June 9 | Saint José de Anchieta

Welcome, young history buffs and curious minds, to My Daily Saint, the podcast that digs deep into the incredible lives of the saints, those remarkable people who shaped history and continue to inspire us today. Forget dusty old portraits and boring stories. Today, imagine that you are just 19 years old. Instead of hanging out with friends, finishing school, or figuring out what college to go to, you are on a creaking, battered wooden ship crossing the perilous Atlantic Ocean.

You have terrible health, and every wave makes you feel like the ship might break apart. You're heading to a massive, mysterious jungle, completely unknown to you. There are no cell phones, no internet, and no guarantee you will ever see your family again. You are sailing straight into the unknown.

Today, we are traveling back to the 1500s. We are heading deep into the heart of the Brazilian rare forest to meet a teenager who quite literally helped build a nation. This is the story of Saint José de Anchieta.

José de Anchieta's story begins on March 19, 1534, on an island called Tenerife in the Canary Islands of Spain. José wasn't just your average teenager. He was a brilliant student who joined the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits, over in Portugal. But here is where his story takes a wild turn. At the young age of 19, despite having really poor health, José didn't take the easy road. He gave himself entirely to becoming a missionary in the New World. He packed his bags and sailed to Brazil.

A lot of colonists back then just tried to force their own rules and languages onto the indigenous people. But not José. José understood that to truly connect with someone, you have to speak their language, literally and figuratively. Jose worked tirelessly and actually mastered the local indigenous language called Tupi. But he didn't stop at just speaking it. He wrote the very first grammar book and catechism in the Tupi language, using it as a bridge to share the gospel. Imagine creating the first textbook for a language you just learned?

He also used his creativity, writing poetry and plays in Latin, Portuguese, and Tupi. This made him one of the ...earliest literary figures in the history of Brazil. He brought faith, art, and education together. But life in the New World wasn't just poetry and studying. It was incredibly dangerous.

There were intense conflicts breaking out between the European colonists and the indigenous tribes. Tensions were high, and battles were frequent. Instead of hiding, José stepped right into the middle of the crossfire. He acted as a mediator, often risking his own life just to secure peace between the warring groups. He was known for his extreme courage, his deep humility, and his absolute holiness.

And his bravery paid off. Alongside his superior, Saint Manuel de Nobrega, José actually helped establish the missions and settlements that would change history forever. In 1554, he co-founded what is now one of the largest cities in the entire world, Sao Paulo. He also played a huge role in developing the incredible city of Rio de Janeiro. Because of his tireless teaching, preaching, and peacemaking, he earned an awesome title, The Apostle of Brazil.

José dedicated his entire life to this mission. He died on June 9, 1597, in a place called Reditiba, which was later renamed Anchieta, just to honor him. Centuries later, in 2014, he was officially canonized by Pope Francis. Today, he is known as the patron saint of Brazil, as well as the patron saint of catechists, educators, and the Catholic Church. And missionaries in Latin America. Today, try to be a bridge builder, just like Saint José de Anchieta. Is there someone in your life who you've been arguing with, or who you just don't understand?

Instead of trying to prove that you are right, take a step into their world. Learn their language. Remember, you don't need to cross an ocean to change the world. You just need the courage to reach out to the person right next to you. Thank you for joining us on My Daily Saint. We look forward to sharing another incredible story of faith and courage with you tomorrow.