Rev. Fr. Constantine Joseph Beschi: Who was a missionary, visionary, and above all he adopted poverty and Tamil culture to teach Christ love to Hindus

Rev. Fr. Constantine Joseph Beschi, Jesuit Missionary, was responsible for evangelization of simple people to kings of his time; in my mind he was the first one to bring systematic catechist training to India; he built many churches in India with the help of revelation and visions guided prayers and conversion of kings of Tamil Nadu of his time. There are many recorded healings and extraordinary gifts showered upon people at his intercession, while he was in this world; today multitudes go to the churches and shrines he built and follow Jesus and bestow Mother Mary intercessory blessings. Thus he continues his missionary work even today. Last year, I made a trip to many of the churches and shrine he built and associated with. I have been reflecting on his life through some of his writings and testament artifacts. This year I made a trip again in the same route. I am totally impressed by this holy Priest's faith life and contributions. I would like to pen few of my perspectives here.

 I wish and pray sincerely to God and mother Church to consider Rev. Fr. Constantine Joseph Beschi for the elevation of faith model ( Blessed - sainthood) within the heart and mind of mother Church one day. His model may serve as an example of lived faith with cultural amalgamation, which is a rare gift lived and it is the need for our times.  I place this statement here prayerfully, after reflecting on this statement for the last one year. This is my simple contribution to salute a brave and uncompromised faith hero in my eyes. Those who see this blog, please pray for this. If anybody who has the skill, knowledge and qualification to take this desire to the level of recognition please do the needful for this Holy Priest, who's spiritual contributions have been mostly shadowed by the literary world. He loved the Church meticulously. He was very humble and he was devoted and dedicated in following the instructions of Church authorities, which is evident in all his activities that he got permission from Madras Bishop then.  He is a celebrated Tamil scholar and literary, which are evident that his contributions were extraordinary and he laid  foundation for not only Tamil literature and grammar but also to the Tamil Christian literature, through his faith in Jesus, Mary, Joseph and mother Church. If we read his books we can peek into his inner sanctum, where we can easily witness and understand the heavenly visions he enjoyed routinely. 

We live in a world that integration of diversity in everything we do is a part and parcel of our life. The meaning and perspectives and implications of Diversity grow and transform everyday in our time. Rev. Fr. Constantine Joseph Beschi's life models evangelization with cultural integration. He was an extraordinary missionary with extraordinary gifts and talents, who is a simple model of faith filled life.

Hereby, I appeal to scholars of all languages consider studying him and explore his divine and literary contributions. I appeal to the theologians consider exploring his divine lived faith. I appeal to the missionaries consider examining and analyzing his model of faith and evangelization methods of applications.  I appeal to the holy mother church consider recognizing one of her  beloved, celebrated, faithful, and almost forgotten son and missionary, who took the gospel to the far east. In all the above mentioned levels and activities one may find a simple priestly life guided by Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. It is inescapable that one who reflect his life will encounter Holy Spirit's gifts, fruits, works as visible testaments through his life. This is my simple understanding. 

Constanzo Beschi, also known under his Tamil name of Vīramāmunivar (Tamil: வீரமாமுனிவர்) or Constantine Joseph Beschi (in English) (8 November 1680 – 1742) was an Italian Jesuit priest, Missionary in South India, and renowned poet in the Tamil language.

Contents

  [hide] 

• 1 Early years and formation
• 2 In Tamil Nadu (Madurai Mission)
• 3 Inculturation
• 4 Master of Tamil literature
• 5 A man of dialogue
• 6 Recognition
• 7 See also
• 8 References

Early years and formation[edit]

Born in Castiglione delle Stiviere, in the Duchy of Mantua, Beschi got his secondary education in the Jesuits' High School at Mantua. After becoming a Jesuit in 1698^[1] he was trained in Ravenna and Bologna from where he requested, and obtained, from Superior General Michelangelo Tamburini permission to be sent to the Madurai mission in South India. Sailing from Lisbon he reached Goa in October 1710, from where he proceeded immediately to South India. He arrived in Madurai in May 1711.

In Tamil Nadu (Madurai Mission)[edit]

Main article: Madurai Mission

Beschi at Madurai Mission

During the first six years, he worked as missionary in Elakurichy (ஏலாக்குறிச்சி), a town near Tiruvaiyaru. Other churches built by him are Vyagula Matha Church at Thanjavur and another church at Palliyeri Village near Thanjavur.Then he served as parish priest inKamanayakkanpatti one of the oldest mission centres in Tamil Nadu. Also he visited several important centres such as Tirunelveli,Ramanathapuram, Thanjavur and of course Madurai, to learn the Tamil language. He met with persecution in 1714–15, and escaped a death sentence thanks to the influence of a Hindu friend. The hostility of local kings prevented him from visiting Christian communities. This gave him more time to master the Tamil language in which he soon showed great proficiency.

