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{{Infobox saint
|honorific_prefix=Saint
|name=John de Britto
|birth_date=1 March 1647
|death_date={{Death date and age|1693|02|4|1647|3|1}}
|feast_day=4 February
|venerated_in=[[Catholic Church]]
|image=Jean de Brito (1647-1693) 2.jpg
|imagesize=
|caption=
|birth_place=[[Lisbon]], [[Portugal]]
|death_place=[[Orur]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]
|titles=Martyr
|beatified_date=21 August 1853
|beatified_place=Rome
|beatified_by=[[Pope Pius IX]]
|canonized_date=22 June 1947
|canonized_place=[[Rome]]
|canonized_by=[[Pope Pius XII]]
|attributes=
|patronage=Portugal, [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Sivagangai]], [[Sakthikulangara]]
|major_shrine=
|suppressed_date=
|issues=
}}
{{Infobox manner of address
| name= John de Britto, S.J.
| dipstyle= [[The Reverend|The Reverend Father]]
| offstyle= Father
| posthumous = [[Canonization|Saint]]
| relstyle=
| image = Coat of arms of João de Brito.svg
| image_size = 175px
}}
'''John de Britto''' (also spelled ''Brito''; {{lang-pt|João de Brito}}), also known as '''Arul Anandar''', (born in [[Lisbon]], [[Portugal]] on 1 March 1647 – died at [[Orur]],{{efn|At that time, the village was spelled Oriyur or Oreiour, but the present spelling according to the census of India is Orur.<ref name="CensusIndia">{{Cite web|title=Orur|url=https://www.censusindia.gov.in/pca/SearchDetails.aspx?Id=742824|access-date=2020-12-02|website=2011 Census of India}}</ref>}} [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]] on 4 February 1693) was a [[Portugal|Portuguese]] [[Jesuit]] [[missionary]] and [[martyr]], often called 'the Portuguese [[Francis Xavier|St Francis Xavier]]' by [[Roman Catholicism in India|Indian Catholics]]. He can be called the John the Baptist of India.

==Early life and missionary work==
John de Britto was the scion of a powerful aristocratic Portuguese family; his father, [[Salvador de Britto Pereira]], died while serving as Viceroy of the Portuguese [[Colonial Brazil|colony of Brazil]]. He joined the Jesuits in 1662, studying at the famous [[University of Coimbra]]. He travelled to the missions of [[Madurai]], in Southern India, present-day [[Tamil Nadu]], in 1673 and preached the Christian religion in the region of the Maravar country. He renamed himself '''''Arul Anandar''''' (அருளானந்தர்) in [[Tamil language|Tamil]]. The ruler of the Maravar country imprisoned him in 1684. Having been expelled, he returned to Lisbon in 1687 and worked as a missions procurator. King [[Peter II of Portugal|Pedro II]] wanted him to stay, but in 1690 he returned to the Maravar country with 24 new missionaries.

The Madurai Mission was a bold attempt to establish an Indian Catholic Church that was relatively free of European cultural domination. As such, Britto learned the native languages, went about dressed in yellow cotton, and lived like a [[தமிழ்]] Thuravi/Sanyaasi, abstaining from every kind of animal food and from [[wine]]. St John de Britto tried to teach the Catholic faith in categories and concepts that would make sense to the people he taught. This method, proposed and practiced by [[Roberto de Nobili]], met with remarkable success. Britto remained a strict [[Veganism|vegan]] until the end of his life, rejecting meat, fish, eggs and alcohol, and living only on legumes, fruits and herbs.<ref>{{cite book |last= de Britto |first= Fernando Pereira (brother of John de Britto) |title= Historia do nascimento, vida e martyrio do Beato João de Britto da Companhia de Jesus, Martyr da Asia, e protomartyr da missâo do Maduré |trans-title=History of the birth, life and martyrdom of Blessed John de Britto of the Society of Jesus, Martyr of Asia, and Protomartyr of the Madura Mission |url= https://archive.org/details/historiadonasci00britgoog |access-date= 2011-06-15 |edition= 2nd |year= 1852 |orig-year= 1722 |publisher= A. S. Monteiro |location= [[Lisbon]] |language= pt |isbn= 978-1-142-04284-4 |page= 203 |quote= ... se absteve até á morte de carnes, de ovos, de peixe, e de vinho, contentando-se com legumes, hervas e frutas; [... abstained from meats, eggs, fish, and wine until his death, contenting himself with vegetables, herbs and fruits;] }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last= Roberts|first= Holly Harlayne|title= Vegetarian Christian Saints: Mystics, Ascetics & Monks|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=ZEuamyoZIXwC|isbn= 978-0-9754844-0-1|date= 2004-09-01|access-date= 2010-12-08|publisher= Anjeli Press|location= New York |lay-url= http://www.all-creatures.org/book/r-vegchriststs.html |page= 198|quote= He distinguished himself by ... consuming a totally vegetarian diet}}</ref>

