' The Apostle of Brazil '...

The man known as the Apostle of Brazil, Saint José de Anchieta (d. 1597), was one of the earliest missionaries to the country.. José was born in the Canary Islands of Spain, became a Jesuit priest, and first served as a teacher.. But he eventually became a great Brazilian linguist and writer.. José learned the native Tupí language, wrote a book of grammar explaining it, and became fluent enough to serve as an interpreter.. Taken hostage at one point, he used his five months in captivity to compose a lengthy poem in honor of the Blessed Mother, writing out the verses on the sand since he had no paper.. Fortunately, he had an excellent memory and wrote down all 5,800 lines of his poem when he was released.................. from the Catholic World Report