Catholic Missionaries in the New World
The age of maritime voyages and discoveries of new lands ushered in a new missionary era. While the Church's battle with Protestantism raged in Europe, the Catholic fold was increasing in the New World. In 1493, Pope Alexander VI divided the lands discovered by Columbus between two Catholic countries, portioning half to Portugal and half to Spain. In return, Spain and Portugal had the exclusive right and responsibility to convert inhabitants of the New World to Catholicism.
That such a mission was linked to political conquest was unfortunate; however, it was the greatest and most rapid expansion of Christianity the Church had seen. Catholicism would spread to Central and South America, North America, and parts of Asia and Africa.
Previously, most missionary work had been done in Europe. Medieval missions to Muslim territories were largely unsuccessful, except in the states held by the Crusaders. Attempts to establish missions in the Far East were short-lived, although in 1542 the Jesuit Francis Xavier would land in Goa (in modern-day India) and preach successfully to thousands.
The monarchs of Portugal and Spain used their missionary mandate to further their own political aims while cleverly freeing up their own armies and civilians. While the secular explorers searched the New World for its mythical treasures and conquered its territories, the Catholic clergy went to teach the natives the Christian faith at Catholic missions.
Priests from a variety of orders brought the faith to the vast regions and many peoples of the New World, including the following:
Spanish Mercedarians, Dominicans, Franciscans, and Jesuits, followed by Augustinians and Salesians, successfully converted the natives of Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Bolivia, and Chile.
Portuguese Jesuits, Franciscans, and Carmelites brought the faith to the huge territory that would become Brazil.
Spanish Franciscans and Jesuits converted hundreds of thousands of natives in Mexico and Central America.
The efforts of Spanish Dominicans, Franciscans, and Jesuits brought Christianity to the so-called borderlands of Florida, New Mexico, California, Texas, and Arizona. Fray Junipero Serra is perhaps the most famous Franciscan to work in this huge territory.
French Jesuits, Recollets (French Franciscans), Sulpicians, Capuchins, and Carmelites, as well as diocesan priests, risked their lives to spread Catholicism throughout New France, an area that included Nova Scotia, Acadia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Maine, New York, Illinois, and Louisiana.
The English missionary effort spread out from the state of Maryland, first settled by George Calvert, an English Catholic who sought freedom of religion in the New World.
While some natives accepted conversion peacefully, others did not. In both the eastern and western territories of the United States, many priests endured great hardship. They suffered and died believing it was their duty to bring the Word of God to the people of the New World. Missionaries who were martyred for their faith include the martyrs Isaac Jogues, S.J. (1607–1646), and Jean de Brebéuf (1593–1649).
