St Joseph Vaz – A missionary par excellence, a model for India even after 350 years

In 1711, in far off Sri Lanka then known as Ceylon, a saintly priest, a courageous missionary was dying and in the last moments of his life, his companion priests begged him to give them a message, some words that they could remember him by for the rest of their lives. The priest bethought himself a moment and uttered in Sinhala: “Remember that one cannot easily do at the time of death what one has neglected to do all his life.” The priest was none other than St Joseph Vaz, God’s gift to Goa and Goa’s gift to the Sri Lanka.

These words surmise the attitude, the life and the spirituality of a man from our own little Goa, who over 350 ago, left the shores of India to cater to a persecuted Catholic community of Sri Lanka. Through his extraordinarily courageous and fearless labour for the Lord he helped preserve the faith in the tiny island. When Pope Francis canonized Blessed Joseph Vaz, affectionately named the Apostle of Sri Lanka, he was not simply honouring this one saintly man, but in fact acknowledging the missionary efforts of the missionary Church of Goa because St Joseph Vaz had his roots in the faith community of Goa, was the shoot of this community and produced the fruits of this faith both in Goa and more specifically in the emerald isle of Sri Lanka.

Three characteristics mark out St Joseph Vaz’s relevance for the India of today: His deep rooted faith, his courage in the face of adversities and his love for the poorest of the poor.

Deep Rooted Faith

St Joseph Vaz was a man deeply rooted in faith. Those who came into contact with him, even those not sharing his faith, were impressed by his holiness and saw him as a man of God and a model of a holy life. It is good to remember that such faith very often as in the case of St Joseph Vaz has its origin in the fountain of faith of one’s family. As Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao, the Archbishop of Goa and the Patriarch of the East Indies in his pastoral letter of 2010 entitled, “Witness to Christian Values in the Footsteps of Joseph Vaz” states, “A good tree bears good fruits. We know the tree from its fruit (Lk 6:43-44). Joseph Vaz is a fruit from an exemplary family. His parents were a beacon of a life of holiness. They built their home on the foundation of the love of God and of neighbour, thus making their family into a model for the families in the neighbourhood. Christian virtues like integrity, justice, courage, concern for the lowly, love, forgiveness, patience and prayer were never found wanting in their home.” He goes on to point out that; and, at every stage of his life, as he carried out his priestly ministry — particularly at the service of the family — he let many taste the value of these virtues and principles. 

India today evermore than before requires sound families, deeply rooted in faith and whose mind is set on things much more valuable than what the mundane society offers. As globalization brings in values very often opposed to family life, St Joseph Vaz, as a fruit of a family founded on faith, becomes an inspiration to families all over as to what a sound family can achieve. As a promoter of God oriented families, in this year of the Synod of Bishops for families, he provides an example, intercession and a pastoral strategy for the strengthening of families.

Courage in the face of adversities

Fr H Lesser in his book, Sages and Saints has this to say about our Saint: “Vaz...had no funds...no support from anyone, ecclesiastical or civil...When he went to Ceylon, no one, apart from the Archbishop of Goa and his own local superior even knew he was going. His only companion was his faithful servant, John. They had no money, no resources, no luggage, except a breviary and Mass kit. He always travelled barefoot. He would accept no gifts, not even a Mass stipend...His first two years in Jaffna were spent in daily danger of death from the Dutch...His entry into Kandy was in chains. He was for two years a prisoner, for the first five days without food. One is tempted to compare him with St Paul (1 Cor., 4:10-13)”.

The last few months have indicated to us that hard times seem to be beginning for minorities in India. Movements like Ghar wapasi, which militate against the very fundamental rights of citizens, appear to be having the overt and covert support of the powers that be. What will the answer of Christians in India be? I dare say that St Joseph Vaz should be our model. Courage in the face of adversities, charity in the face of provocation, simplicity, humility and holiness at all times. St Joseph Vaz knew persecution and he has set us a road map. We hope we will not need it. But should the necessity arise, we know we have a model.

Love for the poorest of the poor

St Joseph Vaz, was a compassionate man moved, motivated and inspired by the example of the merciful Jesus. A quote from the VijitavelleRajavaliya, a continuation of the MahaRajavaliya and written by Yatiyalagala Polwatte Vidane, a Buddhist, before the year 1815 says, “At that time (1697-1698) Lanka was attacked by smallpox; it was a time when vaccination was not known. Consequently many people died of that disease. Parents and children, wives and husbands, unmindful of one another, abandoned their dear ones and departed. Wild beasts devoured the dead bodies.... Many died of this disease and they were cast on the streets. The King himself, unable to bear the stench of the dead bodies, left the capital. When the report of these events reached him, St Joseph Vaz came from Colombo, bringing with him food, clothes and other things. He searched for the sick, going even to the forest, provided them with shelter by putting up tents and attending to all their wants. Thus he performed heroic deeds. On account of these extraordinary actions, people were attracted to him and many embraced the Christian religion. Then in the year 1711, Fr Vaz died in Jayawardanapura, the MahaNuwara.” 

No wonder that the King was so pleased by this service that he is reported to have said that he wished that he had in his kingdom four priests like him and that his city would have been left without inhabitants if not for St Joseph Vaz and his companion. India has experienced Christ’s love through thousands of missionaries who through schools, hospitals and social work have witnessed the love of Christ.

St Joseph Vaz remains relevant for India as a model to be followed to continue spreading the love of God. He loved a life that was full – full of love, full of faith, full of compassion and full of courage. He did not neglect anything and hence he could go peacefully to the Father to be raised to the Altar by the Church. What St Pope John Paul II said to the Sri Lankans in the Homily for the beatification of St Joseph Vaz nearly 20 years ago can be cited to indicate the relevance to us in Goa and in India: “Dear Brothers and Sisters, Christians of Sri Lanka! What is the message of Joseph Vaz? Blessed Joseph should inspire you to be tireless and spirit-filled witnesses to the Gospel in your families and in your communities.”

(The writer is the Auxiliary Bishop of Ranchi. He was earlier an official with the Pontifical Council for Culture at the Vatican, where he was the head of the department for Asia, Africa and Oceania.)