The Spanish Inquisition and Religious Movements
The Court of the Inquisition
The Inquisition began when civil and religious authorities joined forces to seek out heretics. In 1231, Pope Gregory IX established the papal-dependent Court of the Inquisition, entrusting it to the Dominican and Franciscan orders.
In fifteenth-century Spain, the Inquisition, led by Fray Tomás de Torquemada, relentlessly pursued conversos, Jews who had converted to Christianity for convenience but continued practicing their faith. Torquemada has become a historical symbol of intolerance.
Those accused by the Inquisition faced interrogation, often involving torture. Sentences varied widely, including banishment, fines, imprisonment, wearing the sambenito (a garment of shame), or death by burning at the stake. The civil authorities supported these intolerant practices.
The Expulsion of the Jews in Spain
Hatred and mistrust towards ethnic and religious groups different from one’s own is a phenomenon with complex origins.
In Spain, the rejection of Jews manifested in the late Middle Ages. They were blamed for the death of Christ. During the reign of the Catholic Monarchs, between 150,000 and 200,000 Jews resided in Spain, often confined to ghettos. Their prosperity contributed to this rejection.
The Jews were persecuted by the Inquisition, which saw them as a threat to the Catholic faith. Discriminatory measures were enforced, culminating in their expulsion from Spain by the Catholic Monarchs in 1492.
World Evangelization
The great discoveries of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries opened the door to global evangelization. Following the discovery of America, a missionary expansion began.
The kings of Spain and Portugal sought the Pope’s authority to secure possession of the discovered lands, along with the commitment to evangelize them. The monarchs advocated for the fair treatment of indigenous peoples and the suppression of abuses, but many colonists exploited them.
Missionaries faced significant challenges: vast distances, diverse languages and cultures, and unfamiliar customs. They believed that to instill faith, it was necessary to eradicate indigenous cultural and religious practices and convert them to Catholicism. However, their work also had positive aspects: they learned native languages and cultures, taught trades and technologies, and exposed abuses by colonizers.
Baroque Art: Moving the Soul
Baroque art was the Catholic Church’s cultural response to the Protestant Reformation. Recognizing the power of art as a propaganda tool, the Church utilized it to inspire and captivate the faithful. Baroque art is characterized by curved lines, the interplay of light and color, movement, drama, and theatricality.
Architecture
Baroque temples reflect the grandeur and triumph of the Catholic faith. Buildings are ornate and richly embellished, with emphasis on decorative facades and altarpieces.
Painting
The Virgin Mary, saints, and the exaltation of the Eucharist are recurring themes. Figures are depicted in movement, with exaggerated postures and dramatic gestures aimed at stirring the emotions of the faithful. Notable Baroque painters include Caravaggio in Italy, Rembrandt and Rubens in the Netherlands, and El Greco, Velázquez, Zurbarán, and Murillo in Spain.
Sculpture
Spain excelled in religious sculpture, particularly polychrome wood carvings with remarkable realism. These sculptures served as tools for religious instruction, evoking emotions through altarpieces and during Holy Week processions. Prominent sculptors include Gregorio Fernández, Martínez Montañés, and Salzillo.
Feeling God: Mysticism
The mystic is not merely someone who thinks about God but feels God with their entire being. They do not simply speak about God but converse with God. In meditation, God speaks to them.
Two Spanish Mystics
Santa Teresa de Jesús (Teresa de Cepeda y Ahumada, 1515-1582) brought her profound mysticism to literary expression. Among her mystical writings, The Interior Castle, also known as The Mansions, stands out as one of the greatest works of mysticism of all time. She was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1970.
San Juan de la Cruz (Juan de Yepes y Álvarez, 1542-1591) is considered one of the most exceptional mystical poets of Spain and South America. His three major compositions, Dark Night of the Soul, Spiritual Canticle, and Living Flame of Love, are landmarks of mystical poetry. He was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1926.
Mystics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries
Charles de Foucauld
Charles de Foucauld was born in 1858 in Strasbourg to a noble family whose motto was “Never retreat.” He spent the early part of his life as a military explorer in Algeria and Morocco. After leaving the army, he embarked on a reconnaissance trip to Morocco, learning Arabic and Hebrew.
Upon returning to France in 1886, he experienced a profound conversion, feeling drawn to the hidden life of the poor and humble worker in Nazareth. In 1890, he entered the Trappist order but sought a different religious lifestyle. He took vows in 1897, was ordained a priest, and traveled to southern Morocco to preach the Gospel to the nomadic Tuareg tribe. He translated the Bible into the Tuareg language.
In 1916, at the age of 58, he was killed during an anti-French revolt by the Berbers.
Brother Roger and the Taizé Community
Taizé is a village in eastern France, home to a monastic community founded by Brother Roger.
In August 1940, at the age of 25, Roger Schutz, a Swiss-born son of a Lutheran pastor, settled in Taizé. He envisioned creating a community dedicated to the daily practice of reconciliation. He chose this project in a region devastated by World War II, where he sheltered numerous refugees, especially Jews.
For two years, Brother Roger lived alone, cultivating the land and building a small chapel. Gradually, other brothers joined him. In 1949, seven brothers committed to a life of celibacy and community. The community grew, expanding across continents.
The brothers belong to various Christian denominations and come from 25 different countries. They live in different locations, primarily among the poorest, and do not accept gifts, inheritances, or donations. They live off their own work.