was the confessor of Viceroy Enriquez, twice elected provincial, and venerated as a saint. Alonso Garcés was burned to death in Villa Alta de San Ildefonso, in 1580. Alonso de la Anunciacion was killed by the fall of a platform on which he was officiating in Etla, and by which accident over one hundred persons were severely injured. Bernardo de Santa Catarina came to Mexico in 1550, served among the Zapotecs, and destroyed a great number of idols. When he died, February 6, 1592, in Oajaca, the people crowded his cell to cut locks from his hair and pieces from his habit.[1]
The Augustinians having increased their numbers, and made much progress in the foundation of convents throughout the country, under the rule of a vicar-general, dependent of the provincial of Castile, it was decided to create a separate province in Mexico, subject only to the minister general of the order. The division was effected in 1543, and Father Juan de San Roman became the first provincial.[2] The term of office was fixed at three years. During the
- ↑ The following authorities have been consulted on Dominican missionary work in Oajaca: Burgoa, Geog. Descrip., Oaj., i. 34-6, 81-92, 104-8, 149-82, 189-94; ii. 202-50, 265-85, 300-11, 336-40, 387-8, 410-11; Hist. Chyapa, 713-15; Puga, Cedulario, 186; Dávila Padilla, Hist. Fvnd., 238-46, 461-4, 483-6, 504-16, 545-58, 625-50; Gonzalez Dávila, Teatro Ecles., i. 89, 226; Fernandez, Hist. Ecles., 108-12; Dávila, Continuacion, MS., 154, 285.
- ↑ He went to Spain in the same year with the provincials of the other two mendicant orders to represent at court the affairs of the country; during his absence Father Alonso de la Veracruz ruled the province as vicar-general nearly two years; his successors were: Juan de Estacio, 1545-8; Alonso de la Veracruz, 1548-51; Gerónimo de Santi Estévan, 1551-4; Diego de Vertadillo, 1554-7; Alonso de Veracruz, reëlected, 1557-60; Augustin de la Coruña, 1560-3; Diego de Vertadillo, reëlected, 1563-6; Juan de Medina Rincon, 1566-9; Juan de San Roman, reëlected, 1569-72; Juan Adriano, 1372-5; Alonso de la Veracruz, 2d reëlection, 1575-8; Juan de San Roman, 2d reëlection, 1578-81; Antonio de Mendoza, a son of Captain Luis Marin, one of the first conquerors, and María de Mendoza, of the house of the marqués de Aguilar, 1581, who died a few days afterward; Pedro Suarez de Escobar, 1581-4; Pedro de Agurto, 1584-7; Luis Marin, a brother of the late Father Mendoza, 1587-90; Juan Adriano, reëlected, 1590-3; Gerónimo Morante, 1593-6; Juan de Alvarado, a cousin of Pedro de Alvarado, 1596-9; Dionisio de Zárate, 1599-1602. During 12 years till the election of Adriano, the provincials chosen were natives of Mexico. Father Luis Marin tried to check that partiality, and thus do away with all spirit of jealousy. Grijalva, Crón, S. Augustin, 185-213; Mich. Prov. S. Nicolas, 112.
