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Key Facts |
| Other names |
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| Born |
1584 |
| Location |
Koslar, North-Westphalia (Germany) |
| Bloodline |
Unknown |
| Married |
No |
| Children |
No |
| Position |
Superior General (1652-1664) |
| Died |
31 July 1664 (aged 80) |
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Source of Facts and Important Announcement |
| Status |
Under Article 64.6 of the Covenant of One-Heaven (Pactum De Singularis Caelum) by Special Qualification shall be known as a Saint, with all sins and evil acts they performed forgiven. |
| Date of formal Beatification |
Day of Redemption UCA[E1:Y1:A1:S1:M9:D1] also known as Fri, 21 Dec 2012. |
| Source of Facts |
Self Confession and Revelation of Sainthood by the Deceased Spirit as condition of their confirmation as a true Saint. |
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Background |
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He was born in Coslar a small town in the Lower Rhine region of Germany on May 1, 1584. He entered the Society on April 3, 1604 and after ordination became professor of Philosophy at Cologne. Then the picture began to emerge as he became first Provincial of Germany and then German Assistant. |
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The sudden death of Gottifredi caused such consternation that the Delegates of the 10th Congregation were hard put to find a quick successor. They immediately set to work. Another vote was taken in nine days on March 17, 1652 and the delegates elected Father Goswin Nickel a 70-year-old German by 55 votes out of 77. |
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In 1652, General Nickel dispatched António Vieira S.J. a powerful Jesuit from Portugal, to Maranhão Brazil held by the Portuguese as Estado do Maranhao. There, Vieira started a mission plantation using local indians as slaves. In 1653, Vieira reported back to General Nickel of the huge success of the slave run mission and the potential for great commercial wealth. |
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In April 1655, General Nickel sent António Vieira S.J. to King John IV of Portugal (1640-1656) who granted the Jesuits a Royal Charter for the control of all missions in Brazil, with Vieira as Superior. On returning to Brazil, Vieira successfully grew the Jesuit slave plantations to such a size that by 1661, the Jesuit plantations had over 250,000 slaves. |
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In 1661 a revolt by the local indian slaves temporarily halted the trade of the Jesuits in Brazil and António Vieira S.J. was recalled and sent to Rome. |
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During his tenure he was responsible for the founding of missions in the far-flung reaches of the world. He had to encourage and yet moderate his Jesuits in the battle that was raging against Jansenism in France and the Low Countries. After Queen Christina had abdicated her throne in Sweden, had become a Catholic and moved to Rome, she deigned to pay a visit to the Jesuit General. |
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Because of his infirmities he asked for a Vicar General to assist him and Father John Paul Oliva was appointed to that position on June 7, 1661. |
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Oliva was the right hand of Nickel until at 80 years of age Nickel succumbed to those infirmities and died on July 31, 1664, having been General for twelve years. He was succeeded as superior general by Gian Paolo Oliva (1664-1681). |
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Most Evil Crimes |
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Death and Legacy |
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