Camillus Costanzo: Difference between revisions

Italian soldier, Jesuit missionary, and martyr

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]

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]

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

• 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