mrfunsocks
New member
The History of the Catholic Church in St. Augustine
My religion report is on the Catholic history of St. Augustine. The report will cover the topic of how the Catholic missionaries came over to the Americas, specifically to Florida, their first experiences with the natives, or the first converts, and why religious zeal and drive for converts was so prevalent. I will also discuss the other religions that were present and how Catholicism became the prevailing religion. Lastly, I will discuss the many monuments, churches and well-known sites of the Catholic Church located in St. Augustine. To help further my written report, I have added a visual presentation as well. This visual presentation will include various photos I have taken of monuments, churches, and other important Catholic sites in St. Augustine. Also, there is a timeline that follows the development of Catholicism in St. Augustine.
The history of St. Augustine is a long and intricate past. It is full of take overs, battles, and religious triumph and competition. The first explorer to reach Florida was Christopher Colurabus. It is said that Colurabus left San Salvador, the first island he landed on, and came to Florida, on a short voyage being the first explorers to find Florida. While Colurabus was here, he was impressed by the Aboriaines, or the natives, and by the rich waters that supposedly were to perpetuate youth as well as vitality. (Now seen as a tourist site, The Fountain of Youth.) On March 27, 1512, Palm Sunday, he and the Spanish men named this land “Floridus” which means full of flowers. They erected a large cross and celebrated mass. The Christianizing and civilizing of the native people began immediately but, was never appreciated by the Indians and therefore was a difficult task. The Indians began fearing the Religion because of the treatment they received in return, which was being enslaved after being Catholicized. In response to these acts of bondage, Catholic missionaries pleaded to the Spanish government to outlaw the enslavery of Natives. The Bishop of Chiapa and Bartholomew De Casa were both important people involved in the struggle for the Indian's rights. They appealed their case well and the Spanish government outlawed the enslavement of the Native Indians.
There was a settlement near St. Augustine called Huguenot under command of Ribalt, a Frenchman. So far the area was unsettled by the Spanish, but it was however, an Indian town which was named Seloy. A man named Laudonnere and his Frenchmen came down the river, known then as May River, and at St. Augustine, built up a settlement. The French were dedicated Protestants, and here at their settlement they established their faith with great religious zeal. The band of French asserabled and dedicated their work and themselves to the glory of God and advancement of their Protestant faith. These incredible competitions among the religions were in immediate response to the religious conflicts in Europe. The escalating tense events going on in Europe were the Spanish Inquisition and the break of England from the Catholic Church, which both led to the extraordinary religious zeal and their drive to spread each country’s individual faith.
Menendez was the next explorer who played a major role in the development of St. Augustine. He was a devout Catholic. When he arrived in the Americas, there were Protestant Frenchmen there already with a large settlement. His mission then was obvious, to root out the Protestant faith and to expel the French Protestants from the Americas. On Septeraber 8, a Spanish priest named Mendoza gave the colony its lasting name, St. Augustine, and performed a commemoration mass for the day Menedez landed off the coast of Florida. The Spanish here in St. Augustine wanted to seriously keep the settlement Catholic and so they only let Catholics into the settlement and they killed and enslaved all the existing Protestant and Lutherans that were there as well as those who came to Florida to colonize. At the time the town was small and planned to be three squares. A parish Church and a hall of justice were also built. Once the basic city was constructed, Menendez then set out to build forts and missionary stations, which was his sole intention since landing in Florida. Priests and friars were left at each of these missionary posts in order to introduce the Catholic religion to all the Indians. Menendez was convinced that if the establishments were to be maintained and if, most importantly, the work with teaching the Natives their faith continued, that he would need many more enforcements. His idea was correct.
