Josephat (was Propaganda and Allah)

[James A. Landau]

In a message dated 10/20/2001 7:17:09 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
markodegard at HOTMAIL.COM writes:

> >It turns out that Buddha is a saint in both the Catholic and Orthodox
>  >Churches, under the name of "Josephat".)
>
>  I have trouble with this statement.
>
>  Are you referring to the Ruthenian Rite martyr (c. 1580-12 Nov. 1623), the
>  one with the Basilica dedicated to him in Milwaukee?

Not the 17th century martyr, but an earlier figure, though it may well be
that the martyr you mentioned was named after the earlier St. Josephat.

While not all authorities accept the theory, many do agree that St. Josephat
(there are several variant spellings of that name) is indeed Buddha.  The
following quote is from the on-line version of the Catholic Encyclopedia at
URL http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02297a.htm

<quote>
Barlaam and Josaphat
The principal characters of a legend of Christian antiquity, which was a
favourite subject of writers in the Middle Ages. The story is substantially
as follows: Many inhabitants of India had been converted by the Apostle St.
Thomas and were leading Christian lives. In the third or fourth century King
Abenner (Avenier) persecuted the Church. The astrologers had foretold that
his son Josaphat would one day become a Christian. To prevent this the prince
was kept in close confinement. But, in spite of all precautions, Barlaam, a
hermit of Senaar, met him and brought him to the true Faith. Abenner tried
his best to pervert Josaphat, but, not succeeding, he shared the government
with him. Later Abenner himself became a Christian, and, abdicating the
throne, became a hermit. Josaphat governed alone for a time, then resigned,
went into the desert, found his former teacher Barlaam, and with him spent
his remaining years in holiness. Years after their death, the bodies were
brought to India and their grave became renowned by miracles. Barlaam and
Josaphat found their way into the Roman Martyrology (27 November), and into
the Greek calendar (26 August). Vincent of Beauvais, in the thirteenth
century, had given the story in his "Speculum Historiale". It is also found
in an abbreviated form in the "Golden Legend" of Jacobus de Voragine of the
same century.

The story is a Christianized version of one of the legends of Buddha, as even
the name Josaphat would seem to show. This is said to be a corruption of the
original Joasaph, which is again corrupted from the middle Persian Budasif
(Budsaif=Bodhisattva).
<end quote>

                       - Jim Landau