We in California are very much aware of the work by the Franciscan missionaries to establish the famous 21 California Missions, beginning with the founding of the Mission San Diego in 1769 and ending with the Mission San Francisco Solano in 1823. We have six of those Missions here in our own Archdiocese: San Gabriel Archangel (1771), San Buenaventura (1782), Santa Barbara (1786), La Purísima Concepción (1787), San Fernando Rey de España (1797) and Santa Inés (1804).
It has been my privilege during this October to visit the South American version of the missionary concept and plan. Here they are called the "Jesuit Reductions," a special version of the general Spanish colony strategy of building "reductions" (reducciones de índios) to "civilize" and to catechize the native peoples of South America.
The Jesuit missionaries first came to South America in 1550, but they implemented a vision far different from that desired by Spanish and Portuguese authorities. The Jesuits were able to convince the authorities to allow them a new manner of development, rather than the enslavement of the indigenous populations. Most of the local peoples were Guaraní, and the Jesuits were the first to develop a written language for this people --- greatly aiding in their literacy efforts. In fact, in Paraguay the official languages today are still Spanish and Guaraní.
The biggest threat to the Guaraní were the slave-hunters from Portugal and Spain, and the Jesuit Reductions became places of safety from enslavement. Over 150 years, the Jesuits founded 30 Reductions in Southern Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.
The approach used by the Jesuits was to protect the Guaraní from the influences of the European civilization, and to develop the native traditions and civilization inculcating the values and principles of the Gospels. In a real sense, the early evangelization found in the Acts of the Apostles became the model for the Reductions. Guided by the Jesuits, the Guaraní had advanced laws, founded free public services for the poor, established schools and hospitals, and abolished the death penalty.
The general layout for the Reductions was similar: they established a huge square of land, and on one side built the Church, together with the residence for the missionaries, the college, and the plaza. The other three sides of the Reductions were houses for the peoples who lived at the mission itself.
Given the abundance of natural stone in all of the areas of the Reductions, they were built primarily of stone and wood. Unlike the California Missions which were built of adobe, the Reductions were far stronger and able to withstand the march of time.
Each Reduction provided housing for widows, a small hospital, and several warehouses. In the main Plaza was a large Cross, and a statue of the patron saint for that Reduction.
The Guaraní were a very intelligent people. They worked the land and fields together in a communal fashion, but usually spent only about six hours a day at this work. The rest of their time was spent in pursuing their craftsmanship in stone work, sculpture, wood carving, and wood painting. Amazingly, even advanced products such as watches and musical instruments were produced in the Reductions. They devoted much time to music, dance, prayer and archery contests. The Guaraní society was the first in the history of the world to be entirely literate.
The work of the Jesuit missionaries peaked in the first half of the 18th Century, and some 100,000 to 300,000 Catholic Indians populated the 30 Reductions.
The almost complete independence of the Jesuit Reductions from the authorities of Spain and Portugal led to their undoing. In 1767 the Spanish and Portuguese authorities decided to expel all of the Jesuit missionaries because the Reductions were so independent from the colonizing countries, slave traders were kept out, and the home governments wanted more treasure and allegiance from the Indians.
With the expulsion of the Jesuits, the Guaraní were forced to retreat to the various forests for self-protection. One of the greatest examples of Christian evangelization and the enhancement of local peoples came to an end because of the power, greed and envy of the rulers of Spain and Portugal at the time.
Today, most of the Jesuit Reductions lie in ruins. I was able to visit six of the Reductions, and thankfully, the respective governments now realize the value of these sites and the need to preserve them. All of them are under the control and guidance of each country, and efforts are being made to retard any further deterioration. Being originally constructed with stone, much of the original Reduction remains in some form.
In a few cases, selective reconstruction has taken place. A good example of that is the Reduction of San Cosme and Damián in Paraguay. The Church has been rebuilt and functions today as a parish Church for the nearby community. Other restored facilities are used for catechetics and meetings.
There are different opinions about whether to restore some or parts of the 30 Reductions. But at least, the present remnants will not be lost to future generations, and the bold and creative work of the Jesuit missionaries will continue to bear much fruit into the coming centuries. |