Baring-Gould’s sources: Roman Martyrology. Beatified by Benedict XIV., in September, 174 a. Authority: — The account of the Martyrdom by Jean Sanchez, an eye-witness.] Ignatius Azevedo, S.J., and thirty-nine companions of the same Order, started in 1570 for Brazil, to supervise, and labour in the missions there to the heathen. Father Azevedo was born in 1527, of one of the most illustrious families 'in Portugal. He had not completed his forty-ninth year at the time of his mar1 Ditmar says that at the synod of Frankfort, in 1005, the Emperor said, — •* Ob recompensationem futuram Christum haeredem clegi, quia in soboli acquirenda nulla spes remanet mlhi,” which looks much as if he had desired children j but they were denied him. In the privileges granted to the church of Hildesheim, he grants them “proconjugia prolisque regiae incolumitate,*' and speaks of Cune* guoda thus — "Duo sumus, in carne una," in a diploma to Paderborn. [July x$.

…tyrdom; but notwithstanding the lengthened period of study generally required of all who enter the Society of Jesus, his talent and piety were so marked that he was ordained priest before the canonical age, and he was appointed rector of a college in his twenty-sixth year, by S. Ignatius himself, who was then living, and appointed temporary Provincial of Portugal even before he had finished his theological studies. In 1565, Father Azevedo entreated the new general, S. Francis Borgia, to send him to Brazil; but this met with such opposition from the Jesuits of Portugal, that it was finally resolved to send Father Azevedo out as a visitor, not as a missionary, and that he should return to Europe, and give an account of the state of religion there, after a brief stay and tour of inspection. This arranged, Father Azevedo departed, invested with the office of Superior.

A few words may here be necessary as to the nature of the country to which he went. Although discovered and conquered by the Portuguese from the beginning of the sixteenth century, it was not until 1549 that the faith of Christ had been preached there, by six Jesuits. They found this immense country peopled by the most inhuman savages, who lived like wild beasts, devoured human flesh, even that of their dead parents and children, and who were divided into so many tribes, each speaking different languages, so that the heroic courage which nerved these six fathers to go amongst them and attempt their conversion has in it something incredible to the mere human understanding. Where man is willing, however, to do much, God is ever ready to do more; and so, in spite of all infirmities and difficulties, though the first bishop of Brazil, with more than a hundred of his followers, was put to death by the savages four years after his arrival amongst them, yet Jnly xj.] B. Ignatius Azevedo* at the time of Father Azevedo’s visit, when the Church had been planted there about sixteen years, he found more than sixteen thousand Christians and as many catechumens. The Jesuit houses in Brazil were numerous and widely separated; yet the indefatigable visitor went to every one. A knapsack on his shoulders, an axe and saw, and other carpentering tools, were all he carried, as on foot and unattended he journeyed from one colony of Christians to another. After a sojourn of more than three years, Father Azevedo, thinking he had sufficiently examined into the state of the Church in Brazil, prepared for his return to Europe, where he was anxiously expected; but before he left America an incident took place, which is perhaps worth recording. On his way to visit the College of Rib de Janeiro, with the bishop and other fathers, Father Azevedo begged permission, whilst the vessel was becalmed, to go on shore in a boat and say mass. When he had put off from the ship, and had rowed a little distance, a monstrous whale, which had been wounded by a harpoon, rushed spouting upon the little boat. The bishop and all who were in the ship gave up those who were in the boat for lost, when Father Azevedo composedly raised his eyes to heaven, and made the sign of the holy cross over the advancing whale. Instantly the monster sank, and showed no more; the attitude of the father was that of the harpooner, and it shrank from another stroke of the deadly weapon which had once wounded it.