==Martyrdom==
[[File:Martírio de São João de Brito.png|thumb|left|Martyrdom of Saint John de Britto]]
John de Britto's preaching led to the [[Conversion to Christianity|conversion]] of Thadiyathevan (தடியத் தேவன்), a Marava prince who had several wives. When Thadiyathevan was required to dismiss all his wives but one, a serious problem arose. One of the wives was a niece of the neighbouring king, the [[Sethupathi]] (சேதுபதி), the King of Ramnad (Ramanathapuram), who took up her quarrel and began a general persecution of Christians.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|last= Woods |first= Henry |title= Blessed John de Britto |year= 1910 |access-date= 2016-08-09 |volume= 8 |publisher= Robert Appleton Company |location= [[New York City]] |encyclopedia= [[Catholic Encyclopedia]] |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08461a.htm}}</ref> Britto and the catechists were taken and carried to the capital, [[Ramanathapuram|Ramnad]]. Thence he was led to [[Orur]] (ஓரியூர்), some 30 miles northward along the coast, where he was executed on 4 February 1693.

Britto was [[beatified]] by [[Pope Pius IX]] on 21 August 1853. He was [[canonized|canonised]] by [[Pope Pius XII]] on 22 June 1947. St John de Britto's [[feast day]] is 4 February.

== Red Sand ==
This seashore sightseeing location is one of the most venerable pilgrim centres of Christians in the world over, as it is said to be the site of St John de Britto's martyrdom. It was at this place where Britto is said to have been beheaded in 1693. The sand dune here is believed to have been stained by his blood. There is a shrine constructed in Portuguese style containing a statue of Britto, known locally as 'Arul Anandar' who had modestly offered his neck to the executioner.

[[File:John de Britto (indipetens).JPG|thumb|right|Letter of John de Britto requesting to be sent to the 'Missions']]
The red sand dune here in this shrine where the blood of Britto was spilled has great significance. Numerous incurable diseases are said to have cured by the application of the red sand on the respective body parts. Couples are believed to have blessed with children on visiting the shrine and praying to the departed soul. During festivities, pilgrims mainly from Tamil Nadu and Kerala participate irrespective of their caste, creed and religion. Thus, together with Christians, Hindus and Muslims also come to worship at the shrine in thousands, to mark respect to a unique holy man who shed his life and blood at that spot. The occasion appears to be more as a social gathering rather than a religious festival. The auspicious ceremony is a rare opportunity for these simple people to bring gaiety and enthusiasm in their life. The strong faith and enviable ability to combine pleasure and righteousness on a pilgrimage gives a divine atmosphere to the Orur fest.

Devotees from other dioceses and districts visit the shrine on specific dates. In February, believers from [[Dindigul]] arrive while in June, they are from [[Karunguli]] and [[Nagapattinam]]. During September more than 25,000 pilgrims used to visit the shrine for dedicating prayers and offerings. In October, nearly 25,000 pilgrims arrive from the neighbouring [[Sivagangai]] district and in December, visitors are from [[Madurai]] and [[Melur]]. Throughout the year, thousands of pilgrims from [[Sakthikulangara]], the only parish in Kerala, visit the St John de Britto shrine to seek the unique

===In Portugal===
His name was given to the Jesuit-run [[:pt:Colégio de São João de Brito|Colégio de São João de Brito]] (Portuguese Wikipedia article) (Saint John de Britto College), located in [[Lisbon]], [[Portugal]].

=== In India ===
There is a shrine to Britto in the village of [[Orur]] (also spelled Oreiour), where he is a significant figure revered by the [[Kallar (caste)|Kallar]], [[Maravar]] and [[Agamudayar]] castes who together are often referred to as the Thevars.<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Transgressing Boundaries, Transcending Turner: The Pilgrimage Tradition at the Shrine of St. John de Britto |first=Selva J. |last=Raj |title=Popular Christianity in India: Riting Between the Lines |editor1-first=Selva J. |editor1-last=Raj |editor2-first=Corinne G. |editor2-last=Dempsey |publisher=SUNY Press |year=2002 |pages=86–87 |isbn=978-0-7914-5519-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zv42cV5dQmYC |access-date=2012-05-01}}</ref>

There is only one church In Coimbatore, dedicated to John de Britto located at R S Puram and is one of the largest parishes in the diocese of [[Coimbatore]]. There is also a church in Subramaniapuram in Tiruchirapalli district of Tamil Nadu dedicated to him.

One of the four houses in the Jesuit school, St Xavier's, Durgapur, is named after John de Britto. In the [[Campion School, Mumbai|Campion School of Mumbai]] and [[St. Xavier's Hazaribag|St Xavier's Hazaribag]] there is a house named after Britto (Britto House). The other two houses are named for [[Francis Xavier]] (Xavier House) and [[Ignatius of Loyola]] (Loyola House). One of four houses in the Jesuit school, [[St. Stanislaus High School|St Stanislaus High School]]. The other three houses named after Francis Xavier (Xavier House), Ignatius of Loyola (Loyola House) and [[Stanislaus Kostka]] (Kostka House). Also one of the four houses in St.Xavier's School, Kolkata, is named after Britto.

