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Redalyc.FRANCISCO CABRAL and LOURENÇO MEXIA in MACAO Bulletin of Portuguese - Japanese Studies ISSN: 0874-8438 [email protected] Universidade Nova de Lisboa Portugal Reis Correia, Pedro Lage FRANCISCO CABRAL AND LOURENÇO MEXIA IN MACAO (1582-1584): TWO DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES OF EVANGELISATION IN JAPAN Bulletin of Portuguese - Japanese Studies, vol. 15, diciembre, 2007, pp. 47-77 Universidade Nova de Lisboa Lisboa, Portugal Available in: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=36112010004 How to cite Complete issue Scientific Information System More information about this article Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal Journal's homepage in redalyc.org Non-profit academic project, developed under the open access initiative BPJS, 2007, 15, 47-77 FRANCISCO CABRAL AND LOURENÇO MEXIA IN MACAO (1582-1584): TWO DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES OF EVANGELISATION IN JAPAN Pedro Lage Reis Correia 1 Centro Científico e Cultural de Macau, Lisbon Abstract In Macao, between 1582 and 1584, Francisco Cabral (1533-1609) and Lourenço Mexia (1539-1599) write several letters to the General and reflect upon their past experiences in Japan. Cabral was the Superior of the Japanese mission between 1570 and 1581 and Mexia was companion of the Father Visitor Alessandro Valignano (1539-1606) from 1579 to 1582. In a great extent, both define their thoughts as a reac- tion to Valignano’s activity. For Francisco Cabral, the clear assertion of the Society of Jesus’ identity, strengthen by a profound spiritual life, stands as the only solution for the evangelisation of Japan. Lourenço Mexia, on the other hand, states that the Society of Jesus must adapt to the main features of the Japanese society, as the only possible way to root Christianity in Japan. Resumo Em Macau, entre 1582 e 1584, Francisco Cabral (1533-1609) e Lourenço Mexia (1539-1599) redigem cartas ao Geral, nas quais fazem uma retrospectiva da sua expe- riência no Japão. Cabral foi Superior da missão entre 1570 e 1581 e Mexia companheiro do Visitador Alessandro Valignano (1539-1606) entre 1579 e 1582. Em grande medida, ambos definem o seu pensamento por reacção à actividade missionária do Visitador jesuíta. Francisco Cabral, defende que a solução para a evangelização do Japão está na afirmação da identidade da Companhia, fortalecida por uma profunda vivência espiritual. Lourenço Mexia, por sua vez, declara que a Companhia de Jesus deve ir ao encontro dos traços fundamentais da sociedade japonesa, como o único modo de enraizar o Cristianismo no Japão. 1 Centro Científico e Cultural de Macau/Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia scholarship holder. 48 Pedro Lage Reis Correia 要約 マカオで、1582年から1584年までフランシスコ・カブラルとロレンソ ・メシアが日本での各自の経験の回顧を会長宛で送った。カブラルは 1570年から1581年まで日本布教長を務め、メシアは1579年から1582年ま で巡察師ヴァリニャーノの特別顧問を務めた。カブラルは日本で福音を 説くにはイエズス会の主体性を強調する必要性があると主張。メシアは イエズス会が日本社会の特性に合わせることが日本にキリスト教を根付 かせるために不可欠であると唱えた。 Keywords: Francisco Cabral, Lourenço Mexia, Alessandro Valignano, Japan, Macao, Evangelisation. Francisco Cabral, Lourenço Mexia, Alessandro Valignano, Japão, Macau, Missionação. フランシスコ・カブラル, ロレンソ・メシア, アレッサンドロ・ヴァリ ニャーノ, 日本, マカオ, 布教 Francisco Cabral and Lourenço Mexia: some biographical information This article aims to study how Fathers Lourenço Mexia (1539-1599) and Francisco Cabral (1533-1609) reacted to Valignano’s activity during his first stay in the Japanese archipelago (1579-1582) and also to analyse their thoughts upon the mission in Japan. It begins with letters written by Mexia and Cabral in Macao between 1582 and 1584, in which they reflect on their experience in Japan.2 Lourenço de Mexia was born in Olivença in 1539.3 In 1559 he entered the Society of Jesus in Coimbra and before he left for East Asia he held the office of rector of the college in Bragança, in 1571, and master of novices in São Roque, in 1574. Two years later he departed from Lisbon, arriving in 2 I wish to express my gratitude to the Archivum Romanum Societatis Iesu (ARSI), namely to the archivist Mauro Brunello, for sending me documentation necessary for writing this article. As an appendix, two important letters written by Francisco Cabral are presented and fully transcribed. One is related with Cabral’s arrival and first impressions of Japan (Letter from Francisco Cabral to the General, Nagasaki, 5th September, 1571, ARSI, Jap.Sin., 7-I, ff. 20-21v.) the second one was written in Macao after his return from Japan (Letter from Francisco Cabral to the General, Macao, 20th November, 1583, Jap.Sin., 9-II, ff. 186-188.). I am also very thankful to my colleague Sofia Diniz. The transcriptions that she has done of both these documents enabled me to have more time to focus on my text. 3 V. ‘Mexia, Lourenço’, J. López-Gay in Diccionario Histórico de la Compañía de Jesús, Vol. III, Charles E. O’Neil, S.I., and Joaquin M.