Inculturation[edit]

Inspired by what was done in China Beschi adopted an Indian life style and introduced elements of Hindu aesthetics even in the Christianstatuary. Similarly the churches he built (Poondi Matha Basilica at Poondi near Thanjavur, Periyanayagi maadha shrine at Mugasaparur inKonankuppam, and Adaikala maadha shrine at Elakurichi) in their architectonic lines, are inspired by Hindu temples. These churches are now Catholic pilgrim centres.

Two teak wood cars built by him are still on view in Kamanayakkanpatti. He made himself a sannyasi (Indian ascetic) and adopted their saffroncoloured robe. His facility in making friendship, along with his cultural competence and obvious religious commitment gave him much influence which he used to protect Christians against exploitation and persecution. He is said to have baptised 12,000 people. He worked in the Thanjavur area till 1738 and settled in 1740 on the Coromandel coast where he remained till the end of his life. He died at Manappadu near Tiruchendur, India. The body of Constantine Beschi lies at Sampaloor in Kerala.

Master of Tamil literature[edit]

Though he was primarily a missionary, he is also known as a classical writer of Tamil literature. Besides composing a literary Tamil grammar, he also wrote a grammar for the common use of Tamil – the first to do so – which earned him the title of Father of Tamil prose.^{[citation needed]} He compiled several Tamil dictionaries: including the Chaturakarati(சதுரகராதி), the quadruple lexicon containing words, synonyms, categories of words, and rhymes; a Tamil-Latin and Latin-Tamil-Portuguese dictionary.

His greatest poetical work is the Thembavani (தேம்பாவணி) (the Unfading Garland), an extraordinary epic poem – 3615 stanzas long – on Salvation history and the life of Saint Joseph. It is considered a classic of Tamil literature. He also wrote a prabandham (one of the minor literature) called Kavalur Kalambagam (காவலூர் கலம்பகம்), a grammatical treatise called Thonnool (தொன்னூல்), a guide book for catechists with the title Vedhiyar Ozukkam (வேதியர் ஒழுக்கம்), and Paramarthaguruvin kathai(பரமார்த்த குருவின் கதை, The Adventures of Guru Paramartha), a satirical piece on a naive religious teacher and his equally obtuse disciples. His prose works include polemical writings against the Lutheran missionaries and didactic religious books for the instruction of Catholics. He prepared a vademecum for newly arrived missionaries.

A man of dialogue[edit]

Local traditions abound of stories of Beschi challenging Hindu ascetics and winning debates over them. Yet his Thembavani meaning "ornament of poems as sweet as honey" is proof that he had a positive approach to Hinduism, as he often uses phrases, ideas and myths characteristic of Hinduism. The same spirit of dialogue and admiration for the Tamil culture led him to translate and explain in Latin the famous Thirukkural epic poem of Thiruvalluvar (1730). This Latin work was an eye opener for European intellectuals, discovering truth and beauty in a Tamil literature. They also found it to contain many thoughts similar to Christianity.

Recognition[edit]

Beschi was one of the best known Jesuits of the 18th century in Tamil Nadu. In 1968 the State of Tamil Nadu erected a statue for Beschi on the Marina beach in the City of Madras (Chennai), as a recognition for his contribution to the Tamil language and literature.

See also[edit]

• Poondi Matha Basilica (பூண்டி புதுமை மாதா திருத்தலம்)
• Elakurichi (Adaikala Matha Church) (அடைக்கல மாதா திருத்தலம்)
• Kamanayakkanpatti Church of Our Lady of Assumption (பரலோக மாதா திருத்தலம்)
• The Perianayagi Madha Shrine,^[2] Konankuppam(பெரிய நாயகி மாதா திருத்தலம்)

References[edit]

1. Jump up^  "Costanzo Giuseppe Beschi". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 1913.
2. Jump up^ http://www.pondyarchdiocese.org.in/konankuppam.htm

• Besse, L.: Fr.Beschi: his times and his writings, Trichinolopy, 1918.
• Giachi, G.: L'India divenna la sua terra, Milan. 1981.
• Sorrentino, A:: L'altra perla dell'India, Bologna, 1980.