The new saint’s witness to Christ is an example of that attentiveness to the coming of Christ and a clarion call to emulate him to deepen our faith

Dear Rev. Fatehrs, Brothers, Sisters and Lay faithful,

Peace and Joy of the Risen Christ!

Mother of Saints, the Church has always preserved their memory, offering the faithful examples of holiness in the sequela Christi. Holy Mother Church, according to the wishes and initiatives of the people, continues to elevate to the honour of the altar those who stood apart outstandingly in life by way of three specific spheres of life: 1) heroic practices of virtues and holiness in life above all for charity (confessores fidei); 2) martyrdom due to their supreme love for Christ; and 3) through the offering of their life for charity (oblatio vitae).

The celebration of those recognized as saints is an integral part of the Church’s liturgical life, giving a clarion call to each and every one of us to become saints as mentioned in the opening lines of the Apostolic Exhortation Gaudete et exultate. If we conserve our communion with God, obtained through baptism, we are really saints and the holiness is none other than our union with God. The more intimate this union is, the greater the degree of holiness of the person. When someone excels in this holiness manifesting through any of the above mentioned three ways, the Church recognizes it through a very meticulous process by way of beatification or canonization. In this way, the Mother Church recognizes the first layperson from India who excelled in faith even to the extent of giving his life.

Born on April 23, 1712, as Neelakanda Pillai, in the village of Nattalam, Devasahayam served in thepalace of southern India’s Hindu King Marthanda Varma of Travancore, whose kingdom stretched from what is Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu state today, right up to Cochin in neighbouring Kerala state. Captain Eustachius De Lannoy, a Dutch naval commander of the Dutch East India Company who was sent in 1741 to capture Travancore’s port of Colachel was defeated and taken prisoner. The dutchman who was later pardoned went on to become the king’s trusted commander and won several battles for Travancore. It was during their influential roles under the King of Travancore that Devasahayam Pillai and De Lannoy became close friends.

Devasahayam became interested in the faith of De Lannoy, who enlightened him, leading to his conversion in 1745. He was baptized at the Catholic church of Vadakkankulam village, by Jesuit priest BouttariItalus. He assumed the name ‘Lazarus’ or ‘Devasahayam’ in the local language, meaning ‘God is my help’. His wife, Bargavi Ammal of Travancore, also followed her husband and was baptized Gnanapoo, meaning Theresa.However, Devasahayam’s conversion did not go well with the heads of his native religion, and was regarded as a betrayal and danger to the Hindu kingdom.His refusal to worship the Hindu gods of the palace and renouncing the traditional Hindu religious festivals greatly angered the officers. They could not tolerate his preaching on the equality of all peoples, the overcoming of castes and friendship with the untouchables of the lower classes, which is forbidden for a person of high caste.

False charges of treason and espionage were brought against him and he was divested of his post in the royal administration. He was imprisoned and subjected to myriad harsh persecutions. A Catholic for only seven years, he was shot dead in the Aralvaimozhy forest on January 14, 1752. On December 5, 2019, a special meeting of the theological consultors of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints approved the miracle. Cardinals and bishops, who met on February 18, 2020, also approved it. Three days later, on February 21, Pope Francis authorized the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to promulgate the decree officially recognizing the miracle, which effectively cleared Blessed Devasahayam for sainthood.

Saints, those men and women who have gone before us, outstandingly marked by the sign of faith and recognized as martyrs or people of heroic virtue, stand as models for people of faith today.A married man who converted to Christianity, he died as a martyr because he refused to give up his faith. The Canonisation of Blessed (Lazarus) Devasagayam will be a great affirmation for the Catholics of Tamil Nadu since he would be the first lay Indian from the state to be raised to the dignity of sainthood. The message is that it is possible for anyone, irrespective of status in the Church, to follow the radical spirituality of Jesus, lead a holy life, and be a saint. So far only priests and nuns have become saints in India. It is a great gift for the Church of India. It will have a deep impact on the equal dignity of every person. His canonisation raises awareness that all human beings have value because we are all children of God and co-heirs of Christ.

I welcome all the faithful to pray with the Holy Mother Church as the Holy Father Pope Francis canonizes the Blessed Devasahayam on 15 May 2022 with nine more Blesseds from different parts of the world. The new saint’s witness to Christ is an example of that attentiveness to the coming of Christ and a clarion call to emulate him to deepen our faith. May this holy event of Canonization help us to centre our lives once more on Christ, our hope!

Yours devotedly in Our Lord,

+ Most.Rev. S. Antonysamy
Bishop of Palayamkottai