New Missionary Efforts

We wish to confirm once more that the task of evangelizing all people constitutes the essential mission of the Church.

From Declaration of the Synod Fathers, 3rd General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops; quoted by Pope Paul VI in Evangelii Nuntiandi (Apostolic Exhortation on Evangelization)

Most trade went through the Mediterranean seaTaxes were high in Muslim

countries, so European traders sought different routes

1488 – Bartholomew Dias is the first known European to travel around southernmost tip of Africa1497, Vasco de Gama made it

all the way to India by this route.

We’re about to set sail…

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUSInspired by Ptolemy, an

ancient Roman geographer, Columbus believed one could reach Asia by sailing westIsabella of Spain accepted his

proposal and funded the voyage.

He underestimated the size of the world by about 7000 miles

BTW: why would Columbus be reading Ptolemy???

He died believing he had found the passage to Asia

We’re about to set sail…

Columbus’ discovery set of a frenzy of explorationSpain, Portugal, France, the Netherlands, and

EnglandPope Alexander VI drew up the “Line of

Demarcation”, Spain given all new lands 100 leagues west of

the Azores, and Portugal all new lands to the East

France, the Netherlands, and England also joined in the exploration

We’re about to set sail…

We’re in the 1500’s; what events have recently taken place in the Church?Avignon Papacy, Great Western Schism,

Renaissance, and ReformationWith renewed zeal for the Gospel, a number of

men felt called – like the first Apostles – to “make disciples of all nations”

Following the wake of discovery and exploration, a relatively small number of holy missionaries felt the call to bring the Gospel to these new worldsWhich of the 4 Marks does this exhibit?

A New Zeal for the FAITH – 1500’s

Great distances to travel Climate was also a great barrierLanguages were difficult to learn and often

lacked the complexity to explain Christian doctrine

Native medicine men, witch doctors, and pagan priests were very opposed to missionaries.

GREATEST OBSTACLE: the bad example of the Christian, European settlers

Obstacles to Missionaries

ASIA

Exploration and Missionary Movements

One of the founding members of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits)Worked first to improve the moral character

of the Portuguese settlers in IndiaAlways tried to learn the native languageSaid to have baptized thousands

Did much to evangelize the natives of IndiaRemember, he’s the patron saint of Goa,

IndiaEventually he traveled to JapanHe wanted to go to China, but he died on

the way

St. Francis Xavier (1549-1551)

Tradition says that St. Thomas the Apostle came to India to preach the GospelWhy does a nation already

evangelized need to be “re-evangelized”?

Missionaries in this area dedicated a large part of efforts to learning the particular cultural traditions of the peopleMissionary efforts directed by St.

Francis Xavier

India

By learning language and culture, the missionaries could teach about Jesus in a more convincing way.Christianity was presented in different

ways to the different castes.Bore great fruit because of the

effective preaching and well-ordered communities established

What does this work of the Jesuits remind you of?

After the suppression of the Jesuits in 1773, the Christian population in India shrank

India

By 1580’s – 160,000 Catholics in Japan, numerous native priests as well as Jesuit missionaries

1587 – concerned by this “new religion” & its connection w/ “quiet takeover” by Europeans, the Japanese begin to persecute the Church in Japan1614 – over 200,000 Catholics

martyred

JAPAN

From 1638-1825 no outsiders allowed in and no connection to the Universal ChurchWhen French missionaries

return, they find an underground Church 20,000 strong

No priests, but they’ve continued Baptisms for 200 yearsTaught by the Jesuits before

they were expelled

JAPAN

China resisted foreign visitors for many years – unimpressed with European “sophistication” because China was so advanced culturally and technologically

1583, Fr. Matteo Ricci SJ was able to set up a permanent residence in ChinaHe embraced the Chinese cultureThrough his good example and charity, he was

able to introduce the Chinese to the fruits of Western culture

He developed a liturgy in Chinese, and wrote a treatise on the faith in Chinese

China

By 1724 the number of Chinese Catholics grew to 800,000.Catholicism was encouraged by the EmperorBUT success was short-lived

Ricci allowed for a blending of Catholicism with some anti-Catholic beliefs (ex. Ancestor worship)Known as the ACCOMMODATION METHODChurch which is largely European, wants Church in

China to look more like Church in EuropeWary of Western expansion, the Emperor began a

persecution of the Church and numbers declinedSituation today: “Patriotic Church” & “underground”

Church

China

AFRICA

Exploration and Missionary Movements

Because of the Line of Demarcation, Africa is in the hands of which European nation? _____________

This region of the world showed the least results from missionary activityHistorically, at least north Africa was CatholicWhy was that not the case by the 1600’s?

