St. Alonso Rodríguez

Martyr of the Rio Plate

Alonso Rodríguez (1598-1628) was one of three Jesuits killed in the missions of Paraguay. He was a young missionary, happy to be with Father Juan del Castillo, with whom he had sailed to the new world as scholastics, as they accompanied the veteran Roque Gonzalez on a journey to found new missions.

Rodríguez and Gonzalez left del Castillo at the first new mission and set off to establish another one at Caaró. The two Jesuits arrived at the new mission on November 1 and named it All Saints. Within a few days they baptized three children, and their success threw them into conflict with Nezú, the local religious leader, who begrudged the influence the missionaries were beginning to have on people. He determined to kill the missionaries in his area. Father González left the chapel on the morning of Nov. 15 after finishing Mass and noticed some men setting up a bell. As the Jesuit bent down to attach the clapper, one of Nezú's henchmen split the priest's skull with an axe. When Rodríguez heard the noise, he came out of the chapel and was immediately struck down. The bodies of both priests were thrown into the chapel which was then set on fire.