Franciscan Missions to China and the Czech Crown Lands (from the 16th Century to the 18th Century)

Abstract

The article examines the Franciscan missions in China in modern times, with a specific focus on the members of the Bohemian Franciscan Province. The 16th and 17th centuries were periods of significant success for Roman Catholic missions, including the Franciscans. These two centuries differ from the preceding period, as evidenced in the radical changes that took place in relation to the organization of missions and their relationship with their European bases. The world was divided into areas under the Portuguese  padroado and areas under the Spanish  patronato. The system was later completed by the establishment of the  Sacra Congregatio de Propaganda Fide, under the auspices of the Roman Curia. The beginning of the Catholic missions to China dates to the second half of the 16th century, but the real flowering of the missions began with the participation of the new missionaries coming to China after the 1680s. The Chinese Rites controversy in the 17th and 18th centuries was one of the factors which led to the prohibition of Christianity and the expulsion of Catholic missionaries from China. Nevertheless, some missionaries were illegally active in China from 1724 onwards. Among the Franciscan missionaries to China there were four friars from the Czech Crown lands, who were working in China during the time of the illegal missions. They were among the most important representatives of the Franciscan missions in China, along with their Italian confreres.