Thursday, February 9, 2023

It is the 9th of February 2023. Welcome to the Christian History Almanac brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org. I’m Dan van Voorhis.

Quick quiz: how many countries in Asia are predominantly Christian (at least according to the census)? I’ve heard everything from 1 to 5. Of course, Russia, Armenia, and Cyprus can be counted as Asian- so maybe we say “East” or Southeast” Asian. In that case, technically, there are 2. One is on the small island of Timor- the portion known as East Timor. But when we are talking about the majority of Christian countries in East Asia, we usually have one in mind- the archipelago of some 7,000 islands we call the Philippines.

And why is it called the Philippines? King Philip II of Spain, one of the monarchs in the 16th century, was obsessed with the foreign territory. Ferdinand Magellan's expedition would land on these islands and see a mass baptism. Later in the century, other missionaries would find fertile ground in the Islands and seemed content to blend local customs and elements of the native religion with Christianity.

And, of course, many stories of exotic locales and Christianity in this era surround the famous and infamous Jesuit order. The Jesuits were active in the Philippines until 1768, when the order was called out from the Island nation- this was part of the larger suppression of the Jesuits as they were seen as too independent, too powerful, and too tied to Rome. So the Philippines had to raise up church workers to help fill that void. One of the more famous Christian Filipinos was Jose Burgos, born on the 9th of February in 1837. He was born to a Spanish lieutenant and a native woman, Florencia. His father would die soon after he was born. He was educated at first by his mother and then, showing a learning capacity, would go on to earn: a Bachelor of Philosophy in 1855, Bachelor of Theology in 1859, Licentiate in Philosophy in 1860, Licentiate in Theology in 1862, and Doctor of Theology and Doctor of Canon Law in 1868.

But it was in the midst of this, and his service at the University Cathedral of Manilla, that the suppression of the Jesuits was lifted, and Jesuits were sent back to the Philippines where they took Archbishoprics in Manila away from native priests. Burgos stated that “that the Faith could not remain strong and vigorous and rest on solid permanent foundations unless the Church counted with the aid of trained and competent native priesthood.” In 1864 he wrote a defense of the Philippine clergy, and then in 1871 wrote a letter entitled “To the Spanish People” this would be a landmark event for the coming revolution as Burgos attacked the excesses of the Spanish church and its control over the native Catholic population. It was around this time that he joined the Comite Reformador. He and two other priests- Gomez and Zamora led the call to religious reform, and a mashup of their names, “Gomburza” became a password and slogan amongst the nationalists calling for independence.

Early the following year, 1872, the Cavite Mutiny took place- an uprising of nationalists at an armory that led to the swift killing of the radicals. This would, however, embolden the native population against the Spanish. The three radical priests were charged with sedition and with inciting the mutiny. They were tried and condemned to die.

His last official statement was to the people of the Philippines to learn about the pre-colonial history of the Islands, to become educated, and then pass on that to the younger generations. This was certainly more in the nationalist vein, but his reported last words were when the executioner came to him and bowed in front of him (all three priests kept their priestly garb on). The executioner said "“Father, forgive me, for I’m going to kill you.” And Burgos replied, “I forgive you, my son. I know you are but complying with your duty.” The execution came on February 17th, 1872. Born on this day in 1837, Jose Burgos was only 35 years old.

The last word for today comes from the daily lectionary from the book of James- a short reading but apropos for the story of Jose Burgos:

12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

This has been the Christian History Almanac for the 9th of February 2023, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org.

The show is produced by a man who is always suspicious of the Jesuits. He told me something about the Titanic once…. Weird. He is Christopher Gillespie.

The show is written and read by a man who recommends making an adobo- or marinade Filipino style with soy sauce and vinegar- I’m Dan van Voorhis.

You can catch us here every day- and remember that the rumors of grace, forgiveness, and the redemption of all things are true…. Everything is going to be ok.