Roque González de Santa Cruz
Encyclopedia
Father Roque González de Santa Cruz S.J.
was born in Asunción
, Paraguay
on 17 November 1576. He was the son of Don Bartolomé González de Villaverde and Doña María de Santa Cruz who were Spanish nobles. Roque González spoke Guaraní
fluently from an early age.
At the age of 22 he was ordained priest by the bishop of Córdoba. In 1609, he became a member of the Society of Jesus, beginning his work as a missionary. He became the first European
person to enter the region known today as the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul
.
His arrival in the area only happened after his developing delicate relationships of trust with local indigenous leaders, some of whom feared that the priests were preparing the way for the arrival of masses of European
s in their land.
In 1613 he founded the reduction
of San Ignacio Miní. In 1615 he founded Itapúa, which is now the city of Posadas
in the Argentine
province of Missiones. Then he had to move the reduction to the other side of the river, now the site of the city of Encarnación
. He also founded the reduction of Concepción de la Sierra Candelaria (1619), Candelaria (1627), San Javier, Yapeyú (now in the province of Corrientes
San Nicolás, Asunción del Iyuí and Caaró (now in Brazil
). In the region of Iyuí, he had difficulties with the 'cacique' Ñezú.
After establishing the first mission reduction of Saint Nicolas and other missionary centers in the region, Roque González was struck down by Chief Nheçu
on 15 November 1628. His heart and the weapon which killed him are in the Chapel of the Martyrs in Asunción. He was beatified on 28 January 1934.
On 16 May 1988, Roque González was canonised by Pope John Paul II
in Asunción, thus becoming the first Paraguayan saint
. Saint Roque González de Santa Cruz is patron of the cities of Posadas, Argentina, and Encarnación, Paraguay.
The 1986 movie The Mission is based loosely around his life.
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
was born in Asunción
Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
, Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
on 17 November 1576. He was the son of Don Bartolomé González de Villaverde and Doña María de Santa Cruz who were Spanish nobles. Roque González spoke Guaraní
Guaraní language
Guaraní, specifically the primary variety known as Paraguayan Guaraní , is an indigenous language of South America that belongs to the Tupí–Guaraní subfamily of the Tupian languages. It is one of the official languages of Paraguay , where it is spoken by the majority of the population, and half of...
fluently from an early age.
At the age of 22 he was ordained priest by the bishop of Córdoba. In 1609, he became a member of the Society of Jesus, beginning his work as a missionary. He became the first European
European ethnic groups
The ethnic groups in Europe are the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe. European ethnology is the field of anthropology focusing on Europe....
person to enter the region known today as the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul is the southernmost state in Brazil, and the state with the fifth highest Human Development Index in the country. In this state is located the southernmost city in the country, Chuí, on the border with Uruguay. In the region of Bento Gonçalves and Caxias do Sul, the largest wine...
.
His arrival in the area only happened after his developing delicate relationships of trust with local indigenous leaders, some of whom feared that the priests were preparing the way for the arrival of masses of European
European ethnic groups
The ethnic groups in Europe are the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe. European ethnology is the field of anthropology focusing on Europe....
s in their land.
In 1613 he founded the reduction
Jesuit Reductions
A Jesuit Reduction was a type of settlement for indigenous people in Latin America created by the Jesuit Order during the 17th and 18th centuries. In general, the strategy of the Spanish Empire was to gather native populations into centers called Indian Reductions , in order to Christianize, tax,...
of San Ignacio Miní. In 1615 he founded Itapúa, which is now the city of Posadas
Posadas, Misiones
Posadas is the capital city of the Argentine province of Misiones, located at the south of the province, on the left-hand shore of the Paraná River, opposite Encarnación, Paraguay. The city has an area of 965 km² and a population of 323,739 ....
in the Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
province of Missiones. Then he had to move the reduction to the other side of the river, now the site of the city of Encarnación
Encarnación, Paraguay
Encarnación is the capital city of the Paraguayan department of Itapúa, located at the south of the department, on the right-hand shore of the Paraná River, opposite Posadas, Argentina...
. He also founded the reduction of Concepción de la Sierra Candelaria (1619), Candelaria (1627), San Javier, Yapeyú (now in the province of Corrientes
Corrientes
Corrientes is the capital city of the province of Corrientes, Argentina, located on the eastern shore of the Paraná River, about from Buenos Aires and from Posadas, on National Route 12...
San Nicolás, Asunción del Iyuí and Caaró (now in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
). In the region of Iyuí, he had difficulties with the 'cacique' Ñezú.
After establishing the first mission reduction of Saint Nicolas and other missionary centers in the region, Roque González was struck down by Chief Nheçu
Nheçu
thumb|right|300px|Cerro do Inhacurutum is the historic hill where Chief Nheçu held post while fighting back the incursion of the first Europeans in today's state of Rio Grande do Sul, in southern Brazil....
on 15 November 1628. His heart and the weapon which killed him are in the Chapel of the Martyrs in Asunción. He was beatified on 28 January 1934.
On 16 May 1988, Roque González was canonised by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
in Asunción, thus becoming the first Paraguayan saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
. Saint Roque González de Santa Cruz is patron of the cities of Posadas, Argentina, and Encarnación, Paraguay.
The 1986 movie The Mission is based loosely around his life.
External links
- 'Os Olhos do Pe. Roque' or 'Father Roque's Eyes'
- Rocco Gonzalez at Patron Saints Index