asteries in New Spain, which early in the next century was divided into two provinces.[1]
The Mercenarios, or religiosos of the order of our Lady of Mercy, were originally brought to Mexico by Hernan Cortés, but finding that field already occupied they proceeded to Guatemala,[2] where they established a province. Some of their members went to Mexico in 1582 to attend the university. In 1589 a convent was founded in a house bought by the order in the San Lázaro district of the Mexican capital. This convent was erected into a college in 1593, pursuant to a decree of Viceroy Velasco, which was subsequently confirmed by Philip II. The fathers also obtained permission from the king to found other convents in America,[3] and toward the end of the century one was established in Oajaca. At one time they endeavored to obtain a footing in Yucatan, but the Franciscans prevented them.[4]
In 1580 was brought from Catalonia in Spain by two rich Spaniards, Diego Jimenez and Fernando Moreno, an image of the virgin of Montserrat, a copy
- ↑ A party of 28 Austin friars passed through Mexico in 1580, and embarked at Acapulco for the Philippines. Mendieta, Hist. Ecles., 546.
- ↑ I sce, however, that on the 4th of August, 1533, some friars of the order came to Mexico to found a monastery, as they said, for the spiritual benefit of the Spaniards and Indian conversion. They asked the ayuntamiento for the grant of a site. The petition was referred to a committee of one alcalde and some regidores, with instruction to report. Another entry of the book of that corporation says that the site was granted. Mex. Col. Leyes (1861), i., Introd., xxxviii. — ix.
- ↑ Vetancvrt, in Monum. Dom. Esp., MS., 36; Medina, Chrón. S. Diego, 10; Soc. Mex. Geog., Boletin, 2a ép., i. 729.
- ↑ The comisario and definitorio of the Franciscans, on the 1st of Feb. 1547, wrote the council of the Indies from Mérida, and among other things suggested to reform, 'una órden de Mercenarios que por acá anda, ó sean echados de la tierra.' It seems the Mercenarios did not take root. Extract. Sueltos, in Squier's MSS., xxii. 101.
already named for services in the province. Father Gerónimo de Santi Estévan was one of the missionaries who went with Lopez de Villalobos to the Philippines; he wandered seven years without attaining his object, travelled around the world as many more, and returned to Spain by way of the Fast Indies. An humble disciple of Christ, he was always ready to sacrifice himself in the cause of the master. He died at the age of 77 after passing 55 years in spreading the gospel. Andrés de Mata, Juan dela Veracruz, Juan Perez, Gregorio Rodriguez, and Pedro García. Grijalva, Crón. S. Augustin, 134-5.
