Gonçalo de Amarante

Who was Gonçalo de Amarante?

Gonçalo de Amarante was a Portuguese priest and hermit before becoming a Dominican friar later in life; canonized by Pope Pius IV in 1560.

Known to be devoted to Jesus from childhood, in adulthood he was ordained a diocesan priest. After some time in an extravagantly comfortable parish ministry Gonçalo is said to have gone on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, turning over his responsibilities to his nephew, also a priest. He is held to have returned after some fourteen years on the pilgrim trail.

Gonçalo returned to find the austerity he now upheld in priestly life to be unwelcome by his nephew who set a dog upon Bl. Gonçalo viewing him a vagrant. Discernment led Gonçalo to the Dominican Order to which he was admitted and, unusual to the mendincant Order's charism, allowed to live as a hermit who was in the service of his local community.