Indian layman, Devasahayam Pillai was the first to be declared a saint. In the month of May of the year 2022 he will be declared a saint by the Vatican. When he decided to convert to Christianity in the 18th century, he faced severe persecution and imprisonment. In the year 1752 he was killed. In the year 2020, he was declared eligible for sainthood and Lazarus is his name after baptism.
Highlights
On 23rd April, 1712, Devasahayam Pillai was born in the village Nattalam in Kanyakumari. He worked in the court of Travancore Maharaja Marthanda Varma. During his service he met a Dutch commander. The commander taught him Catholicism. In the year 1745 he was baptized. After that, he took the name Lazarus which means “God is my help.” After his conversion, he was released from the position of the royal government. He was detained and severely persecuted. Devasahayam Pilari preached on equality. This caused hatred among the upper class.
Approval of sainthood
The Tamil Nadu Bishop Council and Conference of Catholic Bishops of India recommended his name for beatification which is the Pope’s declaration that the deceased is in a state of bliss. He was canonized in 2020, 300 years after he was born.
Controversy
In the year 2017, Indian IAS officials wrote to Cardinal Angelo Amato and at that time, Cardinal was the head of the Vatican congregation for sainthood and beatification. They urged him to remove Devasahayam’s surname “Pillai” as pillai is a caste in the state of Tamil Nadu. This request was declined by the Vatican. Though later, Pillai was dropped when he was cleared for sainthood.
