Camillus Costanzo was an Italian Jesuit missionary who served in Japan during the early 17th century. Born in Bovalino in 1571, he initially studied law and served as a soldier before joining the Society of Jesus. Although he originally intended to travel to China, he was redirected to Japan, where he quickly mastered the local language. He worked to support Catholic converts near Sakai until the Tokugawa shogunate's restrictive laws forced him to flee to Macau.
Missionary work and death
After being barred from entering China by the Portuguese, Costanzo focused his efforts on the Japanese mission. He returned to the country in 1621 by disguising himself as a soldier to evade the authorities. This attempt at illegal reentry eventually led to his arrest on the island of Hirado. In September 1622, he was executed by being burned alive, an act that established his status as a martyr.
Veneration
The Catholic Church recognizes Costanzo as a saint. He was beatified by Pope Pius IX in 1867. His feast day is observed annually on March 15. He remains a significant figure for the Jesuit order due to his dedication to spreading the faith in East Asia despite the extreme risks involved.