DeGourges was a Frenchman who declared to himself and his country to go on a voyage to Florida and to avenge the deaths of his fellow Frenchmen killed by Menendez in his attempt to root out Protestants and Lutherans. DeGourges had a sneaky plan, as he entered the River May, he led on the Spanish to believe that his ship was part of a Spanish fleet. He proceeded to meet with enemy tribes of the Spanish. He communicated the purpose of attack on the Spanish and join forces. It was then, together the Indian warriors and French avengers surprised and attacked the SpaniarRAB. So complete was this surprise attack that there was little resistance whatsoever and was a complete massacre, as gruesome as the Spanish event upon the Protestants and Lutherans just years earlier. The capture of two forts occurred on the eve of the First Sunday after Easter, in 1598, but the Spanish were not completely defeated. Opinions on who of these explorers were in the right is purely bias. One person published their opinion, and here it is,“When speaking of Menendez and Degourges people look on DeGourges with sympathy for the bitter provocation under which he acted, both personal and national. This sympathy is not shared with Menendez, who visited his wrath upon the Religious opinions of men, while DeGourges was an unauthorized avenger of undoubted crime and inhumanity. Both, however acted in violation of the pure spirit of Christianity which they alike professed to revere under the same form.” In any case, the Spanish still managed to have control of St. Augustine, but the city was in horrible shape. The people were starved and enemy Indian attacks were becoming more frequent and reckless with the idea that the Spanish were weakening. Menendez understood his forces were limited but he continued to be determined to spread the Catholic faith. He put tribes of allied Indians with each missionaries and teachers to protect and support. During this time Spain sent large nurabers of priests, friars, and brothers. Mission-houses were set up all over the country, from Florida to Mississippi. The determined Spanish Catholics promised at one period for the conversion of the whole native American Indian race to their religion and customs of their Christian faith. Spanish monks already spread into the towns east of Apalachicola River and in 1583, the native American tribes, Chikasaws, Tocoposcas, Apacas, Tomaicas, Apiscas and Alabamas were all Catholic. The faith was recognized as far west as Mississippi and as far north as the mountains of Georgia. Florida, at the time, was in the diocese of Cuba and it was then decided that they would establish a convent. They named it the Order of St. Francis at St. Augustine; this is generally referred to as Helena. This name St. Helena was then applied to all establishments throughout the providence and St. Augustine was the center.
The next major explorer with devastating impacts on the colony was Sir Francis Drake. He came and completely destroyed the city for France. During the rebuilding of the town it was realized that the Natives in Florida had much strain put on them. So at this time during the rebuilding of the physical structures, much time and effort was put into the rebuilding of the spirits of the Indians and attempts to improve the relationships between Spanish and Natives. Both sides made efforts to communicate. Indians were brought to Europe and taught to speak Spanish and in the colony Fathers and a few SpaniarRAB began to learn the Indian language, so they could communicate much better. However, the relationships between the Indians and the SpaniarRAB were not perfect. In 1598, a cruel and unprovoked attack was made by the Indians upon two pious fathers; they both died and are now Catholic martyrs. Churches built for Indians in their villages built by the SpaniarRAB were ignored and began to crurable after being ignored; including one such church called “Nostra Senora de la Leche” which was used by English as a hospital and then neglected after Indian tribes stopped living peacefully near St. Augustine. The crucifix from the chapel at Nostra Senora de la Leche was taken out and was preserved. It still exists today and is on display in the Cathedral at St. Augustine. The Indians destroyed other missions, but the zeal of the Spanish Franciscans was never taunted. They continued for several years to make many converts among the Indians, but there also continued to be many more martyrs, including Father Miguel de Annon and Father Pedro de Chocas.
As time went on St. Augustine continued to flourish and was said that at its high point it contained over three hundred houses, which was a very great amount during this time period. The parish church at this time, around 1665, was said to have been built of wood because the bishop at the time could provide no better. But in 1771, an explorer named De Brahm, noted all the churches were built completely of stone. The town was so religious there was even a chaplain attached to the fort. The convent of St. Francis was in a prosperous condition and was greatly respected for it’s religious zeal and continual conversions of the Indians.
As you can see the town was growing at a healthy pace and at this time required more protection. A great amount of energy was put forth to build a sea wall as well as a massive fort, which still stanRAB today, which was completed in 1737. However, the colony was not controlled the complete duration of it’s history by the SpaniarRAB. For bits and pieces countries that wanted to colonize and expand their faith managed to obtain rule, but soon another country would triumph back in Florida, usually Spain. Upon the return of the SpaniarRAB they at once would devote their time to the completion of their religious advancements. At this time the old parish church was Episcopal and the old church called “Our Lady of the Angels” was in English possession. This church was the second church built by the Spanish in this new settlement. After fitting the old parish church for worship, they built a second story and used the first floor as a temporary jail, and for storing provisions. As time went on, the two old churches, “Our Lady of Angels” and “Nostra Senora de la Leche” were both torn down. Their materials and ornaments were sold as benefits for the new church, which they were planning to build. This Church is known as the Cathedral at St. Augustine, which as said before, contains the crucifix from “Nostra de la Leche.” The Cathedral is considered one of the most ornamental and interesting structures in the town. The Spanish government’s whole purpose was to further the development of the Catholic faith in the providence and so at that time they aided in the settlement of Irish Catholics into the area. The laws of the colony included, that “there shall be no other public worship but Catholic,” and so it was obvious that they were adamant in their ideas.