On his return to Europe, Father Azevedo repaired to Lisbon, in order to give an account to the king of the great benefits his bounty was effecting in Brazil. He also /communicated with several young Jesuits whom he was anxious to enlist in the good work he meditated, Uuly z J.

and then set off to Rome to confer with the general. S. Francis Borgia welcomed back his friend, with tears of joy, and took the warmest interest in all the details of his visit. Father Azevedo gave a glowing account of the beautiful land he had visited, of the fields white for harvest, and of the demand for fresh labourers in it. S. Francis warmly responded to the wishes of Father Azevedo; he gave him permission to seek throughout Spain and Portugal for young men fitted for this arduous and yet glorious work; and when the humble Father, with downcast eyes, added, “ And if my unworthiness does not render me unfit for so high a favour, let me, even me, go with them,” S. Francis could not refuse his request. He was appointed superior of all the missions in Brazil. Father Azevedo was empowered to go through Spain and Portugal gathering labourers for the work, not only from among priests, but students, novices, and lay brothers, that he might train them each according to their talents for the work of the Brazilian mission. Before leaving Rome, Father Azevedo received the special blessing of the Pope, S. Pius V. Father Azevedo, on leaving Rome, went to Spain, where he travelled from college to college in quest of candidates for the mission. Everywhere, filled with zeal, they thronged around him. Amongst others, a young relative of S. Theresa, named Godoy, had the happiness of being chosen. Proceeding thence to Portugal, he waited on the king, having written to the different superiors mentioning the young men he had selected, who were then despatched to join him at Lisbon, whither he journeyed with his companions as soon as his audience with the king was concluded. The missionaries travelled on foot, begging their daily food as they went along; and were joined at the enJolj *50 B. Ignatius Azevedo.

trance of Lisbon by the Portuguese detachment, so that their numbers amounted in all to sixty-nine. Lisbon at that time was hardly free from an epidemic fever, and it was not thought advisable that the young missionaries should be lodged in the city, therefore Father Azevedo placed them in a country-house belonging to the college. There he remained five months, training them for the important work to which they were called. Daily they walked in procession to a cross erected by their father on a distant hill; there, in a long station, they poured out their devoted hearts in all the fulness of the love and zeal of martyrs, — for such already by anticipation they were. A marble cross has since been put up in the place of that planted by F. Azevedo, and it now bears the title of the Cross of the Martyrs.

So pleasant was the life they led in this seminary that even Father Azevedo himself seemed to forget his impatience to be gone; and writing to a friend, declared that “he found the Valley of Rosal a foretaste of heaven, and that he had never enjoyed more perfect peace.” The time was, however, now come for the departure of the missionary band; and having arranged with the captain of a merchant-ship, the 5. Iago 9 for half of his vessel, Father Azevedo, with thirty-nine of his companions, went on board, June 5th, 1570. The remainder, thirty in all, Father Azevedo agreed with Don Louis de Vasconcellos, the new governor of Brazil, should be accommodated in the vessels of his squadron. The merchant-man was, however, to accompany the squadron for the sake of protection. He took care to reserve the younger missionaries for his own companions, with that tender watchfulness which leads the shepherd to keep under his own eye the weakest lambs U«Jy is.

of the flock. He also had a wooden partition erected between his portion of the vessel and that destined to the captain and crew. Each Jesuit had a separate cell and little altar; a bell called them to their religious exercises, to table, or to work, as if they were still in college; and they were only permitted to leave the enclosure he had made for them to perform some act of corporal or spiritual mercy for the crew or passengers. They undertook the cooking on board, each serving in succession. They taught the catechism and nursed the sick; and no insignificant results followed their holy teaching and example. The idle sailor was led on into profitable conversation, and at night, when dancing or drinking might otherwise have beguiled the tediousness of the voyage, the men were hushed into reverent silence on hearing the young voices of the Jesuits break forth in concert chanting the Litany of the Virgin, or some hymn of praise. The presence of the little band of earnest souls soon made itself felt. Words of blasphemy and sin were no longer heard, and a spirit of gentleness, modesty, and devotion gradually spread among all on board.

The seven ships arrived safely at Madeira, where the Jesuits spent a short time; and then Father Azevedo and the thirty-nine companions returned to the S. /ago.

