Morais (Dom Sebastião de)
Original title: Morais. (D. Sebastião de)
Biography of D. Sebastião de Morais (1534–1588), a Funchal-born Jesuit who was confirmed as the first bishop of Funai in Japan but died in Mozambique on his way to the diocese.
First bishop of Japan
Early Portuguese colonisation in the lands discovered or occupied by conquest went hand in hand with the evangelising work of Catholic missionaries, who contributed so much to consolidating our colonial rule and to widening our sphere of action in infidel countries. From the outset it became imperative to create dioceses in the distant lands of the East. One of them, at the ends of the earth, was established in Japan, a country which in the 16th century was known in Europe only through mystery, legend and terror.
The first bishop appointed to the new diocese was the Madeiran Sebastião de Morais. He was born in Funchal in 1534 and in 1550 entered the Society of Jesus, where he stood out for his talents and exemplary conduct. He held the highest offices in his order, including those of provincial of Portugal and visitor (visitador, ecclesiastical inspector) of the provinces of Rome and Milan.
He was charged with escorting Princess Dona Maria, granddaughter of Manuel I, to Italy, and in that country he held important posts at the instance of the Pope and of the general of his order. On 19 February 1587 Sixtus V confirmed him as bishop of Funai, the see of the first diocese created in Japan. He never took up the office, however, because he died in Mozambique on 19 August 1588 while travelling to his bishopric.
He wrote the work Vita e morte della Serenissima Maria di Portogallo Principessa di Parma e Piacensia, published in Bologna in 1578, of which editions were later printed in Rome and Madrid. He also published a volume on theological questions.
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 05-
D. Sebastião de Morais was born in Funchal.
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D. Sebastião de Morais entered the Society of Jesus.
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D. Sebastião de Morais's life of Princess Maria of Portugal was published in Bologna.
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Pope Sixtus V confirmed D. Sebastião de Morais as bishop of Funai, the first diocese in Japan.
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D. Sebastião de Morais died in Mozambique while travelling to his diocese.
Place
Places mentioned · 09
Abroad
- Bologna
Italy. Where his life of Princess Maria was first published in 1578.
Where his life of Princess Maria was first published in 1578.
- Funai
Japan. See of the first Japanese diocese, to which Morais was appointed.
See of the first Japanese diocese, to which Morais was appointed.
- Funchal
Birthplace of Sebastião de Morais.
The capital of the archipelago and seat of the principal captaincy, where settlement began; it was made a vila c.1451–52. Its bay, the widest in the archipelago, lies between Ponta do Garajau and Ponta da Cruz and offers sheltered anchorage, though its harbour had never been studied oceanographically. The Elucidário discusses it as a health resort with climate data and records the January 1906 disturbances, the Danish prince's visit in May 1846 and recent volcanic cones in the area.
- Italy
Where Morais escorted Princess Maria and held important posts.
Italy is referred to in several contexts. It was the place of exile of Bishop D. Francisco José Rodrigues de Andrade in 1834, and it was visited on the 1926 Madeiran pilgrimage. An Italian sanctuary was reputedly the model for the chapel of Nossa Senhora da Graça.
- Japan
Country where the first diocese in the Far East to which Morais was appointed was created.
Japan is the Asian country cited as the place of origin of several plants grown in Madeira, including the camphor tree, the camellia, the loquat, Osmanthus fragrans and most bamboos. It is also the country where the first diocese in the Far East to which D. Sebastião de Morais was appointed was created.
- Madrid
Spain. Where a later edition of his book appeared.
The Spanish capital, where the Conde da Ega served as Portuguese ambassador and other Madeirans served at the Portuguese legation. Franco de Sousa and Miguéis went there in 1912 on the Valmor grant, and Dr Jacinto António de Sousa visited it for its scientific establishments.
- Milan
Italy. Jesuit province Morais visited.
Milão (Milan) is a foreign city. The Elucidário records that Nuno Lomelino Silva trained at its conservatoire, and that D. Sebastião de Morais visited its Jesuit province.
- Mozambique
Where Morais died on his voyage to Japan.
Moçambique (Mozambique) was a Portuguese colony governed by Sebastião Xavier Botelho and served by Mousinho de Albuquerque as royal commissioner and by Manuel de Sousa Brasão in 1916–17. It was a place of exile where Padre Pestana and Luiz Pimenta de Aguiar died, and it was the planned location of a Marconi wireless station.
- Rome
Italy. Jesuit province Morais visited; later edition of his book printed there.
Rome, seat of the Holy See, appears in the Elucidário chiefly through Madeirans and others connected with it. Padre Manuel Constantino taught, published and died there, and Dr Patrício Moniz took a doctorate in theology and was ordained there. Padre Luiz Gonçalves da Câmara was superior of the Jesuit professed house there, and Simão Gonçalves da Câmara's gift was presented to the pope there; other entries record an embassy post, the Vatican Council and beatification processes.
People
People mentioned · 04- D. Sebastião de Morais1534–1588
Funchal-born Jesuit, provincial of Portugal, confirmed in 1587 as first bishop of Funai in Japan; died in Mozambique in 1588 en route.
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King of Portugal, grandfather of Princess Maria.
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Portuguese princess, granddaughter of King Manuel, and Princess of Parma and Piacenza, whom Morais escorted to Italy and whose life he wrote.
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Pope who confirmed Morais as bishop of Funai in 1587.