Alonzo Sánchez

Alonzo Sánchez

Alonzo Sánchez (born in Mondejar, Guadalajara, Spain, in 1547; died at Alcalá, 27 May1593) was a Spanish Jesuit missionary, one of the first Jesuits in the Philippines.

Life

He entered the Society of Jesus at Alcalá on 27 May, 1565. He was rector of the college of Navalcarnero, taught grammar for five years, and in 1579 went to the mission of Mexico, where he was rector of the seminary.

Early in 1581 he set out for the Philippines with Bishop Domingo de Salazar. Sánchez and his companion, Antonio Sedeno, and a lay brother, were the first Jesuits in these islands. The bishop made Sánchez his consellor, appointed him to write the acts of the synod of Manila, and, when Sánchez was sent on an embassy to China, interrupted the synod until Sánchez had returned.

Twice Sánchez was despatched on official business to China, where he met celebrated Jesuit missionaries of that country and from Japan. He was thus able to publish later an account of the state of Christianity in China at the end of the sixteenth century.

By the unanimous vote of all the Spanish officials, civil and religious, of the merchants and other leading citizens, Sánchez was chosen to go to Madrid as representative of the colony in 1586. Sánchez's mission to Philip II of Spain was very successful, his arguments moving the king to retain the islands, which many of his advisors had been urging him to abandon. From Madrid he went to Rome, and was there welcomed by Pope Sixtus V, from whom he received many privileges for the Church in the Philippines. In a Brief of 28 June, 1591, Pope Gregory XIV praises the apostolic labours and writings of Sánchez, calling him a true defender of the authority and rights of the Holy See. Pope Innocent IX addressed to him the Bull "Inter felices", in which he lauds his work. Pope Clement VIII at his request granted various favours to the bishop and clergy in the islands.

Sánchez gave an account of the Jesuit missions in the Philippines to Aquaviva, the General of the Society. It had been proposed to withdraw the fathers from the Archipelago, but Aquaviva, following the plan proposed by Sánchez, determined that the Society should remain, and made the Manila residence a college with Sedeno as its first rector.

Sánchez now asked to be allowed to return to the Philippines, but was sent instead as visitor to some of the Spanish provinces of the Society of Jesus, where there were serious domestic and external troubles. The tact of Sánchez gained the day; he expelled some influential but turbulent members from the Society, and won over the king, the Inquisition, and prominent personages, so that they became better disposed towards the Society.

Sánchez was elected one of the representatives of the Province of Toledo to the Fifth General Congregation of the Society, but he remarked that he had a more important journey to make than the one to Rome. He died twelve days later on the feast of the Ascension.

Works

His writings include chiefly short treatises, memorials, and the like. A catalogue and summary of forty-one of these, drawn up by the author, is given by Colín.

References

*Colin, "Labor Evangelica", new ed. by Pastells (Barcelona, 1900);
*Sommervogel, "Bibl. de la C. De J.": Biblogr., III (Brussels, 1896);
*Astrain, "Hist. de la Compania de Jesus en la Asistencia de Espana", III (Madrid, 1909);
*De Guilhermy, "Menologe de la Companie de Jesus, assistance d'Espagne" (Paris, 1902).


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Alonzo Sanchez —     Alonzo Sánchez     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► Alonzo Sánchez     Born in Mondejar, Guadalajara, Spain, in 1547; died at Alcalá, 27 May, 1593. He entered the Society of Jesus at Alcalá on 27 May, 1565. He was rector of the college of… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Alonzo Coello Sanchez —     Alonzo Coello Sánchez     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► Alonzo Coello Sánchez     Born at Benyfayro, Valenciz, Spain, in 1513 or 1515; died at Madrid, 1590. His name Coello is certainly Portuguese, and was probably that of his mother. From his… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Sánchez Ramírez (provincia) — Sánchez Ramírez Provincia de la República Dominicana Sánchez Ramírez en la República Dominicana …   Wikipedia Español

  • Sánchez, Alonzo — • Jesuit missionary and writer, born in Mondejar, Guadalajara, Spain, in 1547; died at Alcalá, 27 May, 1593 Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006 …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Sánchez, Alonzo Coello — • Painter • Born at Benyfayro, Valenciz, Spain, in 1513 or 1515; died at Madrid, 1590 Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006 …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Daniel Sanchez (French footballer) — Daniel Sanchez Personal information Date of birth November 21, 1953 …   Wikipedia

  • Marco Sanchez — Données clés Naissance 9 janvier 1970 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • La Mata (Sánchez Ramírez) — Este artículo o sección sobre Geografía necesita ser wikificado con un formato acorde a las convenciones de estilo. Por favor, edítalo para que las cumpla. Mientras tanto, no elimines este aviso puesto el 29 de octubre de 2008. También puedes… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Municipio Pampán — Municipio de Venezuela …   Wikipedia Español

  • History of the Ateneo de Manila — To learn more about the Ateneo de Manila, proceed to the article Ateneo de Manila University. Early historyThe founding of the Ateneo de Manila University finds its roots in the history of the Society of Jesus as a teaching order in the… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”