Catholics From Spain

"His reputation as an historian rests secure upon his history of the Jesuit missions of Mexico."

"Ribas wrote under the most favourable circumstances and made good use of his opportunities."

"Peter does not need our lies or our flattery. Those who blindly and indiscriminately defend every decision of the Supreme Pontiff are the ones who most undermine the authority of the Holy See: they destroy, rather than strengthen, its foundations."

"It is time to place an end to the iniquity and as human persons who preach love and peace, we lift our voices in favor of life and no more abortion. The effort that we all make will be rewarded in Heaven and our names will be written in the Book of Life."

"While his superiors regarded him as one of the best and most zealous of friars, the people looked upon him as a saint."

"Much of what he says is of necessity erroneous, because it is influenced by the standard of knowledge of his time; but his criticisms are remarkable, while always dignified. He reflects the scientific errors of the period in which he lived, but with hints of a more advanced understanding."

"Apart from his sophistical defence of Spanish colonial policy, Acosta deserves high praise as an acute and diligent observer whose numerous new and valuable data are set forth in a vivid style."

"Let no man thinke (speaking of the Indians,) that they are men of nothing; but if they thinke so, let them go and make triall."

"The first challenge is that the peoples take possession of the Church, they must feel part of it, they must feel subjects of evangelization and not just an object. Thus, by discovering the Good News, they become true agents of transformation of reality. To succeed in this objective it is necessary that, as a Church, we accompany cultures through the promotion of formation and cultural development."

"He was almost the last survivor of the Fernandinos, and for virtue, learning, and missionary zeal ranks with the most brilliant of his predecessors."

"Ambition was his chief failing; otherwise he was reputed a good theologian and a friend of art and letters, virtuous, eloquent, and skilful in the business of the curia."

"One of the reasons which made me accept this bishopric was the fact that these Islands are near China... For a long time I have had the conversion of that kingdom at heart, and with that thought I came to these Islands."

"He excelled especially as a moral theologian; his classes of moral theology were attended by a greater number of students than were ever known to follow the course at Compostella. His decisions were regarded as oracles, and the most difficult cases were submitted to him for solution."

"Although he never visited America, he appeals particularly to Americans."

"Fr. Magin Catala stands conspicuous for zeal, sanctity, and an uncommonly long term of missionary activity in one place."

"Our mother is without doubt in heaven, both body and soul; our queen and advocate is there, whose sight did rejoice all the hierarchies of angels, and all the court of Heaven; who interceded for us."

"The country is being ruined by the iniquity of its rulers!"

"Here the situation is completely different: the culture, the people, the distances, communities which are far away from each other, the geography, climate, etc.. Everything is striking and surprising: in the forest there are no seasons, it is always summer. The culture revolves completely around nature and the way of dealing with life is completely different. People face everything calmly and with great patience, unlike us Europeans, always anxious, apprehensive of how to cope with things... So they manage to live life in a more essential, more human manner, without creating obstacles."

"The bishop was one quick to discern evils which he was powerless to remove; apt at the formation of plans he lacked the perseverance to execute; and assumed the attitude of a partisan, where it especially behooved a prelate to be unbiassed. Thus he was incessantly interfering in political matters, and personal relations between him and the president were soon exceedingly unpleasant."

"True, indeed, we bishops have need of you, as you also have need of us; for if we do not mutually assist one another, none of us can ever remedy the evils of which we hear so much."

"The activity displayed by the bishop-viceroy was astonishing, and seemed to be transmitted to all departments of the government."

"The reign of this ecclesiastic was remarkable for nothing except its extraordinarily brief duration."

"He gave unquestionable proof of ability and disinterestedness."

"His rule was short but severe; he encouraged education and religion, but signalized his advent by destroying a great number of idols and objects of antiquity that had been preserved as souvenirs of the conquest. In a word, he was a bigot, and as determined a foe to aboriginal culture, and strove as hard to eradicate all vestiges of it, as the infamous Zumárraga of the century previous. After the arrival of the succeeding viceroy, he was continued in his office of visitador, and made a great deal of trouble, especially in Puebla, by his domineering spirit."

"We are here to build the common good, to build an inclusive society and bring the joy of life in Christ, everywhere, to every man and woman. As believers in the Resurrection, as men and women of hope, we are bearers of a positive vision, of hope, joy and happiness."

"By great application joined to an unusually brilliant mind and an extraordinarily retentive memory he accumulated such a vast store of knowledge that his contemporaries styled him the wonder of the world."

