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Servant of God

Bastiampillai Anthonipillai Thomas
Born7 March 1886
Padiyanthalvu, Jaffna, Sri Lanka
DiedJanuary 26, 1964(1964-01-26) (aged 77)

Bastiampillai Anthonipillai Thomas or "Father Thomas"[1][2] (7 March 1886 – 26 January 1964) was a Roman Catholic priest of the congregation of Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and founder of the Rosarians Order.[3]

Life

Thomas was born on 7 March 1886 in Padiyanthalvu, Jaffna, Sri Lanka. He studied at St. Patrick's College, Jaffna and at University of Cambridge. Since childhood he was of weak health.[4]

Thomas was compelled to become a priest after hearing the words “If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself, take up his cross and follow me” (Mt 16:24) at a Sacred Scripture lesson. He was ordained a priest on 6 January 1912. Bishop Alfred-Jean Guyomard, OMI, the Bishop of Jaffna, invited Thomas to establish contemplative monasteries on the island.[4] He was well versed in Hindu literature and the Hindu classics.[4]

Thomas died on 26 January 1964[4] and was declared a Servant of God on 11 March 2006 by Pope Benedict XVI.[4]

References

  1. ^ Stan Deiva (15 March 2017), SERVANT OF GOD REV.FR.THOMAS OMI, retrieved 17 September 2017
  2. ^ Michael Jude (3 February 2014), Rev. Fr. B. A. Thomas OMI, Servant of God, retrieved 17 September 2017
  3. ^ "551 - January 2015 - Oblate Communications". OMI World. Archived from the original on 17 September 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Servant of God B. A. Thomas". OMI World. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
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