ASIA/INDIA - New life for the Shrine of the “Red Sand Saint,” venerated by Christians and non alike

Madurai (Agenzia Fides) – In honor of St. John de Britto, the Jesuit Province of Madurai, India, has prepared a great initiative called the Shrine Britto Dream Project, i.e. a large shrine in honor of the saint, as the General Curia of the Jesuits informs. Like his predecessors, Italian Jesuit missionaries Roberto de Nobili, Constantino Beschi, Giacomo Tommaso De Rossi - de Britto is an icon of the Catholic Church in Tamil Nadu. According to tradition, the ground at the site of his martyrdom miraculously turned red, and even today the faithful call him "The Red Sand Saint." After the apostle St. Thomas, he is currently the only martyr-saint of the Indian Church. The tourism department of the Government of Tamil Nadu recognizes his shrine as a sacred tourist site.
Born in 1647, John preferred the poor and the untouchables of India to the glory of his royal lineage in Portugal. He preached fearlessly against polygamy of the local kings, so that they would have access to baptism and remain faithful to their family commitments. Because of this he had to face threats, imprisonment, and persecution. He was finally beheaded on February 4, 1693, near the village of Oriyur. The pilgrims who flock to his shrine are mostly the poor farmers in the area, 40% of whom are Christians. For lack of money, the sanctuary has been neglected for a long time, but finally here is the dream: restructure the three churches; promote the life of prayer, retreats, and spiritual direction; supply of drinking water and eating facilities for pilgrims; social activities for farmers in the area; a museum; and a "sound and light" performance on the life of the saint. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 21/10/2010)