Title: The Kongolese Saint Anthony
Description: This book describes the Christian religious movement led by Dona Beatriz Kimpa Vita in the Kingdom of Kongo, from her birth in 1684 until her death, by burning at the stake, in 1706, only two years after the movement had started. Beatriz, a young woman, claimed to be possessed by Saint Anthony, argued that Jesus was a Kongolese, and criticized Italian Capuchin missionaries in her country for not supporting black saints.

Thornton supplies background information on the Kingdom of Kongo, the development of Catholicism in Kongo since 1491, the nature and role of local warfare in the Atlantic slave trade, and contemporary everyday life, as well as sketching the lives of some local personalities.
Subjects: Catholic Church, Christian biography, Christianity and politics, Church history, Cult, History, Politics and government, Anthony, of padua, saint, 1195-1231, Kongo (african people), Catholic church, africa, Catholic church, history, modern period, 1500-, Catholic church, history, Africa, religion
Places: Kongo Kingdom
People: Anthony of Padua, Saint (1195-1231), Beatriz Kimpa Vita (d. 1706)
Time periods: 18th century