Vasconcellos, having been advised to defer his voyage for a time, determined to remain at Madeira awhile; but nothing would induce the captain of the S. Iago to delay. He was anxious to proceed immediately to the Isle of Palma, for which much of his merchandise was destined; and there was nothing to keep him, but the* doubt which Father Azevedo felt as to the prudence of departing, — for there was at this time a famous bucJ«*»r iso B. Ignatius Azevedo.

caneer, named Jacques Sourie, who infested these seas with five ships. He was a zealous Calvinist; full of implacable hatred against the clergy and religious of the Catholic Church. Having heard that the new governor of Brazil had many missionary Jesuits on board his squadron, he cruized about where he thought the Portuguese vessels must pass, and ravaged the coasts of the Canaries. Vasconcellos, who was aware of this, in vain represented to the captain of the S. Iago the unprotected situation of his passengers, if they should fall in with the buccaneer, but could not induce him to desist from running for Palma. Father Azevedo, aware of the dreaded danger, could not for some time determine what was best to be done; but having recourse to his usual refuge in difficulty, prayer, he at last resolved to embark. It seemed as if his impending fate, and that of his companions, was revealed to him from above; for after celebrating mass and giving holy Communion to all his flock, he gave them an eloquent discourse on the grace and glory of martyrdom. Afterwards, assembling them in the college, he spoke more plainly of the great risk they ran, and desired all who were ready to die for Jesus to follow him, and those who did not feel called upon to make so great a sacrifice, to stay behind and join the other missionaries in the squadron. All, except four, enthusiastically accepted the chance of martyrdom; and these four timid souls were replaced by others; for no sooner was the news made known amongst the Jesuits, than so many came to Father Azevedo, emulous of being chosen to fill the four vacancies, that he had the greatest difficulty in selecting some lest he should be unjust to the others. He then made all arrangements requisite in the event of their being captured by the Huguenot vou vn. 25 pirate. He named another father, who was to remain at Madeira, as vice-provincial, and gave up to him all the papers concerning the mission to Brazil, and causing all who were going with him to make a solemn confession, he said mass and administered communion to them; then bade farewell of those who were to remain behind, and embarked with his young companions on board. Some most interesting particulars of the last days of this holy band have been recorded by Brother Juan Sanchez, the only member of it who escaped death. He relates that the little band of martyrs seemed to burn with impatience to shed their blood for Christ. During six days Father Azevedo was incessantly murmuring in prayer: “My God, is it true that I shall die for thee ? Oh, happy death, why dost thou delay thy wished - for coming ? Where are these enemies of Jesus and His Church ? Alas, that my blis6 is 90 long delayed !” But, externally, all went on as calmly as before, and the little company of expectant martyrs pursued their former orderly and devotional life in the ship, till they arrived safely within sight of the Isle of Palma. But just as the vessel was making for port, a sudden wind arose, and driving the ship from her course, the crew were obliged to land in another part of the island. Here, most unexpectedly, Father Azevedo ’was recognized by an old friend, an officer, who insisted that the Jesuits should come and stay at his house. They spent five days with him very agreeably; but at the end of that time, the captain, anxious to proceed to the port to which his merchandise was consigned, ordered all on board. The friendly officer had, however, many misgivings, and earnestly besought the missionaries to cross the island instead of trusting themselves again upon the sea. He offered horses and J«*iy ijo B. Ignatius Azevedo.

all needful assistance; but it seemed hardly likely that misfortune could befall them in their brief sail before they reached Palma; and Father Azevedo declined the offer. Excusing himself, therefore, to his hospitable friend, on the ground that it would be scarcely gracious to the rest of the passengers on board the S. lago if he were to secure his party from all risk, by going across the island, whilst they were exposed to danger, he ordered his baggage to be carried on board. Meanwhile, Vasconcellos having learnt that Sourie had been seen cruizing in the offing, made ready his ships to go and capture the buccaneer; but Sourie, unwilling to risk the unequal combat, retired in haste towards the Isle of Palma, and thus, strangely enough, ran directly in the course of the S. lago. On the 13th of July, 1570, the S. lago left the harbour where it had been at anchor, and, two days after, Sourie came within sight of Palma. Contrary winds impeded the S. lago, and the captain could make no way; it was necessary also to stand out to sea, in order to avoid the reefs and sand-banks; but at length, when they seemed to have surmounted all difficulties, and were within three leagues of port, the wind suddenly dropped, and they were compelled to cast anchor and remain there all night. At break of day the sentinel signalled a sail, and hopes were entertained that it was one of Vasconcellos* ships, especially as, shortly after, four others were observed taking the same direction. The anchor was therefore weighed to join them, when the arms of the Queen of Navarre on the approaching vessels betrayed to the 5. lago her fatal mistake.

