FIRST JESUIT MARTYR

In the age of exploration and imperialism, the Portuguese had their avaricious eyes on India. The Jesuits wanted to come in behind the Portuguese military and try to claim the spiritual territory of India for the Society of Jesus.

Here's the story from the Jesuit Family Album.

S.G. Anthony Criminali, S.J. (Italian: 1520-1549) became the very first martyr of the Society of Jesus, dying in India at the age of 29. He had been assigned to work along the fishery coast of India near Malabar by the mission superior, Francis Xavier. Contrary to the advice of Anthony, the Portuguese governor had established a tollgate to collect fees from the Hindu pilgrims. The infuriated Hindus broke through the barrier. The Portuguese fled, leaving the small Christian village to absorb the furious Hindu hatred of Christianity. Anthony along with all the other Christians was clubbed and beheaded. (Ban, JLx, Som, Tan, Tyl)

So the Portuguese governor of an area on the Indian coast decides to tax the local populace by putting a toll gate on the road they take to a sacred ritual site.

The locals get pissed off and kill all the Europeans. Apparently the brave Portuguese soldiers left the clergy and civilians defenseless rather than risk their own necks with an angry mob.

So Father Criminali was killed, not because he was a Christian, but because he sided with the Portuguese who tried to extort the local population.

It was just a minor setback for European imperialism. To call this guy a martyr shows a lack of all seriousness.

The blurb says he advised against the tollgate. The blurb doesn’t tell us why.

Has either Pope apologized for European imperialism yet? They certainly aren’t thinking it was AMDG!

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