Giuseppe Maria BRAVI. — Silvestrino, Apostolic Vicar of Colombo (Ceylon), b. at Monte Santo, diocese of Fermo, on 16 Dec. 1813. Sent by Gregory XVI in 1845 together with his confrere Emiliano Emiliani to the Ceylon mission, he devoted himself to the care of 30,000 Christians, hearing confessions and preaching in Singhalese, Portuguese, Tamil, and English.
Among the numerous churches he built, noteworthy is the cathedral of Colombo, one of the most beautiful in the Far East. In a single apostolic visitation he administered Confirmation to eleven thousand Christians. He resolved the schism of Goa. He worked miracles in favor of unbelievers, Buddhists, and Muslims. He was called the Apostle of Ceylon and was certainly one of the greatest pioneers of missions in India. He died on 15 Aug. 1860 during a voyage in the Red Sea and was buried at Suez; his remains were later brought back to Colombo and interred in the large Church of St. Philip Neri.