The waves that existed before in St. Augustine’s history began to settle and the fight for St. Augustine became less apparent as other religious colonies began forming in America, for example the Protestant Plymouth Rock. There were very few events under the Spanish rule in Florida after 1880, and the possession of the area continued to shift as Indians attacked. The final possession landed in the hanRAB of the Americans, where it still remains. From then on the history of St. Augustine progressed and was modernized along with the progression and modernization of the Americas and Catholicism into modern times. Religion became a freedom, a choice of a person, not of their country.
Why I did My Report on this topic…
I chose to do my report on St. Augustine for many reasons. I chose this at first because I thought this would be rather interesting because it hit so close to home and because St. Augustine is one of my favorite historical sites in Florida let alone in America. I really do enjoy the city. As I began to research this city I learned all about our old city, interesting tid-bits and old traditions. On a warm Saturday I would love to go visit St. George Street and Anastasia beach. I thought it would be even more enjoyable if I understood the sights.
What did I learn? I learned plenty about this city and its old traditions including one such tradition. On the eve of Palm Sunday, boys would knock on the widows of the girl’s house that he happened to like and if the predilection was shared he would hear a knock back. Then they would sing together a long hymn and then the boy would be invited in and a party was held. I thought that was rather interesting. I also learned that the entire history of who controlled this great city and when.
This report was very fun and interesting for me. The written portion of it may not be a complete page-turner, but it is the basic facts of America’s Oldest city and this history is full of take-overs, battles, and religious struggles. The pictures were taken a week ago, and that means they are in present times, therefore it is a modernized city, and looks nothing like what it used to although most of the monuments from the past still exist. I hope you enjoy this report as much I used to.
Bibliography
1. The History Of Saint Augustine by William W. Dewhurst
2. www.oldcity.com/vcb/church.html
3. www.dnaugler.cs.semo.edu/classes/is175/01/alpha/August.html
4. www.oldcity.com/vcb/about.html
My religion report is on the Catholic history of St. Augustine. The report will cover the topic of how the Catholic missionaries came over to the Americas, specifically to Florida, their first experiences with the natives, or the first converts, and why religious zeal and drive for converts was so prevalent. I will also discuss the other religions that were present and how Catholicism became the prevailing religion. Lastly, I will discuss the many monuments, churches and well-known sites of the Catholic Church located in St. Augustine. To help further my written report, I have added a visual presentation as well. This visual presentation will include various photos I have taken of monuments, churches, and other important Catholic sites in St. Augustine. Also, there is a timeline that follows the development of Catholicism in St. Augustine.
The history of St. Augustine is a long and intricate past. It is full of take overs, battles, and religious triumph and competition. The first explorer to reach Florida was Christopher Colurabus. It is said that Colurabus left San Salvador, the first island he landed on, and came to Florida, on a short voyage being the first explorers to find Florida. While Colurabus was here, he was impressed by the Aboriaines, or the natives, and by the rich waters that supposedly were to perpetuate youth as well as vitality. (Now seen as a tourist site, The Fountain of Youth.) On March 27, 1512, Palm Sunday, he and the Spanish men named this land “Floridus” which means full of flowers. They erected a large cross and celebrated mass. The Christianizing and civilizing of the native people began immediately but, was never appreciated by the Indians and therefore was a difficult task. The Indians began fearing the Religion because of the treatment they received in return, which was being enslaved after being Catholicized. In response to these acts of bondage, Catholic missionaries pleaded to the Spanish government to outlaw the enslavery of Natives. The Bishop of Chiapa and Bartholomew De Casa were both important people involved in the struggle for the Indian's rights. They appealed their case well and the Spanish government outlawed the enslavement of the Native Indians.
There was a settlement near St. Augustine called Huguenot under command of Ribalt, a Frenchman. So far the area was unsettled by the Spanish, but it was however, an Indian town which was named Seloy. A man named Laudonnere and his Frenchmen came down the river, known then as May River, and at St. Augustine, built up a settlement. The French were dedicated Protestants, and here at their settlement they established their faith with great religious zeal. The band of French asserabled and dedicated their work and themselves to the glory of God and advancement of their Protestant faith. These incredible competitions among the religions were in immediate response to the religious conflicts in Europe. The escalating tense events going on in Europe were the Spanish Inquisition and the break of England from the Catholic Church, which both led to the extraordinary religious zeal and their drive to spread each country’s individual faith.
