Honoring the Jesuit Martyrs: The Legacy of Saint John del Castillo, SJ and companions.

Today, we gather as a global Jesuit family to celebrate and honor the memory of the Jesuit Martyrs of Paraguay, Saint Roque Gonzalez de Santa Cruz, Saint Alfonso Rodriguez, and Saint John del Castillo, SJ. Their lives and sacrifices stand as a powerful testament on responding and committing to the call of the King to serve Christ our Lord, even in the face of hostility and violence.

As we reflect on their witness, I find myself especially drawn to the life of Saint John del Castillo, SJ. His journey of faith and dedication to the mission inspires us to respond to our own vocational calls with the same fervor and fidelity in the same spirit of our vows formula. John de Castillo was born in Spain in 1595. He felt the call to join the mission of the Society of Jesus, he responded and embraced it wholeheartedly. Like many of us, he was drawn by the vision of serving God through the Ignatian way of life, that is rooted in discernment, mission, love and service for others. This call led him far from the comforts of his homeland to the challenging mission fields of South America.

In the reductions of Paraguay, John worked tirelessly alongside his fellow Jesuits to bring the message of the Gospel to the Guarani people. Together, we, as Jesuits, see the reductions as a remarkable embodiment of Ignatian spirituality in action. These communities provided not only spiritual nourishment but also social and economic structures that upheld the dignity of the indigenous peoples. St. John de Castillo’s work in the reductions was characterized with love, service and compassion despite the hardships. He immersed himself in the lives of his fellow Christians and neighbors, he learned their language and culture, and tirelessly advocated for their welfare. His presence was not just as a teacher of the faith but as a brother walking alongside them in solidarity. This love for the people was born of his love for Christ, a love that eventually demanded everything of him, including his very own life.

In 1628, St. John de Castillo’s mission led him to Yjuhi, where he served among the Guarani with unwavering dedication. However, this mission was not without peril. The local chieftain, Nheçu, saw the work of the missionaries as a threat to his power and influence. Hostility grew, culminating in an order for the execution of John and his companions. In the Era of colonialism, it was often difficult for local authorities to tell apart, making missionary work even more risky and at times fatal. John’s martyrdom came just two days after that of Saints Roque González and Alfonso Rodríguez. He was murdered in the forest, a martyr to the faith he proclaimed and the love he lived. If we take a moment to reflect and compose ourself to immerse ourselves in his last hours, it is indeed a difficult expression of our Lord’s call to give up our lives for the sake of the Kingdom. It almost seemed all lost, like our Lord Jesus on the Cross, it must have felt as if the Lord abandoned it all. It is an hour we should all indeed pray to remain steadfast in our Lord Jesus Christ just as he himself taught us by the same difficult example. Even in death, the Lord was still with these companions, and their witness to faith and zeal for the call of the King endured.

In 1934, Pope Pius XI beatified these Jesuit martyrs, and in 1988, Saint John Paul II canonized them, recognizing their profound contribution to the spread of the Gospel and their courageous witness. Reflecting on their lives during the canonization Mass, Pope John Paul II reminded us that their work was not merely about converting souls but about enabling their neighbors, the Guarani people to flourish in dignity, faith, and community. As we remember Saint John del Castillo today, we are reminded that our own vocational call demands the same fidelity and courage. We are called to immerse ourselves in the lives of those we serve, to bring the love of Christ into every corner of the world, and to remain steadfast even in the face of opposition.

May we always have the grace to remember that we’re in the Lord’s presence especially in our darkest hours when we need him the most. And, may the witness of Saint John del Castillo and his companions inspire us to deepen our commitment to Christ and to the mission entrusted to us. Let us, like them, open new roads, build communities of faith and justice, and give our lives for the greater glory of God.

In Christ, Jesus our Lord, we pray, Amen!