The captain immediately took counsel with the rest, and found both soldiers and sailors ready to die in defence of the ship; but as it was a merchant vessel, and tJulyiS.

had but fifty soldiers on board, they could hardly hope to offer an effectual resistance. Every preparation was, however, made for defence; and to procure greatei freedom of action for the men, the partition of boards which separated the Jesuits from the crew was removed. Father Azevedo, his face radiant with a supernatural brightness, holding an image of the Blessed Virgin, stood forth before his young companions and congratulated them that their hour was come. “Now is the moment to show our love for God, our zeal for the faith. We must shed our blood this day to bear this twofold witness. Fear nothing from those who can but destroy our bodies. Let all our thoughts be in heaven. Let us remember who we are, and how ardently we have hitherto longed for this. Our sufferings can last but a few moments; our reward will be eternal.” Then holding on high the sacred image, he began to recite the Litany of the Blessed Virgin. Every voice responded. The Confiteor followed, after which the father, having bid all prepare themselves by sincere contrition, pronounced a general absolution.

The captain, astonished at the self-possession of so many young men, and thinking that, with the assistance of the forty, he would probably be able to beat off the pirates* desired them to assist in defending the vessel, declaring they were better fit to handle arms than the rest of the crew; but to this Father Azevedo would not consent. He offered his own services, and those of his companions, for every other ministration of which they were capable, to watch over the wounded and dying, but he would not suffer them to fight. Rather than that their hands should shed blood, he was ready to sacrifice their lives and his own, and those of all on board. It was with a heavy heart, and some discontent, July xs.] B. Ignatius Azevedo.

that the captain desisted from his attempt to enlist forty such able-bodied men. Azevedo chose eleven of the oldest and most experienced of his companions to minister to sick and wounded, and placed them in different parts of the vessel, and bade the younger ones go below and await in prayer the moment of their death. For himself, still holding the cherished image in his hand, he took his post at the foot of the mainmast, whence he could have a full view of all that took place.

Meanwhile Sourie, in his largest vessel, had approached within musket-shot, and called upon the Portuguese to surrender. Their only reply was a broadside from their guns, which swept his deck. Sourie enraged, made desperate efforts to board the S. /ago; three Calvinists, one his own near relative, had reached the deck, when they were cut down and hurled back into the sea. Finding himself unable, after repeated efforts, to succeed, he made signs to his other ships to come to his assistance, and the S. Iago was surrounded on all sides. Grappling-irons were thrown out, and fifty men, with Sourie at their head, sprung upon her deck. Resistance, hopeless as it was, was for a time maintained with all the energy of despair; and in the midst of the noise and confusion the voice of Father Azevedo was heard from the foot of the mainmast, “ There is but one true religion, and it is that of the Holy Roman Church; and happy is he who shall lay down his life rather than lose his faith.” Meanwhile the eleven missionaries, disposed about the deck, lent all possible assistance to the wounded and dying, binding up their wounds, exhorting or consoling them. Two of these zealous men were wounded, and obliged to join their companions below. The Cal* CJttiy x $.

