'the priestly orders at the hands of Zumárraga was consecrated by him in 1538;[1] but owing to a variety of circumstances he did not issue his letter organizing his diocese till 1554.[2] Both these sees were subject to the jurisdiction of the archbishopric of Seville.
While the church was thus extending her jurisdiction over the country, and gradually unfolding an organized system of conversion and instruction, the several orders were making similar progress by establishing convents in various parts of the country. The rivalry existing between the Franciscans and Dominicans acted upon each order as an incentive, and the competition for power produced rapid results. As early as 1535 the convents of the Franciscans in Michoacan were of sufficient number and importance to cause the founding of a custodia,[3] and in 1536, at the general chapter held in Nice by the Franciscan order, the custodia of Santo Evangelio in Mexico was raised to the dignity of a provincia,[4] Fray García de Cisneros being appointed first provincial. On the
- ↑ Gonzalez Dávila, Teatro Ecles., i. 112, says in 1537, which is somewhat supported by a letter of the queen to Mendoza, dated September 20, 1537, representing that Quiroga had written to her expressing his desire to proceed to his diocese and undertake his spiritual duties; but Beaumont, on the authority of an old manuscript of the Jesuit Father Francisco Ramirez, states that Quiroga took possession of his bishopric on the 22d of August, 1538; and was consecrated at the end of the same year. Crón. Mich., iv. 162-3.
- ↑ Nueva España, Breve Res., MS., ii. 250-70. In Beaumont, Crón. Mich., MS., 731-2, may be found a list of the border towns of the diocese proper.
- ↑ Mendieta, Hist. Ecles., 376; Torquemada, iii. 333; Beaumont, Crón. Mich., iv. 52-6, write 1536. It became subject to the provincia del Santo Evangelio, and when founded was promised one third of the members of the order that should arrive from Spain. Padre Testera, in 1542, during the few months of his administration as commissary-general, provided the custodies of Yucatan, Michoacan, and Jalisco with a competent number of religiosos, out of the 150 brought out by him. Figueroa, in Pap. Francis., MS., series i. No. 1. Antonio de Beteta was probably the first custodian. Beaumont, Crón. Mich., iv. 52.
- ↑ The first comisario general was Alonzo de Rozas who was afterward custodian in Michoacan and Jalisco. Mendieta, 543; Torquemada, iii. 374. The custodia had existed nearly 11 years. Figueroa, in Pap. Francis., MS., i. series i. No. 1. During that time there were four custodians who held office in the following order: Fray Martin de Valencia, Luis de Fuensalida, Fray Martin, a second time appointed, and Jacobo de Testera. Torguemada, iii. 303, 305. This provincia del Santo Evangelio, when Torquemada wrote, contained within its limits 70 convents and included the archbishopric of Mexico and the bishopric of Tlascala. Id.
