rosary round his neck. Soon the Catholics suspected and came to know that he was a priest. They gladly yet secretly informed others. Thus began the first sign of the revival of the Catholic Faith. They would meet at dead of night to be catechised and to receive the Sacraments. A traitor betrayed them and a raid was organised by the Dutch captain Van Rhede. But miraculously they escaped and reached Kandy after crossing mountains, forest and other dangers. At Kandy, they were thrown in prison as the king was told that the priest was a Portuguese. They were kept in the prison for five days and under house

arrest for two years.

During these years, the kingdom of Kandy suffered drought. Fr. Jose Vaz was approached. He gathered the Catholic community and prayed with them. There was sudden down pour and incessant rain, which astonished the king who gave Fr. Jose Vaz freedom to preach the religion and to invite others like him to Sri Lanka. After some time, a small epidemic broke out and spread over Kandy. The king and his courtiers fled. But Jose Vaz and his Oratorians began tending to the sick without any concern for self. The epidemic lasted a full year.

After the epidemic was over, the king returned and was astonished by the work done by Jose Vaz. He immediately assured him complete protection against any odds.

Worn out by his hard labours and illness during 24 years of his ‘adventure in Sri Lanka. Jose Vaz breathed his last holding a lighted candle in his hand, invoking the most Holy Name of Jesus and serenely gazing towards Heaven. Thus, the flame of Mary after his daring leap into the unknown and adventuring for Christ among the Buddhist and Calvinists entered Heaven on January 16, 1711.