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Venerable Antonie Criminalie   1520-1549

Ven Antonie Criminalie was born on 7th February in 1520 at Scissa village in Parma diocese in Italy. His parents were very faithful Christians in the scissa parish itself. They were very pious because of that, he had got a lot from them and well brought up in spiritual life.

In his early age itself he wanted to become a priest because of having good habits and good relationship with the priests. He himself prepared an alter and imitates in saying mass and fulfilling cermonies with his brothers and friends. From his devotion to our mother Mary grows and burns immensely. He was fully satisfied only by saying rosaries daily.

He was sent to the Parma city for his higher studies. Eventhough he was sent to a big city which had different cultures and entirely different from his own village habits, in short the birth of all evils, he didn’t forget or leave or omit his good character and especially spiritual behaviors and memorable habits. Due to his intelligence and ability and good character he had given the fifth degree of the priesthood at his age of 18.Normally no one had received this degree in that age.

Due to his simplicity he was not dared to approach Fr. Pierre Fabre to convey his thought of becoming a priest. With the God’s Grace he approached Fr.Loyola Ignatiaus and conveyed his desire. Fr. Ignatiaus stretched his hands and embraced him and said, my dear son, both were very glad. But ven.Antonie felt that he was unfit for these words and afraid, then he applied,Oh!good father, I’m unfit to be a member of your society. So please admit me to be a servant for your servents.After a long request he was permitted to be with them.

Finally he was ordained on the feast of epiphany of our lord in 1544 January 6th.

September 2nd he landed Goa in India as per the request of st. Francis Xavier send him to take care of the people of capcomorim. Fr. Antonie criminalie covered or extended his apostolic service from cape to ParavarDesam. A few months back he was appointed as superior for those priests who were there earlier. The places which were situated in the western side of Mannar was called ParavarDesam. Fr. Antonie criminalie rendered his service and sacrificed his life for those people of ParavarDesam.Within four years he had done tremendously as an apostle. During the period of his apostolic work St. Francis Xavier had sent a letter to Fr. Ignatiaus in that he wrote there is no doubt that he is really selected by Him for Hindus and truly he is a saint. St. Xavier asked other priests not to do anything without the consultation of Fr. Antonie crminalie.

He finally settled in Vedhalai and do his mission as per the order of St. Xavier. At those days people came all over from those islands to Rameswarm for worshiping by the Ramanancore because this Ramanancore connects those islands with Rameswaram and other places. So the captain M.JeanFernandus Correa added to destroy the Ramanancore. He wrongly thought if the Ramanancore was damaged the people could not go over Rameswaram for worshiping so Hindus could be easily converted. But Fr. Antonie criminalie was not satisfied with that kind of convertion.

The hindu poojaries got angry upon not only the captain but whole Christianity and strongly determined to perish the ordinary Christians too. So they well planned to attack the Portuguese captain and his soldiers for revenging with the help of local Marava chiefs and Madurai Naiyakka chiefs. Fr. Antonie criminalie begged the captain to compromise with the Hindu leaders atleast for the protection of the poor Christians.Inspite of his request the captain ran away from Vedhalai with his soldiers and asked father to accompany with him. But father didn’t accept to escape without Christians. The villages felt that the enemy was very near,took to their heels. Seeing the enemy pressing on he fell on his knees and offered up his life to God. One of the mob however plunged his spear into criminalie’s chest left and right then they slashed his body with their swords and finally cut off his head.

Fr. De souza tells that the body was quickly covered with sand by the Christians. The next day captain Correa’s nephew returned to the spot and gave the father a more honorable burial with river bed when some months later they returned to take the sacred remains away, the burial place could not be indentified. The winds had been heaped up on the tomb and all was a dead level.

The preceding January St. Francis had written to St. Ignatiaus, "Antonio criminalie is at Comorin with six others. Believe me he is a Saint. He was born to cultivate these lands.

After Antonio’s death father Henry Quez was elected.He wrote,"Dear Fathers and brothers, how lonely we feel without him.His death was saddened our Christians and all are orphans now". Fr. Anthony Gomez, upon hearing the sad news wrote, "Jesus Christ our Lord does not forget his company. Behold Fr. Criminalie crowned with martyrdom. I shall endeavour to find and to guard his remains. They are a precious treasure which God gives to the society of Jesus".

Nowadays God showers His grace through our Ven. Martyr at Vedhalai. So the people from all over India offen visit this Holy place and receive abundantly what they want.

If you come once you will be witnessed!