Topic: 7. Sacrifices of self: Martirology and Catholic global missions (16th-18th Century)
From the sixteenth to the eighteenth Century, Catholic missionary endeavors across the globe produced a wealth of sources that shed light on various forms of sacrifice. These sources often intertwine factual accounts with the emphasis on martyrdom, adopting specific theological, narrative, and iconographic frameworks. This section presents a comprehensive collection of early modern printed sources and images that illustrate these dynamics. Additionally, it includes a thorough bibliography covering scholarly works from the 19th to 21st centuries, providing contemporary insights into the historical context and significance of these sacrifices.
Father Didacus Carvallius (Carvalho) being executed by submersion in a frozen lake in Japan on February 22, 1624 (1675)
from: Tanner, Mathias Societas Iesu usque ad sanguinis et vitae profusionem militans, Pragae, Typis Universitatis Carolo-Ferdinandeae in Collegio Societatis Jesu ad S. Clementem, 1675, p. 313
Charles Garnier, a Jesuit missionary, was martyred at Sainte-Marie among the Hurons on December 7, 1649. P. Carolus Garnier Nobili prosapíâ Gallus Soc: Iesu, ab Hiroqueis Gentilibus crudeliter pro Christo necatus, in Nova Francia. A. 1649 7 Decembris. (1676)
from: Tanner, Mathias, Societas Iesu usque ad sanguinis et vitae profusionem militans, Typis Universitatis Carolo-Ferdinandeae in Collegio Societatis Jesu ad S. Clementem, Prague 1675, p. 540
John Carter Brown Library at Brown University
Ignatius Fialho, missionary in the Maghul empire, surrounded by Muslims woth swords (1675)
from: Tanner, Mathias, Societas Iesu usque ad sanguinis et vitae profusionem militans, Typis Universitatis Carolo-Ferdinandeae in Collegio Societatis Jesu ad S. Clementem, Prague 1675, p. 342
Martyrdom of the Jesuit Giannonius and Kidera by hanging upside down in 1633 (1675)
from: Tanner, Mathias, Societas Iesu usque ad sanguinis et vitae profusionem militans, Typis Universitatis Carolo-Ferdinandeae in Collegio Societatis Jesu ad S. Clementem, Prague 1675, p. 351
P. Bernardus de Cisneros, P. Didacus de Orosco, P. Ioannes de Valle, P. Ludovicus de Alabes Hispani, Soc: Iesu, à Barbaris Americanis occisi fidei in nova Hispania Ao. 1616. 18 Novemb: (1676)
from: Tanner, Mathias, Societas Iesu usque ad sanguinis et vitae profusionem militans, Typis Universitatis Carolo-Ferdinandeae in Collegio Societatis Jesu ad S. Clementem, Prague 1675, p. 470
John Carter Brown Library at Brown University
P. Franciscus Paciecus Lusit. ; P. Balthasar de Torres Hisp. ; P. Ioannes Zola Ital. , cum 6 Coadiutoribus Iaponijs , Soc. IESUs, lento igne vivi pro Christo exusti Nangasacki in Iaponia 20. Iunij, A. 1626. (1675)
from: Mathias Tanner, Societas Iesu usque ad sanguinis et vitae profusionem militans, [...] in causa fidei, & virtutis propugnatae, violenta morte toto orbe sublati sunt, Praga, Typis Universitatis Carolo-Ferdinandeae in Collegio Societatis Jesu ad S. Clementem, 1675.
Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
P. Ignatius Azevedius S. I. Illustrissimâ Lusitaniae familiâ oriundus, in itinere Brasilo à Calvinistis pro Catholica Religione mari demers[us] A. 1570 15 Julij. Ignatius de Azevedo stands pierced by a sword and holding the Salus Populi Romani Madonna. Brazil, 1570 (1675)
from: Tanner, Mathias, Societas Iesu usque ad sanguinis et vitae profusionem militans, Typis Universitatis Carolo-Ferdinandeae in Collegio Societatis Jesu ad S. Clementem, Prague 1675, p. 167
John Carter Brown Library at Brown University
P. Petrus Diaz Lusit. S.I. cum 4 Sociis in itinere Brasilo pro Fide Christi ab Hareticis in mari demersus.’. Pero Dias is thrown into the ocean (1675)
from: Tanner, Mathias, Societas Iesu usque ad sanguinis et vitae profusionem militans, Typis Universitatis Carolo-Ferdinandeae in Collegio Societatis Jesu ad S. Clementem, Prague 1675, p. 174
John Carter Brown Library at Brown University
Pedro de Espinosa kneels before a vision of the Virgin Mary and Child while a native American prepares to kill him with an ax or hatchet. Paraguay in 1637 (1676)
from: Tanner, Mathias, Societas Iesu usque ad sanguinis et vitae profusionem militans, Typis Universitatis Carolo-Ferdinandeae in Collegio Societatis Jesu ad S. Clementem, Prague 1675, p. 495
John Carter Brown Library at Brown University
Petrus Correa et Joannes Sosa.’ Pero Correia and João de Sousa are pierced by arrows in Brazil in 1554 (1675)
from: Tanner, Mathias, Societas Iesu usque ad sanguinis et vitae profusionem militans, Typis Universitatis Carolo-Ferdinandeae in Collegio Societatis Jesu ad S. Clementem, Prague 1675, p. 438
John Carter Brown Library at Brown University
Priest or monk is martyred by a native American who beats him on his head with a war club. Includes rosary, harbor, ship, bow, and arrows. P. Ferdinandus Santaren Hispanus, Soc: Iesu, Religionis causâ ab Indis Americanis occisus. in nova Hispania A. 1616. 20 Novembris (1675)
from: Tanner, Mathias, Societas Iesu usque ad sanguinis et vitae profusionem militans, Typis Universitatis Carolo-Ferdinandeae in Collegio Societatis Jesu ad S. Clementem, Prague 1675, p. 477
John Carter Brown Library at Brown University
The beheading of Augustine Ota in Japan on August 10, 1622. (1675)
from: Tanner, Mathias, Societas Iesu usque ad sanguinis et vitae profusionem militans, Typis Universitatis Carolo-Ferdinandeae in Collegio Societatis Jesu ad S. Clementem, Prague 1675, p. 288
The Jesuit Diego Alfaro, killed in the battle of Caazapá-guazú in which he fought alongside the Guaraní Indians against the Brazilian bandeirantes (1675)
from: Tanner, Mathias, Societas Iesu usque ad sanguinis et vitae profusionem militans, Typis Universitatis Carolo-Ferdinandeae in Collegio Societatis Jesu ad S. Clementem, Prague 1675
The martyrdom of Father Antonius Sociro, stabbed in Sri Lanka in 1637 (1675)
from: Tanner, Mathias, Societas Iesu usque ad sanguinis et vitae profusionem militans, Typis Universitatis Carolo-Ferdinandeae in Collegio Societatis Jesu ad S. Clementem, Prague 1675, p. 385
The martyrdom of Michael Nacascima by scalding in boiling water in Japan on December 25, 1628 (1675)
from: Tanner, Mathias, Societas Iesu usque ad sanguinis et vitae profusionem militans, Typis Universitatis Carolo-Ferdinandeae in Collegio Societatis Jesu ad S. Clementem, Prague 1675, p. 333
Two native American men throw the body of Jesuit into a burning building. Antoine Daniel, a French Jesuit missionary, was saying mass at the Huron settlement of Saint Joseph or Tennaostaiaë, when Iroquois Indians attacked the settlement. (1676)
from: Tanner, Mathias, Societas Iesu usque ad sanguinis et vitae profusionem militans, Typis Universitatis Carolo-Ferdinandeae in Collegio Societatis Jesu ad S. Clementem, Prague 1675, p. 532
John Carter Brown Library at Brown University
‘Duo fratres coadjutores.’ Two anonymous Jesuit co-adjutores, one shown struck by arrows, the other beaten by a club in Brazil (1675)
from: Tanner, Mathias, Societas Iesu usque ad sanguinis et vitae profusionem militans, Typis Universitatis Carolo-Ferdinandeae in Collegio Societatis Jesu ad S. Clementem, Prague 1675, p. 441
John Carter Brown Library at Brown University
The first five Franciscan martyrs (1524)
Chiesa di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, Venice
Jan Baptist van Baëza (1630 - 1677)
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Martyrdom of Nagasaki (1622)
National Heritage Board, Singapore