ST. JOHN DE BRITTO, --- FEAST .
READINGS:
1 R : 1 COR 9 : 19 - 27.
Ps 68 : 32
Gos : JN 12 : 20 - 32.
THE FEAST OF ST. JOHN THE BRITTO ,WHO SPREAD THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST IN INDIA ,AROUND MUDHURAI PROVINCE IS CELEBRATED TODAY.
BORN IN PORTUGAL IN 1647 AND MARTYRED IN INDIA IN 1693 HE IS KNOWN FOR INCULTURATION.
HIS CALL TO PRIESTHOOD ALSO CAN BE AN EXAMPLE OF GOD'S INSCRUTABLE WAYS. SINCE HE FELL ILL IN CHILDHOOD HIS MOTHER HAD TAKEN HIM TO ST. FRANCIS XAVIER AND HE WAS DRESSED LIKE A JESUIT FOR A YEAR OR SO.THAT ITSELF AROUSED A DESIRE TO BE A MISSIONARY IN THE YOUNG MIND.
LATER IN SPITE OF THE PRESSURE HE SUCCEEDED TO REACH INDIA AND DIE A MARTYR.
THEREFORE IN THE FIRST READING WE READ:
........... I BECAME ALL THINGS TO ALL..
THE GOSPEL RECALLS THE DEATH OF JOHN THE BAPTIZER, BECAUSE JOHN DE BRITTO ALSO WAS MARTYRED IN IDENTICAL CIRCUMSTANCES.
