Saint José de Anchieta

José de Anchieta was born on March 19, 1534, in San Cristóbal de La Laguna, on Tenerife in the Canary Islands. He studied in Coimbra, Portugal, where he entered the Society of Jesus in 1551. Though his health was fragile, he was sent to Brazil in 1553. With Manuel da Nóbrega and other Jesuits he took part in the Mass at Piratininga on January 25, 1554, the date celebrated as the founding of São Paulo, and he later helped in the founding of Rio de Janeiro.

Anchieta learned the Tupi language and wrote its first grammar, along with catechisms, songs and plays to teach the faith. He worked as teacher, nurse, peacemaker and provincial superior of the Jesuits. He died on June 9, 1597, in Reritiba, today the town of Anchieta in Espírito Santo. Saint John Paul II beatified him in 1980, and Pope Francis canonized him on April 3, 2014.

Tradition tells that while held as a hostage at Iperoig during peace talks in 1563, Anchieta wrote a long Latin poem to the Virgin Mary in the sand of the beach, memorizing the verses until he could write them down.

Brazilian Catholics honor him as the "Apostle of Brazil" and a patron of catechists. Pilgrims visit his sanctuary in Anchieta, Espírito Santo, and the Pátio do Colégio in São Paulo, where the city began.