Church History

Who is this?

• Roberto De Nobili

• Matteo Ricci

• Leonardo Cinnami

• Emmanuel Martins

How did Roberto de Nobili preach the gospel?

Answer explanation

Roberto de Nobili (1577 – 16 January 1656) was an Italian Jesuit missionary sent to Madura in 1606, by Fr. Albert Laerzio, the Provincial of the Malabar Province of the Society of Jesus. He was influenced by the method used by Matteo Ricci in China, where he made himself proficient in the Confucian classics and was preaching Christianity to the learned of that country in Chinese form. As a member of the Italian nobility, he claimed to be the equivalent of a Kshatriya. He used a novel method to preach Christianity, adopting many local customs of India, which were, in his view, not contrary to Christianity. He adopted local Indian customs, such as shaving one's head and keeping only a tiny tuft. He wore a white dhoti and wooden sandals, to don the look of a sanyasi. Another symbol he embraced was the wearing of a three-stringed thread across the chest. He interpreted the three-stringed thread as representing the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He was one of the first Europeans to gain a deep understanding of Sanskrit and Tamil. A Telegu Brahmin pandit, Sivadarma, taught him Sanskrit. He composed Catechisms, apologetic works and philosophic discourses in Tamil, and contributed greatly to the development of modern Tamil prose writing. He was Superior of the Jesuit mission for 2 years from 1645AD and then died in retirement in Mylapore in 1656AD.

What is the range of Mysore Mission? (From where to where)

Answer explanation

in the SE portion of Mysore and the Tamil districts of Salem and Coimbatore.

Which is the first center of Kannada Mission?

Answer explanation

Ramapura

What is the range of the Mission of the Carnatic? (from where to where)

Answer explanation

North and South Arcot and a bit of Andhra Pradesh country.

Who is the Portuguese St. Francis Xavier? What are his other names?

Answer explanation

St. John de Britto (João de Brito) also known as Arul Anandar was a Portuguese Jesuit missionary and martyr, often called 'the Portuguese St Francis Xavier' by Indian Catholics, joined the Madura Mission in 1674AD. He can be called the John the Baptist of India. He mainly worked in Tanjore, Gingee, Ramnad and Pudukkottah, baptising in large numbers.

Who is he? Which mission did he serve?

Answer explanation

Italian Fr Constant Joseph Beschi (Viramamunivar Swami) served the Madura Mission from 1711-1742.

Who is he? Which Mission practices did he condemn?

Answer explanation

Patriarch de Tournon (Charles-Thomas Maillard De Tournon), the Roman Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, issued a decree in 1704, condemning specifically 16 practices of the madura mission.

Who is he?

Answer explanation

Due to worldwide persecution of Jesuit priests, the Madura Mission was closed down and the remaining priests joined the Paris Society. Abbe J. A. Dubois (Dodda Swami) was one of the secular priests sent out by the Paris Society entrusted with the care of Kannada-speaking Roman Catholics. He was in India from 1792-1823. He was well-known for his book Hindu Manners Customs and Ceremonies.

Who is he? What was he responsible for?

Answer explanation

King Frederick IV of Denmark was responsible for sending Protestant missionaries to India