José de Anchieta: a missionary between History and glory of altars.

Abstract

The article analyses the representations of the Jesuit missionary José de Anchieta published through his most representative biographies, with the intent of evincing their apropriation and difusion by historians, literates and public men, overall, in the XIX and XX centuries. When redeeming the image of Anchieta, presenting him as harbringer of the brazilian nationality, as moral guardian an example of sanctity, these authors not only emphasize the conducts considered fundamental for the brazilian society in different moments of brazilian political history, but justified and defended the process of his beatification and canonization as well.