Francisco Javier Clavijero, Historia antigua de México, Libro X, 2. Población de Anáhuac. 1780

The conuersion began with the Conquest, but wyth the diligence in prosecuting the warres, little good was done, vntyll the yeare 1524. and then the matter wente forwarde effectuallye, by reason that certayne learned menne wente thyther for the same purpose.

At the begynnyng it was a troublesome thyng to teach them, for wante of vnderstandyng the one of the other, wherefore they procured to teache the chyldren of Gentlemen whiche were most aptest, the Spanishe tong, and they likewise learned the Mexican spéeche, in the whiche language they dayly preached. It was at the firste a paynefull thing to make them leaue those Idols in whome they hadde euer beléeued, yea and the Diuell gaue them cruell warres in spirite, and manye times, in appearing in diuers formes vnto them, threatning, that if they dyd call vpon the name of Iesus Christ, it should not rayne, and that all their delight and pleasure shoulde be taken from them, prouoking them still to Rebellion against the Christians, but his wicked counsell woulde not preuayle."

(Francisco López de Gómara, The pleasant historie of the conquest of the VVeast India, now called new Spayne atchieued by the vvorthy Prince Hernando Cortes, marques of the Valley of Huaxacac, most delectable to reade, Translator: Thomas Nicholas, London, 1578)

Franciscan Friars praying in front of the chapel of Holy Cross, on the road Sitilpech-Izamal, 2023, October 19

In the chapter VIII of his poem Grandeza Mexicana (“Greatness of Mexico”), published in 1604, Bernardo de Balbuena recalls the major religious orders who preached Roman Catholicism to the indians: the Dominicans, Franciscans, Augustinians, and later the Jesuits.

Las varias Religiones (que al decoro
de su flor son olores soberanos
y pedrería a sus engastes de oro)

pobladas de gigantes más que humanos
en letras, santidad, ejemplo, vida,
dotrina, perfección, pechos cristianos.

De la española antorcha que, encendida,
alumbra el mundo y reformó la tierra
(también del tronco de Guzmán nacida),

el clarín santo, a cuyo son de guerra
tiembla el inferno, el suelo goza y mira
más luces que el otavo cielo encierra:

su templo, casa y su riqueza admira,
y el púlpito que dio a su regla el nombre
y, a soplos, letras y virtud inspira.

Y a la que de humildad puso renombre
el Serafín (en quien está el retrato
del ñudo celestial de Dios hecho hombre)

con los que de su misma regla y trato
siguen descalzos de virtud la senda
y al mundo dan de pie, ventero ingrato.

Del famoso Agustino la gran prenda,

en santidad y letras rico erario,
del libre mundo concertada rienda.

La Compañía y santo relicario
del nombre de Jesús, su gran concierto
de Profesos, Colegio y Seminario,

adonde al cielo vivo, al mundo muerto,
está el único fruto que pariste
(de tu sangre y virtud precioso injerto)