One of the three houses in the Infant Jesus Anglo-Indian Higher Secondary School Tangasseri, Kollam (http://ijhss.org/) is named after John de Britto (Brittos). The other two houses are named for [[John Bosco]] (Boscos) and [[John Berchmans]] (Berchmans).

[https://archive.is/20090327144644/http://www.goajesuits.in/stbritto/ St Britto High School] in [[Goa]] is named after Britto as he lived there for seven months to complete his theological studies at [[Saint Paul's College, Goa|St Paul's College]] in Old Goa. The school is administered by the Jesuits. There is an Anglo-Indian Boys High School in the Diocese of Kochi, in the old Portuguese city of Fort Cochin, named after John de Britto, nearby the Bishop's House, in Kochi.

Britto is the patron saint (referred as ''Pathukavul'') of Sakthikulangara Parish in [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Quilon|Kollam Diocese]], [[Kerala]]. Every year, Britto's feast day is celebrated in Sakthikulanagara with a big procession (''prathikshanam''). The [[St John De Britto Anglo-Indian High School]] is named after him.
One of the Jesuit colleges established in Tamil Nadu is named after Britto as [[Arul Anandar College, Karumathur|Arul Anandar College]] (Arts & Science) which is in Karumathur, Madurai, as well as [[St. Arul Anandar School, Orur]], in the town where Britto died. These last two schools were established by the Jesuits to promote education in the rural parts of [[Tamil Nadu]].

===Other countries===
In the [[Philippines]], Britto is honoured with several class sections named after him in the Jesuit-run schools:
*Section 11-De Brito in [[Ateneo de Manila University#Senior High School|Ateneo de Manila Senior High School]]
*Four high school class sections in [[Ateneo de Davao University]] (1-De Brito; 2-De Brito; 3-De Brito; 4-De Brito)
*A Grade 8 level (formerly Grade 9 but changed into a Grade 8 section) class section in [[Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan]]

In [[Yogyakarta (city)|Yogyakarta]], [[Indonesia]], a Jesuit school for boys is named after him, [[De Britto High School Yogyakarta|SMA Kolese De Britto]] (De Britto College Senior High School).

In Penang, Malaysia, there is a church called Church of St John Britto. The church is part of City Parish in the City of Georgetown, Penang. It was built in 1969. On 3 February 2019, the city parish has celebrated Golden Jubilee celebration. One local parishioner is Rev Fr Arul Mariadass OFM, a Franciscan friar-priest. He was ordained in 1997.

In Mauritius there is a chapel named St Jean de Britto dedicated to Tamil Catholics living in the area.

==See also==
*[[List of Christian martyrs]]
*[[List of saints of the Society of Jesus]]
*[[List of vegans]]
*[[Madurai Nayak Dynasty]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book|last= Beauvais |first= Gilles-François de |author-link= Gilles-François de Beauvais |title= La vie du venerable pere Jean de Britto, de la Compagnie de Jesus, Mis a mort aux Indes dans le Maduré, en haine de la Foi. |language= fr |year= 1746 |publisher= Henri-Simon-Pierre Gissey and Marc Bordelet |location= [[Paris]] |oclc= 718297640 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=5g6w13jd_VsC |type= includes online preview}}
*{{cite book|last= Beauvais |first= Gilles-François de |author-link= Gilles-François de Beauvais |title= The life of the venerable servant of God, John de Britto, S. J. translated from the french of Father de Beauvais, S. J. 1746 |language= en |year= 1851 |publisher= Thomas Richardson and Son |location= [[London]] |oclc= 557619949 }}

6.Msgr Fr. Stansilaus L Fernandez(1939) St.John de Britto 5th edition republished in 2013 by Rex Harold, Kollam, Kerala,India

==External links==
*{{cite encyclopedia|last= Hull |first= Ernest |title= Madura Mission |year= 1910 |access-date= 2016-08-09 |volume= 9 |publisher= Robert Appleton Company |location= [[New York City]] |encyclopedia= [[Catholic Encyclopedia]] |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09519b.htm}}
*[http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0204.shtml Saint of the Day, February 4: ''John de Britto''] at ''SaintPatrickDC.org''

{{Jesuits|state=collapsed}}
{{Subject bar |portal1=Saints |portal2= Biography |portal3= Catholicism |portal4= Portugal |portal5= India}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Britto, John de}}
[[Category:1647 births]]
[[Category:1693 deaths]]
[[Category:17th-century Christian saints]]
[[Category:17th-century Roman Catholic martyrs]]
[[Category:Portuguese Jesuits]]
[[Category:Portuguese people executed abroad]]
[[Category:Portuguese Roman Catholic saints]]
[[Category:Portuguese Roman Catholic missionaries]]
[[Category:People from Lisbon]]
[[Category:Jesuit martyrs]]
[[Category:Jesuit saints]]
[[Category:17th-century Portuguese people]]
[[Category:University of Coimbra alumni]]
[[Category:People executed by India by decapitation]]
[[Category:Jesuit missionaries in India]]
[[Category:Christian martyrs]]
[[Category:Canonizations by Pope Pius XII]]

John de Britto - Revision history

>UnaToFiAN-1 at 04:57, 30 June 2021