"Mateo Sagade Bugueiro, was a man of rather haughty character, and ere long new difficulties arose between him and the representative of the crown, occasioned by the controversy of the former with the commissary-general of the holy crusade. The archbishop also publicly accused the viceroy of withholding and intercepting his correspondence with Spain, but finally a reconciliation was effected, and after that time a better understanding prevailed."

"He was a truly evangelical man, and was held in the highest esteem by the missionaries for his learning and piety."

"Berlanga sent to the crown a description of what he saw, a brief and unvarnished report from the standpoint of a cool-headed observer. His mission was well intended, but practically impossible. Pizarro had artfully removed the other party to the proposed arbitration, and Berlanga was too honest to yield to insinuations of a one-sided investigation."

"He proved zealous in extending spiritual administration through curacies and convents, striving to bring into greater veneration sacred places and relics, and to practise charity in a manner that brought him in contact with the poor and assisted to make him popular with the masses. Among the rich and the officials he found less welcome, owing partly to his persevering efforts for episcopal rights, partly to the enforcement of a stricter morality among the higher classes."

"Con veinte escudos Que harán hablar á los mudos, Me dice el procurador, Que de aquí me sacará."

"Lector, esto libro te ofrezco, sin que me aya mandado Señor alguno que le escriva, ni menos me ayan importunado mis amigos que le estampe, sino solamente por mi gusto, por mi antojo y por mi voluntad."

"Es ya razon de estado y aun forzoso En la buena política y sus leyes, No casar en sus tierras á los reyes."

"(Que) de un reino los cimientos Son la espada y son la pluma."

"(Que) echar candado â los labios Con nombre de sufrimiento O no es tener sentimiento O es alentar los agravios."

"(Que) sin testigos amor Hace sus tiros mejor."

"Son tantos los ingratos, Que no hubiera calabozos, Si se hubieran de prender, En el mundo para todos."

"(Que) siempre un hombre de bien Fué muy fácil de engañar."

"(Dice el refran) Si quieres un lindo rato, Bebe frio; si una hora, Come en tu casa temprano; Si un buen dia, hazte la barba; Si una semana, vé al baño; Si un buen mes, mata un lechon; Y si quieres un buen año, Cásate con mujer limpia."

"Turn your eyes again upon your prayer, as God looked again upon each of His works in the creation of the world, and examine attentively what fruit you have drawn from your prayer, what resolutions to serve Him ; for this is like collecting the grain from the threshing floor, and conveying it to the granary to make. use of it and not to lose it."

"Fonte was, however, of too cautious and unambitious a nature to accept a distinction which entailed a compromised course of action."

"The business ability of the bishop assisted somewhat to temper his zeal in certain directions, and to guide his labors as administrator and head of the church, whose interest he ably promoted."

"As public policy addresses the question of immigration, it must be so with a keen awareness of the dignity of every person so that whatever results will support the development of each person, respect human qualities, and give and foster family values."

"As Christians it is important to share moments of joy and also of sorrow around the Eucharist, source of faith and hope."

"Reproof was unheeded by the bishop, who displayed anything but a forgiving spirit, especially in the prosecutions instituted against those prebendaries of his church who had been rather eager to recognize the jueces conservadores and declare his see vacant."

"Q: The meeting of SEC’s Permanent Commission took place last February 23-24. One of the topics addressed was the implementation of Pope Francis’ Letter for the institution of the laity — men and women — as lectors and acolytes. What does this approval imply, which recognizes the co-responsibility of all the baptized in the Church and, in particular, for the mission of the laity and of women? A: I believe that the Holy Father’s decision makes more active the participation of all the laity in the celebration of the Liturgy. I believe that it’s a question of normalization of a very concrete situation, given that over the last years women have already exercised this role in Liturgical celebrations. In fact, in no. 103 of Querida Amazonia, "Pope Francis affirmed: “In a Synodal Church women, who in fact play a central role in Amazonian communities, should be able to access functions including ecclesial services that don’t require Holy Orders, enabling them to express better their own place. It should be remembered that these services imply stability, public recognition, and the sending by the Bishop.""

"The rule of Torres y Rueda was brief and eventless."

"Social regeneration involves not only the economy but also the education of values; family, school and the Church can do much if they agree. Today school proposes anti-value courses. Public education can insist on proposing the Constitution, but if it touches the moral issues, issues of their own parents, then it imposes the values of political power. It is something very serious."

"Porrige dulcisonas attentis auribus escas; Nolo tacere velis, nolo tacere velis."

"Vox, philomela, tua curarum semina pellit, Recreat et blandis anxia corda sonis."