The old and the new Peru

by Marie Robinson Wright

Archbishop Toribio began his work by learning the Quichua language, so that he might be the better able to acquaint himself with the condition and needs of the Indians, whom he protected and guarded with especial care. As soon as he could converse in Quichua, he started out on a long journey through the interior of Peru, on foot, accompanied only by two of his chaplains, and taking a packmule to carry his baggage. His route led him along the sandy plains of the coast, across snow-clad mountains and into the forests of the Upper Amazon. As he passed through the various towns, he visited the churches, monasteries, and convents, holding services and encouraging the labors of his people, while he reproved all abuses of power, and used his high authority to remedy the evils that necessarily crept into a system so vast in scope and scattered over an almost untraversable territory. In the remote districts, the devoted pastor visited the little chozas, or huts, of the natives, instructed the inmates in the catechism and administered the sacraments. Not only did the archbishop make himself familiar with everything connected with his extensive diocese, but he held two diocesan synods and three ecclesiastical councils, for the purpose of considering church matters of importance; he also founded a seminary in Lima for the instruction of the clergy, which was afterward named the Seminary of Santo Toribio. While engaged in his apostolic labors in the north, the illustrious prelate was attacked by fever and died on the 23rd of March, 1606, at the age of seventy. In recognition of his saintly life and character, the Church canonized him a century later.

CONVENT OF SANTO DOMINGO, CUZCO, BUILT ON THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE TEMPLE OF THE SUN.

A contemporary of Saint Toribio is celebrated in the annals of the Church as the only American Saint of the Calendar, known to Catholics as Saint Rose of Lima, the patron of the Peruvian capital and of all Catholic America. She was born in 1586 in the city of Lima and was baptized by Archbishop Toribio with the name of Rosa. From her girlhood, she practised the most austere piety, devoting her young life exclusively to the duties of religion. She was very beautiful, and as she grew older many admirers sought her in marriage, her refusal being greatly resented by her parents, who treated the poor girl with cruelty in order to punish her. At last, however, they were won by her angelic goodness and permitted her to enter a convent of the Dominican order, where she remained until her death in 1617. The 30th day of August, her feast day, is still observed in Lima with great ceremony. The canonization of Saint Rose was decreed by Pope Clement X. in 1671, and its celebration took place in Lima during the government of the Count de Lemos, with such brilliant and imposing ceremonies as the City of the Kings was accustomed to provide in those days. The pontifical bull was read in the Cathedral, in front of a marble statue of the saint, which stood on a silver pedestal and was adorned with priceless jewels. The following day the image was carried in a procession to its present resting place in the Dominican church, where an altar is dedicated to Saint Rose. This church is one of the oldest and most interesting edifices in Lima, and has been as richly adorned with silver at various times as the Cathedral itself. A silver altar of Our Lady of the Rosary which stands at the foot of the presbytery, on the right, is superb; in the centre of the altar is the niche of the Madonna, of exquisite workmanship, her rosary being of large pearls. On the feast day of the Virgin this altar is beautiful beyond description.

CLOISTER OF LA MERCED, CUZCO.

The Dominican order came into especial prominence in ecclesiastical matters in Peru during the seventeenth century through its persistent determination not to accept the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, which was proclaimed throughout the Spanish possessions by order of King Philip II. The controversy rose to a great height in Spanish-America, and processions of thousands of people marched through the streets of Lima singing in chorus La virgen fué concebida sin pecado original.—“The Virgin was conceived without original sin.” So enduring was the impression created on the public mind by the controversy, that to this day the popular salutation in some of the country districts of Paraguay and Argentina is “Ave Maria!” to which the invariable response is “Sin pecado concebida!” It was not, however, until 1854, as is well known, that the Immaculate Conception was declared a dogma of the Church, by Pope Pius IX.

The missionaries of Saint Dominic were among the first to come to America, the venerable Las Casas being of this order as well as Fray Valverde, Bishop of Cuzco. Las Casas had been named for the diocese of Cuzco, but he was too intent on his work of reform to desire a benefice, and Fray Solano of the Franciscan order was appointed to the office. The Franciscans were prominent during the entire period of the viceroyalty for their extensive pioneer work in the wilds of America, their devout pilgrims traversing the southern continent from Panamá to Cape Horn. The saintly Fray Francisco Solano, who was a contemporary of Saint Toribio and Saint Rose of Lima, made a journey, barefooted, walking the whole distance, from Paraguay, through the Chaco—which is still inhabited by savage tribes, the terror of travellers—and across what is now Bolivia to the headwaters of the Amazon; his life was spent in Christianizing the savage tribes of the remote interior, a task much more difficult than that of instructing the cultured Indians of the Inca’s country. He died in 1610 and was canonized by the Church.

CHURCH OF SAN AGUSTIN, LIMA.