March 09

Joseph of Anchieta was born in the Canary Islands in 1534 and joined the Society of Jesus in 1551. He sailed to Brazil in 1553 and became one of the founding figures of the Jesuit missions in the region. Anchieta learned local indigenous languages and created grammars and catechisms in their dialects. He composed poems and plays to teach Christianity through local art forms. His efforts earned him the title Apostle of Brazil. He was canonized by Pope Francis in 2014. Anchieta died in 1597 in Reritiba, Brazil, leaving a lasting cultural and linguistic legacy.

Born in 1568 in Castiglione delle Stiviere, Aloysius Gonzaga renounced his inheritance to join the Society of Jesus. He dedicated himself to caring for plague victims in Rome, demonstrating deep compassion and humility. Despite suffering from tuberculosis, Gonzaga continued his religious and charitable work. He was known for his strict asceticism, devotion to prayer, and care for the sick. Gonzaga died at age 23 in 1591, becoming a model of Christian piety. Pope Benedict XIII canonized him in 1726, and he is the patron saint of youth and students. His legacy includes Gonzaga University, founded in his honor in 1887.