The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c24.180

v1.c24.180

Fr. Juvencio, the famous historian of the Society of Jesus, recognised in Fr. Roberto de Nobili a man who had been destined by God to begin the Madura Mission². This statement is merely an echo of the eulogy of de Nobili, written in 1613, by Mgr. Ros. to the General of the Society of Jesus: "The Madura Mission", says he, "which is within my diocese, is a very spiritual one but very trying, and in all respects worthy of perfect men and true sons of the Society, entirely devoted to God, without any human satisfaction and with a perpetual mortification of the flesh. I am convinced that it has been commenced by divine inspiration, in order to open the way to the conversion of the whole of the Malabar (Southern India). At last, after numerous prayers, penances, tears, and holy sacrifices, God Our Lord opened the eyes of the *Zelotes* of the Holy Church; and they considered that the proper work of the Society was to do what St. Paul had done; 'I have made myself all to all'. Thus the good Fr. Roberto de Nobili went by a special inspiration of the Holy Ghost, into the great city of Madura" ³.