So a basic primer in colonization of the New World by the Spanish (a model much emulated but never done quite so effectively):
- Help fund the rapacious conquerors (conquistadors), mercenaries, and warriors who were adventurous enough and who would not scruple at plundering the riches and resources they found, raping and pillaging the people, destroying communities, and killing anyone who resisted their invasion. This funding was in exchange for nominally claiming the area in the name of Spain.
- Then send in missionaries to set up centers for Christian teaching (and colonial outposts). Call them missions while simultaneously fortifying them.
- In the “Name of Christ” give natives a choice to convert or die.
- Conscript the natives into servitude–either as part of the Spanish military forces or as slaves to the Spanish living in the conquered land.
- Rewrite history to speak of the entire enterprise as bringing the Light and Salvation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who had previously had lived in darkness.
- Send priests and bishops from Spain to help provide guidance (i.e., governance) for the conquered.
Today’s Saint Toribio was Spanish and a particular, long-term favorite of King Philip II. He was a layman, who had proved his utterly loyalty to the King. Who better to make archbishop of the territory in Peru that Spain had conquered?! Yup, from zero to sixty in no time at all–layman to archbishop! This unanimous choice of the Spanish court protested that he was not qualified for such an undertaking, so to mollify Toribio, the church leaders had him practice for four weeks before being sent by boat to Lima, