Catholicism in One Hundred Years of Solitude By
Catholicism in One Hundred Years of Solitude By Emilie Esders
Origins • 1519 Hernán Cortés lands at Veracruz, Mexico with instructions to set up trade, take possession of all newly discovered land, and evangelize the Indians. • He conquered the Aztecs essentially starting the conversion of Latin America to Catholicism. • Goal was to eliminate all native cultures. • First diocese was erected in 1519. • First organized missionary expedition was to Mexico in 1524. • By 1559 the missionary corps of New Spain was made up of 802 people in almost 160 monasteries. • Clergy learned native languages and customs in order to preach directly to the indigenous people.
In Latin America • Hierarchal order Archdioceses oversee large areas, then diocese grouped into provinces, then local bishop, and clerics. There was a maximum of 27 clerics per cathedral and each received the title of Don as well as a percentage of the tithe. • Acted as a bank. Worked on a credit system. Issued mortgages and charged interest which generated income for the church. • At one point the church owned, as some have estimated, one third of all agricultural land in Latin America. • Church accepted sons of local upper class into the clergy so by the early 1600 s the clergy was evenly divided by Europeans {Peninsulares} and those born in the New World {Creoles}.
The Church and War • Church is most important establishment to survive wars of independence. • During the wars the upper clergy were still primarily Spanish and remained loyal to the king, while the lower clergy were mostly creoles and supported the insurgent movements. • Caused much division within the church as well as communities.
The Church and Politics • Remained conservative therefore losing much of its power when liberalism garnered strength. • Experienced a declining number of vocations to the priesthood. • Started schools to combat decline. • Liberalism took strong hold in the middle and upper classes but hardly touched lower classes so church remained strong in those realms. • Church has emerged as a supporter of human rights, democracy, and social change—liberation theology.
One Hundred Years of Solitude • • • Original Sin “GOD EXISTS” Death ceremonies Purgatory Father Nicanor Reyna Chocolate levitation Church under Arcadio’s rule All soul’s day Suicide Politics of the war Papal supremacy “Virgin of Help”
Bibliography • Márquez, Gabriel García. One Hundred Years of Solitude. Harper & Row: 1970. • “Catholic Church. ” Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture. Charles Schriber’s Sons. New York, 1996. pp. 28 -37. • “Cortés. ” Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture. Charles Schriber’s Sons. New York, 1996. pp. 274 -276.
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