The Jesuit RelationsBy: Josh Kessner

History 140 Professor Arguello

Introduction• The Jesuits followed the conquistadors of Portugal, Spain, and France into the new world, attempting to turn pagan savages into Catholic Christianity• These missionaries were of the Society of Jesus and thought that any religion outside of their own was lesser and not the right way• In 1534, The Society of Jesus was founded by Spanish ex-soldier Ignatius of Loyola•The Jesuits taught their followers multiple aspects of education, literature, and some scientific studies

Introduction• The goal of the Jesuit missionaries was to convert the native Indians into Catholicism so that they could be better dependable and relate with the colonists• The Jesuits would go out of their way to study the culture of the natives and understand the reason behind the way they do things• In studying the native Indians, the Jesuits would even learn their language to try and win over some respect from the Indians• In understanding their way of life, speaking their language, and meticulously recording their cultural history, many of the Indians were amazed to see such focus upon them by the Jesuits

Disease and Medicine• As the Europeans continued to come into the New World, they brought along many diseases• some of the diseases that they carried with them were Smallpox, influenza, and measles• These diseases were recorded to have wiped out at least half of the Indian population• The Jesuits’ view on disease though was why it was caused by their god•They put their focus on baptizing the dying rather than curing the diseased living

Disease and Medicine• The natives had a different view upon the ill than the Jesuits• The Jesuits didn’t approve of the Native medicine• The natives believed the illnesses to be caused by both Natural and Supernatural causes• They believed that the medical procedures needed to ass the mind and body spiritually• Jesuits were shocked by the rituals and behaviors of the Natives way to help the sick• Also the natives believed that dances and games would help cure the ill• While the Jesuits believed that once ill , one should be isolated from daily activity

Missions to the Iroquois• One of the greatest missions of the Jesuits into the New World was to convert the natives into Catholicism• After a lasting peace was finally established in 1667, Jesuits were finally able to be successful in working with the natives• Jesuits worked among the Five Nations Iroquois until 1684• Many of these newly converted Indians had migrated north to the St. Lawrence River

Missions to the Iroquois• Although some of the Iroquois Indians had accepted the teachings of the Jesuits, they still believed and wanted to preserve their own religious backgrounds• The Jesuits had difficulty in having the Iroquois follow faithfully in their religions• Overtime, some of them did convert and moved up towards the Northern colonies, where they assumed that more Indians would later convert and gather• The French called this area Sault St. Louis

Writings on the Natural Environment• The Indians viewed natural phenomena in both a spiritual way, as well as a physical• They would tell stories about thunder, lightning, eclipses, as well as other phenomena with creatures that were animal and human• The Europeans questioned the world around them as well, although they kept separate the idea of a religious reason and a physical reason•

Writings on the Natural Environment• Once arriving to the New world, it was evident how full of life the land was• The people discovered rivers full of fish and other aqua life that would yield beneficial to the survival of man• There were oils that could be brought out of the animals and plantation• Also, there was an incredible amount of timber to use for households• New plants that were never before discovered were cultivated and used for medicines amongst other things• The North American environment was rich in useful substance

Martyrs and Mystics• When Jesuits were first arriving and planned to visit the Iroquois in hopes of converting them to Catholicism, they weren’t prepared for what was to happen• The Iroquois were experienced in torturing their enemies and would take torture to extreme measures• For example they would bite off the fingernails of the Jesuits and run knives through their hands•Also, they would cut open their elbows and shove sticks up the gash• Another type of torture often practiced was the cutting off of thumbs and fingers

Martyrs and Mystics• Catherine Tegahkouita also known as Kateri was the ideal Jesuit follower• She had an Iroquois Father and a Christian Algonquin mother• The parents disapproved of her devotion to the religion• Kateri remained a virgin throughout her entire life and protested the idea of marriage•She escaped from her family because they tried to use ploys to shake her of her religion and faith•She spent the rest of her life at a mission after leaving her family