Thomas of Zumárraga explained

Honorific Prefix:Blessed
Thomas of Zumárraga
Honorific Suffix:OP
Birth Date:9 March 1577
Birth Place:Vitoria, Spain
Death Date:12 September 1622
Death Place:Ōmura, Japan
Venerated In:Roman Catholic Church
Feast Day:12 September
Beatified By:Pope Pius IX
Beatified Date:7 May 1867

Thomas of Zumárraga and Lazcano (Spanish; Castilian: Tomás de Zumárraga y Lazcano; 9 March 1577 – 12 September 1622)[1] was a Roman Catholic Missionary from Spain. He was beatified in May 1867 by Pope Pius IX.

Biography

Thomas was born in Vitoria, in 1577. In 1594, he was professed in the Order of Preachers in Vitoria. After he entered the Convento de San Esteban de Salamanca, he received the name of Fray Tomás del Espíritu Santo (Brother Thomas of the Holy Spirit).[2] In 1601, he was sent to Mexico en route to the Philippines. Shortly after arriving, in 1603, Fray Francisco Morales, superior of the Dominicans in Manila, sent him to Japan to found a mission.

He hid in the mountains, in the area of Nagasaki and Ōmura. He was captured on 23 July 1617. After five years of imprisonment, he was burnt alive on 12 September 1622.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Juan José Alzugaray Aguirre. Ora pro nobis. 20 February 2006. Encuentro. 978-84-7490-776-6. 47.
  2. http://www.hoy.es/v/20101212/sociedad/beato-tomas-cuadro-inedito-20101212.html El beato Tomás: un cuadro inédito de Zurbarán