In addition, disease destroyed nearly all missionary effortsOther obstacles included reprisals over the slave

trade, jealous pagan priests, and persecutionsNo real fruit born until late 19th & early 20th

centuries

Africa

THE “NEW WORLD”

a.k.a. THE “WEST INDIES”

Exploration and Missionary Movements

After realizing they were not in India, Spanish discoverers and missionaries found a wealth of opportunity

…BUT Spanish missionaries had many difficulties converting natives (Apocalypto – sacrifice)The natives distrusted the

Spanish after their pagan temples were destroyed and their human sacrifices were stopped

Apocalytpo – arrival of Spaniards

In the New World…

After the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe, conversions abounded (see video)Within 10 years of the

apparition, 9 million natives would be baptized.

In the New World…

Spanish Missions: FLORIDAMotivated by 3 things: GOD,

GOLD, & GLORYArrived in Florida in April, 1513Juan Ponce de Leon landed at

Bay of the Mother of GodBUT not exactly successful;

natives are VERY hostileLots of martyrs among the

Jesuits and Franciscans

Spanish Missions: FLORIDA1565 – 1st parish established in

St. Augustine1600’s – 1,000’s of Indian

convertsAll comes to a halt in 1700’s with

English influence in area1763 – Treaty of Paris – Florida

becomes a British colony

MUCH MORE SUCCESSFUL!!Stretched from Texas to Kansas to California

Once Mexico was conquered by Spanish, discoverers turned northward (bringing missionaries with them)Typically no widespread martyrdom, but

isolated incidents: Fr. Juan Padilla was martyred in Kansas around 1540

Spanish Missions: the SOUTHWEST

Problems between the native Americans and the Spanish governmentBecause the missionaries were apparently

associated with the Spanish, the natives often rejected or even attacked the missionaries.

Spanish Missions: the SOUTHWEST

Spanish Missions: the SOUTHWESTMissionaries establish Indian

communitiesThe Indians were given control over their

own affairsThe missionaries taught the Faith,

established schools, and transcribed the native language into a written language

They also taught them modern farming techniques and industrial crafts

Between 1610 and 1767, 700,000 natives convertedMuch of the Spanish mission influence

remains…

Notice the saints & which order they belong to…

The California Missions

Spanish born Franciscan, taught theology at University of Padua

After hearing of the need for missionaries in the New World, Fr. Serra left without telling his parents where he was goingHe would never see them

again

Spanish Missions: St. Junipero Serra (1713-1784)

Spanish Missions: St. Junipero Serra (1713-1784)A powerful preacher with a

unique approachFirst start by trading with

Spanish goods, then preach the Gospel to them

Fought for the rights of the natives against the evils of the Spanish soldiersEven walked to Mexico City to

speak with governorFounded 9 of the 21 California

missions; traveled 24,000 miles while making 1,000’s of converts in his lifetime

French MissionsNot as strong as the Spanish

because France is not as Catholic…Jesuit missionaries accompanied

French traders and settlersMartyrdom a strong theme in

French missionsNative Americans of this region

were violent menNorth American Martyrs

St. Issac Jogues, John de Brebeuf, and companions violently executed by the Iroquois between 1642 and 1649

French MissionsSt. Kateri Tekakwitha, virgin

Native American, converted by the Jesuits

Rejected by her family for convertingDies of smallpox in early 20’s

Going west…Fr. Jacques Marquette and Joliet

explore the Great Lakes into Mississippi River area

Lots of French Jesuits evangelizing the natives

Eventually reaching down to New Orleans