ª Dominguez, S.I. (dir.), Rome/Madrid, Institutum Histo- ricum Societatis Iesu/Universidad Pontifícia de Comillas, 2001, p. 2645; ‘Mexia, Lourenço’ in Joseph Dehergne, S.J., Répertoire des Jésuites de Chine de 1552 à 1800, Rome/Paris, Institutum Historicum Societatis Iesu/Letouzey&Ané, 1973, p. 176. Francisco Cabral and Lourenço Mexia in Macao (1582-1584) 49 Macao in 1578. The following year he left for Japan, and is mentioned in the Consultation records in Bungo, in 1580, as “Father Lourenço Mexia, com- panion to the Father Visitor.” 4 However, as Mexia pointed out in the first letter he wrote to the Father General Acquaviva, his duties went far beyond those of companion to Valignano: “because the former Father General ordered me to be monitor of the Father Visitor, and wrote to me so that I could inform him of what was happening here, both in general and in particular.” 5 During the years he spent in Japan he collaborated closely with the Visitor, returning to Macao in 1582, when Valignano’s first stay came to an end. A few months after his arrival, he reported his activities to the Father General: “Father Pedro Gomez is now staying here as Rector or Superior of this house until Father Francisco Cabral comes, whom the Father Visitor decided to summon to occupy the position. I have been delegated to monitor both. I also teach the course to two Fathers who are going to Japan, and so I preach and con- fess and do other duties required of me.” 6 Twice he held the office of superior of the Jesuit residence in Macao. In January, 1587,7 he occupied this post, 4 “O padre Lourenço Mixia companheiro do padre Visitador.” Consulta feita em Bungo pollo Padre Alexandre Valignano, Visitador da Yndia no mes d’October do Anno 1580, acerca das cousas do Japão, Jap.Sin., 2, f. 4. V. For biographical information on Father Lourenço Mexia see, also, the catalogues published in Monumenta Historica Japoniae, Vol. 1: Textus catalogorum Japoniae: aliaeque de personis dominusque S.J. in Japonia informationes et relationes 1549-1654, Josef Franz Schütte, S.J. (ed.), Rome, Institutum Historicum Societatis Iesu, 1975 (MHJ I), pp. 109, 216 e 306. Valignano met Mexia when travelling in Portugal, and showed pleasure in his company: “I encountered Father Lourenço Mexia here (…) and so I shall take him with me, by the grace of God, Our Lord, and I am very pleased with him, as besides having been sent to me by Your Paternity, I have always esteemed him since meeting him in Portugal” [“Hallè aqui el Pe. Lorenço Mexia (…) y ansí lo llevaré comigo con la gracia de N. S., y holgo mucho con él, porque, allende de me lo aver dado V. P., yo lo amé siempre des que lo conocý en Portugal”] in Documenta Indica, Vol. IX (1573-1575). Joseph Wicki (ed.), Rome, Institutum Historicum Societatis Iesu, 1966, p. 180. 5 “Porque el padre general pasado [Everardo Mercuriano] ordenou que fuese Monitor del padre Visitador, y me scrivió que le avisase de lo que acaa pasava ansi en lo comum, como en lo particular.” Letter from Lourenço Mexia to the General, Macao, 20th December, 1582, Jap.Sin., 9-I, f. 126. 6 “El padre Pedro Gomez queda ahora aqui por Rector o Superior desta casa hasta que venga el padre Francisco Cabral, que el padre Visitador entendio llamar para quedar com el officio, yo quedo com el officio de Monitor asi del uno como del outro. También leo el curso a dos padres que van para Japon, y ansi predico y confeso, y hago lo demas que se offreçe.” Letter from Lourenço Mexia to the General, Macao, 13th February, 1583, Jap.Sin., 9-I, f. 147. At the end of 1584, Lourenço Mexia held the same duties, as he reports to the General: “I have been here for two years by order of the Father Provincial to preach, confess, etc., which I do in health (…) and I was also delegated as advisor and monitor of the Superior (…).” [“Dos años ha que aqui quede por orden del padre Provincial para predicar, confesar, etc. lo que hago com salud (...), también me dexo com cargo de consultor y monitor del Superior (...).”] Letter from Lourenço Mexía to the General, Macao, 8th December, 1584, Jap.Sin., 9-II, f. 322. 7 MHJ I, p. 205. 50 Pedro Lage Reis Correia replacing Francisco Cabral, and remained there until August of the following year, when it was taken over by Duarte de Sande. In 1594 Valignano made Sande rector of the college and Lourenço Mexia was again appointed supe- rior of the Jesuit residence, until 1597.8 During this period we learn that he was in the Madre de Deus residence and the he was “preacher, advisor and perfect of all spiritual matters.” 9 Francisco Cabral, frequently described as Valignano’s opponent, was born in 1533, in the Azores. After completing his training in Lisbon, he departed for India in 1550 and joined the Society of Jesus in Goa four years later.10 Even before he was ordained a priest, he was appointed master of novices for two years (1568-1670).
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