Juan Pérez (friar) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Juan Pérez |
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| O.F.M. Conv. | |
Father Perez Blesses Columbus Before He Embarks by Luigi Gregori, c. 1883 (Columbus murals at the University of Notre Dame)
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| Personal details | |
| Died | c. 1513 |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
Juan Pérez, O.F.M. Conv., was a Spanish friar, a type of religious brother, from the Conventual Franciscans. He was a close friend and helper of Christopher Columbus. Pérez died sometime before the year 1513.
Contents
Who Was Juan Pérez?
His Early Life and Role
Juan Pérez was born into a noble family in Spain. At one point, he worked as a contador, which means an accountant, for the Queen of Spain. Later, he decided to join the Franciscan Order.
Queen Isabella I of Castile even chose him to be her confessor. A confessor is a priest who listens to someone's confessions and offers spiritual guidance. However, Pérez found life at court too busy. He asked for permission to go back to his friary, a place where friars live.
Soon after, he became the guardian of the friary in La Rábida. This friary was located near Palos in Andalusia, Spain.
Helping Christopher Columbus
Around 1484 or 1485, Christopher Columbus met Juan Pérez at the La Rábida friary. Another friar named Antonio de Marchena also lived there. Marchena was a cosmographer, someone who studies and maps the universe. Both Pérez and Marchena were very interested in Columbus's idea of finding a new route to the East by sailing west.
Many people thought Columbus's plan was impossible. However, Columbus later wrote that only two friars always believed in him. These friars were Juan Pérez and Diego de Deza, a Dominican friar.
It was Juan Pérez who convinced Columbus not to give up on Spain. Columbus had become tired and discouraged. He was even thinking about offering his plan to the King of France. Pérez urged him to talk to Queen Isabella one more time.
At the Queen's invitation, Pérez traveled to Santa Fe to speak with her in person. Because of this meeting, Columbus was called back. With the help of important people like Cardinal Mendoza, Columbus's demands were finally agreed upon.
The Journey to the New World
On August 3, 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail on his ship, the Santa María. Before he left, Juan Pérez blessed Columbus and his fleet of ships.
Some writers believe that Pérez went with Columbus on his first voyage. However, Columbus did not mention this, so it is unlikely. It seems more certain that Pérez joined Columbus on his second voyage in 1493.
When the second expedition reached Hispaniola, Pérez held the first Mass in the New World. This happened on December 8, 1493, at Point Conception. He celebrated it in a temporary building, which was the first church in America. Pérez also kept the Blessed Sacrament there.
He later became the guardian of the first friary that Columbus ordered to be built in Santo Domingo. After this, we lose track of Juan Pérez. It is not known if he returned to La Rábida or if he died in America. We only know that by 1513, he had passed away.
See also
In Spanish: Juan Pérez (fraile) para niños