Menendez was the next explorer who played a major role in the development of St. Augustine. He was a devout Catholic. When he arrived in the Americas, there were Protestant Frenchmen there already with a large settlement. His mission then was obvious, to root out the Protestant faith and to expel the French Protestants from the Americas. On Septeraber 8, a Spanish priest named Mendoza gave the colony its lasting name, St. Augustine, and performed a commemoration mass for the day Menedez landed off the coast of Florida. The Spanish here in St. Augustine wanted to seriously keep the settlement Catholic and so they only let Catholics into the settlement and they killed and enslaved all the existing Protestant and Lutherans that were there as well as those who came to Florida to colonize. At the time the town was small and planned to be three squares. A parish Church and a hall of justice were also built. Once the basic city was constructed, Menendez then set out to build forts and missionary stations, which was his sole intention since landing in Florida. Priests and friars were left at each of these missionary posts in order to introduce the Catholic religion to all the Indians. Menendez was convinced that if the establishments were to be maintained and if, most importantly, the work with teaching the Natives their faith continued, that he would need many more enforcements. His idea was correct.
DeGourges was a Frenchman who declared to himself and his country to go on a voyage to Florida and to avenge the deaths of his fellow Frenchmen killed by Menendez in his attempt to root out Protestants and Lutherans. DeGourges had a sneaky plan, as he entered the River May, he led on the Spanish to believe that his ship was part of a Spanish fleet. He proceeded to meet with enemy tribes of the Spanish. He communicated the purpose of attack on the Spanish and join forces. It was then, together the Indian warriors and French avengers surprised and attacked the SpaniarRAB. So complete was this surprise attack that there was little resistance whatsoever and was a complete massacre, as gruesome as the Spanish event upon the Protestants and Lutherans just years earlier. The capture of two forts occurred on the eve of the First Sunday after Easter, in 1598, but the Spanish were not completely defeated. Opinions on who of these explorers were in the right is purely bias. One person published their opinion, and here it is,“When speaking of Menendez and Degourges people look on DeGourges with sympathy for the bitter provocation under which he acted, both personal and national. This sympathy is not shared with Menendez, who visited his wrath upon the Religious opinions of men, while DeGourges was an unauthorized avenger of undoubted crime and inhumanity. Both, however acted in violation of the pure spirit of Christianity which they alike professed to revere under the same form.” In any case, the Spanish still managed to have control of St. Augustine, but the city was in horrible shape. The people were starved and enemy Indian attacks were becoming more frequent and reckless with the idea that the Spanish were weakening. Menendez understood his forces were limited but he continued to be determined to spread the Catholic faith. He put tribes of allied Indians with each missionaries and teachers to protect and support. During this time Spain sent large nurabers of priests, friars, and brothers. Mission-houses were set up all over the country, from Florida to Mississippi. The determined Spanish Catholics promised at one period for the conversion of the whole native American Indian race to their religion and customs of their Christian faith. Spanish monks already spread into the towns east of Apalachicola River and in 1583, the native American tribes, Chikasaws, Tocoposcas, Apacas, Tomaicas, Apiscas and Alabamas were all Catholic. The faith was recognized as far west as Mississippi and as far north as the mountains of Georgia. Florida, at the time, was in the diocese of Cuba and it was then decided that they would establish a convent. They named it the Order of St. Francis at St. Augustine; this is generally referred to as Helena. This name St. Helena was then applied to all establishments throughout the providence and St. Augustine was the center.
The next major explorer with devastating impacts on the colony was Sir Francis Drake. He came and completely destroyed the city for France. During the rebuilding of the town it was realized that the Natives in Florida had much strain put on them. So at this time during the rebuilding of the physical structures, much time and effort was put into the rebuilding of the spirits of the Indians and attempts to improve the relationships between Spanish and Natives. Both sides made efforts to communicate. Indians were brought to Europe and taught to speak Spanish and in the colony Fathers and a few SpaniarRAB began to learn the Indian language, so they could communicate much better. However, the relationships between the Indians and the SpaniarRAB were not perfect. In 1598, a cruel and unprovoked attack was made by the Indians upon two pious fathers; they both died and are now Catholic martyrs. Churches built for Indians in their villages built by the SpaniarRAB were ignored and began to crurable after being ignored; including one such church called “Nostra Senora de la Leche” which was used by English as a hospital and then neglected after Indian tribes stopped living peacefully near St. Augustine. The crucifix from the chapel at Nostra Senora de la Leche was taken out and was preserved. It still exists today and is on display in the Cathedral at St. Augustine. The Indians destroyed other missions, but the zeal of the Spanish Franciscans was never taunted. They continued for several years to make many converts among the Indians, but there also continued to be many more martyrs, including Father Miguel de Annon and Father Pedro de Chocas.
As time went on St. Augustine continued to flourish and was said that at its high point it contained over three hundred houses, which was a very great amount during this time period. The parish church at this time, around 1665, was said to have been built of wood because the bishop at the time could provide no better. But in 1771, an explorer named De Brahm, noted all the churches were built completely of stone. The town was so religious there was even a chaplain attached to the fort. The convent of St. Francis was in a prosperous condition and was greatly respected for it’s religious zeal and continual conversions of the Indians.
As you can see the town was growing at a healthy pace and at this time required more protection. A great amount of energy was put forth to build a sea wall as well as a massive fort, which still stanRAB today, which was completed in 1737. However, the colony was not controlled the complete duration of it’s history by the SpaniarRAB. For bits and pieces countries that wanted to colonize and expand their faith managed to obtain rule, but soon another country would triumph back in Florida, usually Spain. Upon the return of the SpaniarRAB they at once would devote their time to the completion of their religious advancements. At this time the old parish church was Episcopal and the old church called “Our Lady of the Angels” was in English possession. This church was the second church built by the Spanish in this new settlement. After fitting the old parish church for worship, they built a second story and used the first floor as a temporary jail, and for storing provisions. As time went on, the two old churches, “Our Lady of Angels” and “Nostra Senora de la Leche” were both torn down. Their materials and ornaments were sold as benefits for the new church, which they were planning to build. This Church is known as the Cathedral at St. Augustine, which as said before, contains the crucifix from “Nostra de la Leche.” The Cathedral is considered one of the most ornamental and interesting structures in the town. The Spanish government’s whole purpose was to further the development of the Catholic faith in the providence and so at that time they aided in the settlement of Irish Catholics into the area. The laws of the colony included, that “there shall be no other public worship but Catholic,” and so it was obvious that they were adamant in their ideas.
The waves that existed before in St. Augustine’s history began to settle and the fight for St. Augustine became less apparent as other religious colonies began forming in America, for example the Protestant Plymouth Rock. There were very few events under the Spanish rule in Florida after 1880, and the possession of the area continued to shift as Indians attacked. The final possession landed in the hanRAB of the Americans, where it still remains. From then on the history of St. Augustine progressed and was modernized along with the progression and modernization of the Americas and Catholicism into modern times. Religion became a freedom, a choice of a person, not of their country.
Why I did My Report on this topic…
I chose to do my report on St. Augustine for many reasons. I chose this at first because I thought this would be rather interesting because it hit so close to home and because St. Augustine is one of my favorite historical sites in Florida let alone in America. I really do enjoy the city. As I began to research this city I learned all about our old city, interesting tid-bits and old traditions. On a warm Saturday I would love to go visit St. George Street and Anastasia beach. I thought it would be even more enjoyable if I understood the sights.
What did I learn? I learned plenty about this city and its old traditions including one such tradition. On the eve of Palm Sunday, boys would knock on the widows of the girl’s house that he happened to like and if the predilection was shared he would hear a knock back. Then they would sing together a long hymn and then the boy would be invited in and a party was held. I thought that was rather interesting. I also learned that the entire history of who controlled this great city and when.
This report was very fun and interesting for me. The written portion of it may not be a complete page-turner, but it is the basic facts of America’s Oldest city and this history is full of take-overs, battles, and religious struggles. The pictures were taken a week ago, and that means they are in present times, therefore it is a modernized city, and looks nothing like what it used to although most of the monuments from the past still exist. I hope you enjoy this report as much I used to.
Bibliography
1. The History Of Saint Augustine by William W. Dewhurst
2. www.oldcity.com/vcb/church.html
3. www.dnaugler.cs.semo.edu/classes/is175/01/alpha/August.html
4. www.oldcity.com/vcb/about.html