vinists, at first fully occupied in defending themselves, cast imprecations and glances of hatred at the Jesuits on deck, especially at Father Azevedo, whose noble presence and words animated the heroic resistance of the Portuguese, and several times they endeavoured ineffectually to stab him; * but he was too jealously guarded for them to reach him, though he was slightly hurt by an arquebus aimed from a distance. The defenders of the 5. Iago could not long maintain the unequal contest; and when the captain was struck down, the few still able to bear arms surrendered at discretion. The Calvinists immediately took possession of the ship; and their first impulse was to put the Jesuits to death. But Sourie ordered that no one should be executed without his command. In searching the vessel, the twenty-eight young missionaries and their two wounded companions were discovered, and brought on deck. Father Azevedo and his nine friends still remained above, ministering calmly to the dying. The captain expired in the good fathers arms. Presently an account was brought to Sourie of all who were still alive, soldiers, sailors, passengers, and Jesuits. With cool deliberation he issued his orders; first, that those who killed his own three men on attempting to board the S. Iago should be put to death. There was little difficulty in finding them and carrying this sentence into execution. To the other soldiers, sailors, and passengers, he granted their lives; and then raising his voice, he cried, “ As for the Jesuits, kill them without mercy. Murder those rascally Papists, who are only going to Brazil to disseminate false doctrine.,, The buccaneers, like wolves ravening for their prey, rushed on Father Azevedo and his nine companions, who were engaged consoling the dying Portuguese. Raising his B. Ignatius Azevedo.

eyes at the sound of their approach, the father calmly said, li Courage, brethren, let us yield up our lives for Jesus Christ, who shed His blood for us !” and stepping forward, confronted the heretics. One of the soldiers with a sword struck him on the head, and he fell with his skull fractured. Four others then surrounded him and stabbed him with their cutlasses. But in spite of these mortal blows, the undaunted soldier of Christ rallied, and with a dying effort exclaimed, “I call angels and men to witness that I die in the Holy Roman Catholic Church, and that I die with all my heart in defence of her dogmas and her practices.” Then turning his dying eyes on his companions, he added in a faint voice, “ My dear children, rejoice with me at my happy fete; hope for the same yourselves. This day, if it please God, we shall all meet again in heaven.” Even his executioners were silent for a moment, as if spell-bound by the unflinching courage of the martyr; but the evil spirit within them could not long be chained, and with renewed fury, like beasts that grow fiercer after tasting blood, they turned their rage against the image of the Blessed Virgin, which they perceived clasped in his hand. But unable to wrench it from his rigid grasp, they heaved the martyr, and cast him, still breathing, into the sea. That very night, when all was silent in the ship, the corpse of Father Azevedo, which all day long had floated near the ship, its arms extended in the form of a cross, was swept by the current against the side, and dancing on the ripple, tapped with the little image against the boat. One of the Portuguese put out his hand and took the image from the relaxing fingers, and contrived to conceal it from the Calvinists. He afterwards presented it to the Jesuits of Madeira, who sent it to their college in the Bay of All Saints at Brazil, where it is shown still stained with the martyr’s blood.

The next victim was Jago de Andrada, who having seen his superior fall, had rushed to give him a last absolution. Incensed at seeing him perform this priestly act beneath their very eyes, the pirates stabbed him in a dozen places at once, and threw him also into the sea. Benedict de Castro seeing this, and that it was the profession of the faith that drew down the vengeance of the Calvinists, held up his crucifix, crying in a loud tone, “ I am a Catholic — I am a Catholic.” Three muskets were fired at him at once, and he fell; but struggling up, on his hands, again repeated, u I am a Catholic.” He was cut down, and thrown overboard. Blaize Ribeira and Pedro Santoura, two lay-brothers, who were kneeling before a crucifix nailed to one of the masts, were next attacked; the skull of the one, and the jaw of the other, were fractured by blows with a musket, and they were thrown over the bulwarks and drowned. Jago Perfcz, a young man, whose gentle manners had made him greatly beloved, then stepped modestly before the executioners, whose hands were wet with blood, and said quietly, “ I also profess the Catholic faith; it is the only faith that ought to be maintained, for without it there is no salvation.” Transported with rage at this calm declaration, one of the men thrust his pike into the breast of the speaker.

