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April 2

Diego Luis de San Vitores, martyr (1627–1672)

Martyr

A Spanish Jesuit from a noble family, Diego Luis de San Vitores renounced a comfortable career and persistently asked to be sent to the missions.

Biography

After passing through Mexico and the Philippines, he arrived at the Mariana Islands, where he learned the local language, founded communities and promoted evangelization and care for the Chamorra population. Slander against the missionaries provoked violent opposition. He was murdered in Guam along with the young catechist Pedro Calungsod, while asking God to forgive those who took his life.

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