Our Lady of Bonaria

Biography

Saint Devasahayam Pillai, also known as Lazarus, Neelakandan, Neelam, Nilakandan, and Nilam, was born on 23 April 1712 in Nattalam, Tamil Nadu, India. He belonged to a high-caste Hindu family and received a comprehensive education, which included studying Sanskrit, Tamil, and Malayalam. Additionally, he was trained in martial arts and archery. In 1741, Devasahayam Pillai's life took a significant turn when he encountered a French prisoner of war who introduced him to Catholicism. Intrigued by the teachings, he gradually grew drawn to the faith and eventually converted. On 14 May 1745, he was baptized in the diocese of Kottar, India, taking on the name Devasahayam, which was the Tamil equivalent of Lazarus. Devasahayam's conversion caused tension and opposition among the higher-caste individuals in his community. He defied societal norms by mixing with lower castes, something deemed unacceptable for someone of high status. This behavior drew the ire of the authorities and led to confrontations with them. On 23 February 1749, Devasahayam's faith brought him great persecution. He was arrested, tortured, and subjected to abuse as a consequence of his Christian beliefs. For the following three years, he was paraded from village to village as a warning to anyone considering converting to Christianity. Despite the suffering he endured, Devasahayam remained steadfast in his faith, devoting his time to prayer and teaching those who were willing to listen. Even in prison, he received the Holy Communion, secretly brought to him by priests. His life of martyrdom came to an end on 14 January 1752 when he was shot by a firing squad in Aralvaimozhi, Tamil Nadu, India. His body was thrown onto a rock pile, left to be consumed by wild animals. However, his remains were later recovered and buried in front of the altar of the Church of Saint Francis in Kottar, India. Saint Devasahayam Pillai's martyrdom was acknowledged by Pope Benedict XVI, who issued a decree of martyrdom on 28 June 2012. Subsequently, Devasahayam Pillai was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI on 2 December 2012. Finally, on 15 May 2022, Pope Francis canonized him as a saint. The canonization miracle attributed to Saint Devasahayam involved a pregnant woman in India in 2013. This woman, who had a strong devotion to Blessed Lazarus, suffered a health complication when her 24-week fetus stopped moving, and its heart stopped beating. Desperate for a miracle, she began praying for the intercession of Blessed Lazarus. Just an hour later, she felt the baby kicking once more. Medical tests subsequently confirmed that the baby's heartbeat had returned, and the child was later born without any complications. Although Saint Devasahayam Pillai does not have a specific patronage assigned to him, his courageous witness and steadfast faith make him an inspiring figure for all Christians. His life serves as a reminder of the price some individuals have paid for their religious convictions and their unwavering commitment to the teachings of Christ.