The four other Jesuits on deck, each holding his crucifix, came forward, entreating that they might not be spared. They were thrown alive into the sea. And now the thirty young men who had remained below were called for. They had not seen the dreadful fate of their ten brethren; and when they stepped upon the deck, in the flower of their age, their youth, modesty, jmy *5.j B. Ignatius Azevedo. 393 and gentle demeanour might have disarmed hearts less savage than those of Sourie and his heretical band. They had in no way assisted or encouraged those on board, but had remained praying in the cabin; when, however, they came on deck, and saw it flowing with the blood of their murdered companions, one amongst them, Manuel Alvarfez, cried out, “ Do you think to frighten us by the sight of the tortures you are preparing for us ? Barbarians, you deceive yourselves; we shall die happy to give up our lives for Jesus Christ, who deigned to die for us. Our death will be but a passage from this transitory life to one which is eternal; but you, unhappy ones, must expect the vengeance of God to fall upon you.” Enraged at this, the Calvinists threw themselves upon him, trod him under their feet, and broke all his limbs by repeated blows. They left him still alive that they might prolong his torture; but he, radiant with a martyr’s triumph in the midst of his agony, cheered on his companions, and blessed God for vouchsafing him the honour of martyrdom. At this the Calvinists threw him into the water, together with the bodies of two whom they had slain with daggers, and to whom, thinking they were priests, from their being older than the others, they said, mockingly, “ Go to the bottom of the sea, and there say your Popish mass, and hear confessions.” It is unnecessary to relate how, one by one, the rest of the holy band were killed, nor indeed were the eye-witnesses who stood near at this awful hour able distinctly to recall every circumstance. By twos and threes the remaining victims were dragged to the ship’s side, and there strangled or pierced with daggers, and thrown, yet living, overboard. The water round the vessel was covered with floating bodies, and the drowning men were heard repeating incessantly the name of their Redeemer, until they sank to rise no more, till the sea gives up her dead. Some already dead, some still full of life, but all pierced with wounds and covered with blood, were dashed against each other by the wives, and then, one by one, sank; whilst a concert of dying voices breathed, 41 Jesus, Jesus !” with confidence and love. The Portuguese could not restrain their tears, remembering the saintly lives of the departed, and the benefits they had received at their hands. The Huguenots were not content to kill the Jesuits, they made sport of the sufferings of at teast one of their victims. Fastening him to the mouth of a cannon, they blew his body into fragments. Meanwhile, not a tear, not a groan, escaped the martyrs, even in the extremity of their torments. Two of them, who had been keeping their beds from illness, hearing what was going on, had hastily risen and dressed themselves, to join their companions, lest they should lose the crown of martyrdom. Another, Simon de Castex, a young man of only eighteen years of age, whose refinement led the Calvinists to suppose that he was of high family, and might be worth a considerable ransom, was brought before Sourie, that his fate might be decided on. The buccaneer inquired who he was; the young man replied, 44 I am a Catholic, and I am of the Society of Jesus.” He aspired to no higher title, he acknowledged no other family. Thinking himself insulted by this reply, Sourie ordered him to be strangled and flung into the sea.

Thus perished thirty-nine of the Jesuits, and one only was left to record the sacrifice, Juan Sanchez, a lay brother, who had acted as cook on the voyage, and was spared by the Calvinists on this account. Not seeing him clad in the obnoxious garments, they did not supB. Ignatius Azevedo.

pose he was a Jesuit, and they made him cook in one of their own ships. Thus was a credible eye-witness of these wonderfiil events preserved. But the number of the forty martyrs was not to be unfulfilled, and this was the way in which it was accomplished. There was a young man on board the S. lago, a nephew of the captain, named Juan, of excellent character, whose heart had been completely won by the conduct of the young religious since they embarked at Lisbon, so that he had appealed very earnestly to Father Azevedo to be admitted amongst his novices. Father Azevedo promised that this favour should be granted him on reaching Brazil, provided his behaviour during the voyage was good. Nothing could exceed the zeal of the young man; he frequented the spiritual exercises of the young Jesuits, as far as was permitted him, looked upon them already as his brothers, and gave himself up to all the austerities they practised. Renewing from time to time his supplications to Father Azevedo, he at length obtained the happiness he craved, and was admitted as a novice; although his being invested with the habit was delayed, because the missionaries were unprovided with a spare habit n which to invest him. When this young candidate for the religious life saw those with whom he already reckoned himself one falling side by side, victims for their holy profession, a burning desire came upon him to share their death and glorious crown, and, rushing amongst the Calvinists, he cried, “I too have been received into the Society of Jesus, and am on my way to Brazil to preach the holy Catholic faith.” Seeing that they hesitated to believe him, because he was dressed in secular habits, he went to where one or two young missionaries were stripped of their upper garU«»r xs.

ments ready for death, and clothing himself in the habit of one of them, re-appeared on the upper deck, and mingling amongst those who were being strangled, received the grace for which he thirsted, and was cast with the others into the ocean.

