AZEVEDO, IGNACIO DE, BL.

Missionary, martyr; b. Oporto, Portugal, 1526; martyred off the Canary Islands, July 15, 1570. Ignacio became a Jesuit in 1548 and was named rector of the College of St. Anthony in Lisbon in 1553. Eight years later he became rector of the new college established at Braga by the saintly Dominican, Archbishop Bartholomew of the Martyrs. As a superior, Ignacio was distinguished by his thoughtful concern for his subjects and his heroic service to the poor and sick of the area. His desire to serve God on the foreign missions was fulfilled in 1566 when the general, Francis Borgia, appointed him visitor of the Jesuit Missions in Brazil. Azevedo, finding the missions flourishing but severely short of manpower, received permission to return to Europe to recruit volunteers. His infectious zeal inspired 69 young Europeans to volunteer for the Brazilian mission. They sailed in two groups on June 5, 1570. The Santiago on which Ignatius and 39 companions embarked was captured by five Huguenot privateers commanded by Jacques Sourie, on Saturday, July 15, 1570. Though the others aboard were spared, Ignacio and his 39 companions were brutally slaughtered and thrown into the sea. Pius IX beatified these martyrs on May 11, 1854.

Azevedo's companions in martyrdom include one priest, James de Andrade (b. Pedrógão Grande, Portugal, c. 1531); seven professed brothers; 14 Jesuit scholastics; 16 novices; and one candidate for admittance to the order,

John, the nephew of the ship's captain. Among the brothers are Alphonsus de Baena (b. Villatobas near Toledo, Spain, c. 1539), Francis Álvares (b. Covilhã, Portugal, c. 1539), Gaspar Álvares (b. Oporto, Portugal), Gregory Escribano (b. Logroño, Spain), Manuel Álvares (b. Estremoz, Portugal, c. 1536), Peter Fontoura (b. Braga, Portugal), and Stephen Zuraire (b. Zudaire, Portugal). The scholastics include Álvaro Borralho Mendes (b. Alvas, Portugal), Andrew Gonçalves (b. Viana de Alvito near Alentejo, Portugal), Antony Soares (b. Vila de Trancoso, Portugal), Bento de Castro (b. Vila de Chacim, Portugal, c. 1543), Ferdinand Sánchez (b. Old Castile, Spain), Gonçalo Henriques (deacon, b. Oporto, Portugal), James Mimoso Pires (b. Nisa near Portalegre, Portugal), John Fernandes (b. Lisbon, Portugal, c. 1551), Louis Correia (b. Évora, Portugal), Manuel Fernandes (b. Celorico da Beira, Portugal), Manuel Pacheco (b. Ceuta, North Africa, of Portuguese parents), Manuel Rodrigues (b. Alcochete, Portugal), Peter Nunes (b. Vila da Fronteira near Alentejo, Portugal), and Simon Lopes (b. Ourém, Portugal). Alexis Delgado (b. Elvas, Portugal), Amaro Vaz (b. Bemfazer near Oporto, Portugal, c. 1554), Antony Correia (b. Oporto, Portugal, c. 1553), Antony Fernandes (b. Montemór-o-Novo, Portugal, c. 1552), Bras Ribeiro (b. Braga, Portugal, c. 1546), Dominic Fernandes (b. Vila de Borba, Portugal, c. 1551), Francis de Magalhães (b. Vila de Alcácer do Sal, Portugal, c. 1549), Francis Pérez Godoy (b. Torrijos near Toledo, Spain, c. 1540), John Fernandes (b. Braga, Portugal, c. 1547), John de Mayorga (b. Saint Jean Pied de Port, Gascony, c. 1533), John de San Martín (b. Yuncos near Toledo, Spain, c. 1550), John de Zafra (b. Jerez de Badajoz, Spain), Louis Rodrigues (b. Évora, Portugal, c. 1554), Mark Caldeira (b. Vila de Feira, Portugal, c. 1547), Nicholas Dinis (b. Braganza, Portugal, c. 1553), and Simon da Costa (b. Oporto, Portugal, 1570) were the martyred novices.

Feast: Jan. 19 (Jesuits).

Bibliography: g. f. de beauvais, La vie du venerable pere Ignace Azevedo (Paris 1744). f. j. corley and r. j. willmes, Wings of Eagles: The Jesuit Saints and Blessed (Milwaukee 1941). m. g. da costa, Ignácio de Azevedo (Braga, Port. 1946). j. n. tylenda, Jesuit saints & martyrs (2d ed. Chicago 1998) 202–7.

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