The Catholic Church in India is in the thick of preparations for the canonization of the country’s first lay saint and martyr in May.
The Vatican has earlier announced that Blessed Lazarus (Devasahayam) Pillai of India is among those who will be raised to the altars on May 15.
Blessed Lazarus, known as Devasahayam, was a Brahmin of the Nair caste in India. He was born in Nattalam in the present-day Kanyakumari District on April 23, 1712.
He was martyred in 1752 in what is southern India’s Tamil Nadu state today.
“We have here a wonderful opportunity to tell the heroic story of our martyr especially to our young people,” read a statement released by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India this week.
“In martyr Devasahayam we have the first Indian who is acknowledged to have won the crown of martyrdom on Indian soil,” read the statement.
He is the first lay person and the first married person from India to be conferred sainthood. “This canonization, therefore, has a special significance for the Church in India,” said the bishops.
Devasahayam was baptized a Catholic by a Jesuit priest in 1745 and took the name Lazarus. Devasahayam, who was married, persuaded his wife to embrace Christianity.
He reportedly preached on the equality of all peoples, despite caste differences. It aroused the hatred of “higher classes” and he was arrested in 1749. He was shot on Jan. 14, 1752.
At a Consistory on May 3, 2021, Pope Francis confirmed the vote of the cardinals to proceed with the canonization of Devasahayam and six other “blesseds.”
Once canonized, the holy men and women will be recognized as Saints throughout the universal Church.
