Leonardo Da Rocha Essay

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The Portuguese Jesuit João da Rocha (1565-1623) was born in Lamego and ordained at the age of 18 years in Coimbra Novitiate on 22 February 1583. While he was still a novice, Rocha requested several times to join the missions in the East. His request was finally granted and he initiated his missionary journey in 1586. After arriving at Goa, he studied philosophy and later, in Macao, proceeded his studies in theology. Around 1598, Rocha finally departed to join the China mission, where he spent the rest of his life contributing significantly to the growth of the missions in Shaoguan, Nanchang, Nanjing, and in Hangzhou, where he died in 1623 after serving in the China mission for 25 years. (Catalogus Patrum Societas Jesu, Qui Post Obitum S. Francisci Xaverii Primo Saeculo, Sive Ab Anno 1581. Usque Ad 1681, in Imperio Sinarum Jesu-Christi Fidem Propagarunt 1686, 8-9; Machado 1741, 736) When he arrived in Nanjing around 1598 he was received by Matteo Ricci and Xu Guangqi, a Chinese scholar-bureaucrat, astronomer, and mathematician who accepted baptism becoming known as Paul. Apparently, the above-mentioned sources state that Rocha's influence led to Xu Guangqi's baptism in 1603. …show more content…

The Jesuit missions were progressing well during the first decade of the seventeenth century with a significant circulation of Chinese Christian texts and books of western knowledge, despite a certain level of opposition and criticism to Chinese religious traditions usually found in these texts. Imperial favour to the Jesuits' activities in China was demonstrated by permission granted by Wanli Emperor to get a burial site and a funerary eulogy for Matteo Ricci in

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