The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1899-10-12
FIRST MISSIONARY IN AMERICA
FATHER PEREZ THE FRIEND OF
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS.
Father Melendez Positively Asserts
the Dominican Was the First to
Preach Catholicism In America.

historians have written a great deal
in order to establish the claims of GER
tain individuals to the honor of having
been the first to undertake missionary
labor in the new world. Many are of
the opinion that this title belongs to
Father Jean Perez de Marchena. a de-
voted son of St Francis, and the stanch
friend of Columbus, the discoverer of
the new world, says the Rev. Ambrose
Scanning, o. f. NJ. F., in the September
issue of the Records of the American
Catholic Historical Society of Philadel-
phia. Others call this statement into
question, and even persistently deny
the fact. A member of the Franciscan
order, Father Beaumont in his "Ap-
parato ALA Cronaca dell Mechoacan,"
after diligent research and careful con-
sideration of the different statements.
concluded that Father Juan Perez de
Marchena did not accompany Column
bus in his first voyage to America. SO
lar this point appears to be settled. 1t
is almost beyond doubt that no priest
sailed With the great discoverer on his
hr'St voyage. This expedition was a
venture; hence we can scarcely assume
that a priest would devote his life and
energies to the testing of an expert
ment. Columbus, who always enter
tanned the highest veneration for the
prieStly character. and for Juan Perez
in particular, would not have permitted
his reverend friend to join the expedi-
ton naturally so fraught with risk and
uncertainty, even had the father prof
fered his services.
In fact, there is no historical docu-
ment, not even the slightest tradition,
to corroborate the statement that any
priest took part in this first expedition
so full of adventure and peril. Not, in
deed, that they lacked the courage, but
their chances for working in their Mas
ter'S service were too Nneagre to justify
the undertaking. Father Beaumont,
however, is certainly in error when he
infers from the fact of the Benedictine
Father Bernard Boil having been ap-
pointed vicar apostolic, that Father
Perez did not accompany Columbus on
his second voyage to the new world.
This circumstance would not have pre-
vented the jealous and learned Fran
ciscan from fastening to win souls for
ChriSt'S kingdom. Besides the appoint
ment of the Benedictine Father Boil
instead of a Franciscan of the same
name was due to the intrigueS of the
willy King Ferdinand.
He who tries to deduce and prove too |
much usually ends in proving nothing
-Qui minimum probat, nil probat. More
over. Father Beaumont knew nothing
IF the documents relating to the second |
voyage, as they were discovered only ]
after the date of his writing. These !
establish the fact that the |
important and honorable commission |
IF accompanying the great discoverer |
IN his voyages had been intrusted to |
his distinguished Franciscan. He was
ordered by royal mandate to assist mis- |
al, IN, no
llorations by keeping a careful diary, |
n which were to be noted descriptions
If the seas, countries, mountains, var
ations of latitude, distances from
,iven islands and continents, etc., al
'eady explored or to be explored, in or
Ter that accurate charts, illustrating
he route, followed, could be pre-
Jared.
Protestant authorities have displayed
ingenuity in their endeavors to defraud
he Franciscan order of this honor. In
Protestants,' says Count Ro-
ELY. could not deny the profound
of the astronomer who ac-
ompanied Christopher Columbus on
lis voyages, but they attempted to
aise a doubt as to the person, claiming
hat the Individual was not Identical
With the guardian of La Rabida, Juan
'erez de Marchena, as the documents
n question refer to a certain Anthony
perez. whereas the Franciscan for
whom this honor is claimed bore the
anne of Jauan (John)." The name had
vidently been used .rroneously, and
vas corrected in a letter written by
,ueen. Isabella to Columbus, This the
istorian Munoz frankly acknowledges.
1t is also certain that after this letter
f Queen Isabella no further record on
MS DOint of the great GenoeS3 is to be ,
1und 1t is to be deplored that the ac-
punt of his second voyage, written by
olumbus himself, was lost. In this, no
oubt, there was frequent mention OF
is cherished friend, companion and
rotector. Here we find the cause of
1e great diversity of opinion which
xists on this subject. The obscurity
hich wells this second voyage, on ac- !
punt of the total want of historical !
ecords. forms sufficient explanation. !
cunt Roselly very naturally adduces
rong reasons why Father Perez would
OF, indeed could not, refuse the royal
1mmission conferred by the good :
leen. to whose interests he was so de- !
oted !
An array of historians. whose names
re far too numerous to admit mention :
the limited space allotted our nara
We, prove beyond the shadow of a rea-
unable doubt that Father Juan Perez
as the first priest who offered up in
lie virgin forests of this new and glo-
Gus world the Holy Sacrifice of the
ass. who called the wandering chill =
'en Of the forests together to witness I
le imposing liturgy of divine service
;cording to the Roman Catholic rite.
he author of the franciscan Annals
ates expressly that Father Perez, who i,