It was on Saturday, July 15th, 1570, that these forty martyrs entered into their rest. That very day, S. Theresa, in her monastery at Avila, being in meditation, was suddenly rapt in an ecstacy, and beheld the heavens opened, and forty of those who had shed their blood for Jesus entering Paradise, their countenances dazzling with celestial light, crowns upon their heads, and palms in their hands. She remained absorbed for a long time in contemplation of their glory, especially when she perceived by their habits that they were of the Society of Jesus, and that her own relation, Francis Per 6 z Godoy, was amongst the number. She confided this vision to her confessor [in old usage, a saint who was not martyred, or who suffered for the faith without being killed], Father Balthazer Alvarfcz, by whom it was made known before the tidings had reached Spain, and verified it in every detail. Father Azevedo appeared also on the very day and hour of his death to his brother Jerome, then with the Portuguese army in the East Indies; his face serene, his voice full of joy, declaring that he had died by the hands of heretics, and was entering heaven. Jerome recovering from the trance into which the apparition had cast him, exclaimed, u My brother, my dear brother I” but Father Azevedo had already vanished. From that moment, through all the military honours he obtained, and the harassing disappointments which afterwards befell him, Jerome had but one real object in life, to work out his salvation and become worthy of his relationship to the glorious martyr. He chose him for his special protector; and caused a painting to be July xso B. Ignatius Azevedo. 397 made which represented him as he appeared at that moment; it was hung up in his oratory, and became the object of his tenderest devotion. No one could doubt, from the effect on the after-life of Jerome, that he had really beheld what he said.

Amongst the martyrs nine only were Spaniards, the rest were Portuguese; two only were priests, twentytwo were intended for the priesthood, but had not yet completed their studies, the other sixteen were laybrothers, who performed domestic functions, and were also employed when necessary as catechists. The Calvinists did not long hesitate, when they had despatched their victims, to lay their sacrilegious hands upon whatever they could find that had belonged to them. They expected, no doubt, to discover hoards of valuable treasure; but altar furniture, church ornaments, chalices, missals, reliquaries, spiritual books, rosaries, images, and medals — all presents to Father Azevedo from the Pope and other prelates at Rome, for the mission in Brazil — these were all they could find. Disappointed in their covetous search, they wreaked the most wanton outrages on the simple but sacred objects of devotion. They hacked with their knives the image of their crucified God, and crushed beneath their feet medals and rosaries. They dressed themselves in the sacerdotal vestments, with shouts of derision. One of them having discovered, by its superscription, a piece of the true cross, called one of the Portuguese, who was looking on in horror and indignation, and exclaimed, as he cast it into the fire, “ Come, superstitious men, and see if this wood will not burn as well as any other.” The silver chalices and ciboriums were profaned at their drunken revels; and every outrage that impiety could suggest was heaped upon all Lives 0/ the Saints.

Holy IJ. that bore witness of the Holy Faith. A few of the garments of the missionaries were preserved, and afterwards bought at a high price by the governor of Gomera, one of the Canary Islands.

As to the other missionaries, who had been left behind at Madeira, they learnt the news with profound and bitter grief; but there was so much of consolation in the nature of their brethren’s death, that by degrees they felt only sorrow that they had lost the same glorious privilege. Especially Father Pedro Diaz, to whom Father Azevedo had committed his authority before his departure, regretted unceasingly that he had lost the opportunity of sealing his faith with his blood. But for him the crown was only suspended a little longer. The very next year, when continuing his voyage to Brazil with Vasconcellos’ squadron, he fell into the hands of the same heretics, and, with eleven of his companions, went to receive the same crowns and palms as Father Azevedo and his sainted band of martyrs. END OF VOL. VII.

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