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On the history of the Jesuits on the Marianne Islands in the Pacific

GARCIA, Francisco.
Istoria della conversione all nostra Santa fede dell' isole Mariane, dette prima de' Landroni, nella vita, predicatione, e morte gloriosa per Christo del venerabile P. Diego Luigi di Sanvitores, e d'altri suoi Compagnia di Giesù ... E tradotta nell'Italiano dal Padre Ambrosio Ortiz.

Woodcut headpieces and initials. Engraved portrait by F. Pesche of Diego Luigi di San Vitores being murdered by the 'barbari' on the 2nd of April 1672.

Woodcut headpieces and initials. Engraved portrait by F. Pesche of Diego Luigi di San Vitores being murdered by the 'barbari' on the 2nd of April 1672.

Woodcut headpieces and initials. Engraved portrait by F. Pesche of Diego Luigi di San Vitores being murdered by the 'barbari' on the 2nd of April 1672.

Woodcut headpieces and initials. Engraved portrait by F. Pesche of Diego Luigi di San Vitores being murdered by the 'barbari' on the 2nd of April 1672.

Woodcut headpieces and initials. Engraved portrait by F. Pesche of Diego Luigi di San Vitores being murdered by the 'barbari' on the 2nd of April 1672.



Napels, Camillo Cavallo & Michele Luigi Mutii, 1686 (Colophon: 1687). 4to. Contemporary vellum. Woodcut headpieces and initials. Engraved portrait by F. Pesche of Diego Luigi di San Vitores being murdered by the 'barbari' on the 2nd of April 1672. (23), 663, (1) pp.

First Italian edition of the Spanish story of the life and martyrdom of Father Diego Luis de San Vitores, originally published in Madrid in 1683 with the title Vida y el martyrio de el Venerable Padre Diego Luis de San Vitores. The book is translated by Ambrosio Ortiz.
In 1667 the Spanish established a regular colony on the Marianne Islands in the northern Pacific, well over a century after Magellan discovered the islands in 1521, and gave the islands their official name: 'Las Marianus', in honour of Queen Maria Anna of Austria. The Marianas Archipelago is a chain of fifteen islands in the Northern Pacific, of which Guam is the largest. When discovered by Magellan, he initially named them the Ladroni Islands in order to reflect the inclination to theft among the islanders.
Originally the islands had ca. 40-60,000 inhabitants, but there was such fierce resistance against the Spaniards that the natives were almost exterminated before Spanish rule was established. The Marianas remained a Spanish colony under the general government of the Philippines until 1898, when, as a result of the Spanish-American War, Guam was ceded to the United States. By Treaty of 12 Feb., 1899, the remaining islands (together with the Carolines) were sold to Germany for about $ 4,100,000.

The book is divided into three sections, the first of which deals with the main three periods in the life of Fr. San Vitores. This section may also serve to illustrate steps in the spiritual development of a young man who dedicated himself to the service of his God. This dedication is particularly seen in his consuming desire to convert others from ways of life which he was convinced would lead to a deplorable future for them. His life as a missionary started with his embarkation for Mexico on what he supposed to be his life's mission to Japan. Afterwards he went to the Philippines to end on the Marianne Islands where he ultimately found his death as a martyr on 2 April 1672. The rest of the book is devoted to describe the circumstances on the Islands and the difficulties encountered by the Jesuits in converting the native people. Very interesting for the history of the Jesuit mission in the Pacific during the 17th century. Diego Luis di San Vitore was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1985.

Very good copy.- (Some browning).
De Backer-Sommervogel III, col. 1214; introduction to the modern English translation: Francisco García, The Life and Martyrdom of Diego Luis de San Vitores, S.J . Translated by Margaret M. Higgins, Felicia Plaza & Juan M.H. Ledesma. Ed. by James A. McDonough (MARC Monograph Series 3; Guam: Richard Flores Taitano Micronesian Area Research Center (xxvii, 529 pp.).

Related Subjects: Discovery & Exploration  Italy  Jesuits  Mission  Pacific  Spain  Travel & Voyages 

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