Sermon – Saint Ignatius de Azevedo and His Martyr Companions – 17 July 2026

Ignatius and his thirty-nine companions were Jesuit priests. They had one goal: to bring Christ to Brazil.

Ignatius had previously been to Brazil. He then returned to Europe with the aim of persuading thirty-nine Jesuit priests—thirty-one Portuguese and eight Spanish—to accompany him to Brazil.

For this purpose, he first went to Rome and received the blessing of Pope Pius V. Then he returned to Portugal and set off for Brazil with thirty-nine companions.

During their voyage, their ship was stopped by French Calvinist pirates. Driven by their hatred of the Catholic faith, the pirates murdered Ignatius and his companions. Therefore, they never reached Brazil.

Ignatius carried with him an icon of the Virgin Mary called "Salus Populi Romani" (Protector of the Roman People). Before he died, he said:

My brothers, what a beautiful moment to attain paradise! Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.

Then he said the following:

Be brave, my children; today we are going to heaven.

Let us ask for the grace of the Blessed Mary so that we may follow her example in our love for Christ and in fulfilling the task He has given us.