Saint Giustino De Jacobis

Biography

Saint Giustino De Jacobis, also known as Justin de Jacobis, was born on 9 October 1800 in the town of San Fele, Luciana, Italy. From a young age, he displayed a strong devotion to his faith and felt a calling to serve God. At the age of 18, he joined the Vincentians, a religious order dedicated to serving the poor and evangelizing. Giustino was ordained as a priest on 12 June 1824 in the Congregation of the Mission and quickly gained a reputation for his exceptional preaching skills, particularly among the rural poor. In his early years as a priest, he was instrumental in founding a Vincentian house in Monopoli, Italy, and later served as the Superior in Lecce, Italy. In 1836–1837, during the cholera epidemic in Naples, Giustino fearlessly worked among the sick, showing compassion and providing spiritual comfort to those affected. His dedication to the service of others was evident in his response to the suffering of the most vulnerable. On 10 March 1839, Giustino received a significant appointment that would shape the rest of his life. He was chosen as the Prefect, Vicar Apostolic, and missionary to Adua, Ethiopia. This marked the beginning of his missionary work in Africa. The people of Adua were primarily a mix of pagans, Muslims, and Coptic Christians. However, foreign missionaries were not well-received by the authorities, both civil and religious. Undeterred by the challenges and cultural differences, Giustino immersed himself in the Ethiopian culture. He learned the language, lived among the people, and worked tirelessly to build relationships at the local level. His main goal was to bring the Gospel to the Ethiopian people and establish a stronger presence of the Catholic Church in the region. Recognizing the importance of having local leaders within the Ethiopian Church, Giustino tried to have one of his monks appointed as the Patriarch. However, his efforts proved unsuccessful. He returned to Rome in 1846 to consult with Pope Gregory XVI and persuade Ethiopian religious leaders to accompany him back to Ethiopia. Unfortunately, these attempts also failed. Undeterred, Giustino again returned to Ethiopia in 1846 and founded a college and seminary at Guala. This initiative, along with other Catholic missionary efforts, created a backlash within the Ethiopian Church. Catholicism was eventually banned, and Bishop Massaia was forced to flee to Rome. Despite facing threats on his life, Giustino remained in Ethiopia and chose to work underground, nurturing and caring for the faithful converts. In recognition of his dedication, Giustino was consecrated as the titular bishop of Nilopolis, becoming the vicar apostolic of Abyssinia, Ethiopia, on 6 July 1847. He received the authority to administer the sacraments in the Ethiopian rite. Over the years, he consecrated twenty priests and was able to make around 5,000 converts through his relentless evangelization efforts. In 1860, Kedaref Kassa, with the support of Abuna Salama, the Patriarch of the Ethiopian Church, became King Thedore II. In gratitude, King Thedore II prohibited Catholicism, resulting in Giustino's imprisonment for several months. Eventually, Giustino was force-marched to the area of Halai in southern Eritrea, where he spent his final months engaged in missionary work along the Red Sea. On 31 July 1860, Giustino De Jacobis succumbed to a tropical fever in the valley of Alghedien Zula, Semenawi Keih Bahri, Eritrea, on the side of a road near Halai, during one of his missionary trips. He was buried in a church in Hebo. His tireless efforts and dedication to spreading the Gospel earned him the title of apostle to Africa and recognition as the founder of the Abyssinian mission. Pope Pius XI declared Giustino De Jacobis venerable on 28 July 1935, acknowledging his heroic virtues. He was later beatified by Pope Pius XII on 25 July 1939 and canonized by Pope Paul VI on 26 October 1975. Throughout his life, Giustino De Jacobis exemplified a steadfast commitment to his faith, selfless service to others, and a deep love for the Ethiopian people. He serves as an inspiring model of missionary zeal and devotion to God.