Saint of the Day – 29 November – Blessed Redemptorus of the Cross OCD (1598-1638) Martyr,

Saint of the Day – 29 November – Blessed Redemptorus of the Cross OCD (1598-1638) Martyr, Portuguese Lay Brother of the Order of Discalced Carmelites, ex-soldier. Born as Tomás Rodrigues da Cunha in Paredes de Coura, Portugal on 15 March 1598 and died by torture in 1638, aged 40, on the Malay archipelago. Also known as Redemptus. Redemptorus was Beatified on 10 June 1900 by Pope Leo XIII together with Blessed Denis of the Nativity, who was Martyred with Redemptorus.

Tomás first served as a soldier in the Portuguese army in India, where, in 1615, he joined the Carmelites in Goa as a lay brother, taking the name Redemptorus of the Cross.

Redemptorus was sent by the superiors of the Order to accompany Father Denis of the Nativity as part of an ambassadorial mission from the Portuguese Empire to the Sultan of Aceh in modern day Indonesia. The mission was led by Dom Francisco Sousa de Castro as Ambassador.

Once in Aceh, all the members of the mission were seized and arrested, at the instigation of the Dutch authorities based in Jakarta. They were then subjected to torture and those members of the mission who refused to deny their faith, were executed one by one. The two friars were led to a desolate spot on the seashore, where Redemptorus was shot with arrows, after which his throat was slit. Father Denis, a Crucifix in his hands, was the last to die, his skull shattered by a blow of a scimitar.

Dom Castro, the Ambassador, was the only survivor. He was held in captivity for three years, until his family paid a large ransom for his release.

O God, Who in Thy wondrous providence, led the blesseds Denis and Redemptorus through the perils of the sea, to the Palm of Martyrdom, grant, through their intercession that in the midst of earthly vicissitudes and worldly desires, we may remain steadfast even unto death in the confession of Thy name. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Collect)