Last Tuesday morning at Saint Francis Xavier’s Church in Chennai, Father Jesu made a special announcement during Mass. “We have a new patron saint,” he said, his voice carrying across the small congregation of shopkeepers, teachers, and daily wage workers. “Pope Leo has declared Saint Devasahayam the patron saint of all lay people in India.”

An elderly woman in the front row wiped her eyes. She remembered her grandmother’s stories about this saint, a man who lived and suffered just as ordinary people do.

Born in 1712 as Neelakanda Pillai in Tamil Nadu, Saint Lazarus Devasahayam grew up to become a respected court official under the king of Travancore, managing trade and settling disputes. Life was comfortable and predictable until 1741, when he met a Portuguese sea captain, Bento Pereira.

Under the shade of mango trees, Bento shared stories of Jesus Christ, a God who made no distinction between rich and poor, high caste and low caste. Neelakanda’s heart was moved. By 1745, he chose baptism, taking the name Lazarus, meaning “God is my help.” Later, he adopted the Tamil name Devasahayam, carrying the same meaning.

That decision changed........

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