Spanish Missionaries
Missionary: one who is sent
Roots of American Catholicism: Spanish and French missionary movements
Spanish Missionaries:
Spain was the first colonial power in the New World; and with the explorers came religious missionaries to convert Native Americans to christianity, The first american martyr was Fr. Juan Padilla, a Franciscan missionary who accompanied the explorer, Coronado.
The Spanish missionary territory was south, mainly the region of Florida
When conquistadors raided the settlements for slaves, the Native Americans responded with an Indian Uprising (1680) that killed many missionaries and saw the Native Americans return to earlier customs
The Vatican (Pope Paul II) was in favor of just treatment of native populations and against economic exploitation
French Missionaries
French Misisonaries followed the french traders or were explorers in their own right. leL Jacques MArquette, Louis Hennepin
These missionaries made greatefoor to lear the language of native people nadl ive amongst them while teaching.
Greatest success with Huron tribes; less successful with others, ofter enduring torture and death at their hands. Le issac Jogues
St. Kateri Tekakwitha 1656-1680
Lily of the Mohawks
Born near Auriesville, NY to non Christian Mohaawk father and captured Christian Algonquin Mother
All three contracted smallpox, parents died and she was left alive but the disease had left facial scarring and visual impairment
At the age of 20 she was baptized by a French Missionary which caused her additional suffering and ridicule from her tribe
She ran away to a Christian Indian village near today’s Montreal where she devoted her life to works of mercy. She died at the age of 24 and has become the 1st Native American to be canonized, 2012
Catholicism in the British Colonies
From its very foundation (13 colonies) protestants persecuted Catholics due to an anti catholic sentiment brought from Europe
Catholics couldn’t hold office, were required to financially support Protestant churches and could not build schools
Very few priests so no formal religious education
Catholic mass outlawed in most colonies
Pope’s effigy was burned on “Guy Fawkes” Day
Catholics were responsible for introducing the concept of religious tolerance: The Act of Toleration (1649)
Maryland became a haven for Catholics.
George and Cecil Calvert: Father and son founder and proprietors of the Maryland colony; Cecil created the Act of Toleration (1649) which granted religious freedom to all Christians, including Catholics
Charles Caroll: Mary land Catholic, perhaps america's richest man; a leading revolutionary; signed the Declaration of Independence
John Carroll: Became first american bishop in 1789, Jesuit, supported a catholic press, encouraged catholic educations, used english, in liturgy, founded a seminary to train american priests, helped establish America's First Catholic University- (Georgetown) and encouraged pioneering nuns such as Sisters of Charity and poor clares
Was appointed Archbishop (5 separate US dioceses) in 1810
Settled dispute of lay trusteeism- allowed it but refused the hiring and firing of priests- continued until 1829
Act of Toleration- 1649
Act of Toleration: Maryland's 1649 Act of Toleration- this was the first law requiring religious tolerance in the british north american colonies and created the first legal limitations on hate speech/ the purpose was to protect catholic settlers and those of other religions that did not conform to the dominant anglicanism of Britain and her colonies. This did allow freedom of worship for all Trinitarian Christians in Maryland but sentenced to death all who denied the divinity of Jesus
Lay Trusteeism
The practice of incorporating Church property in the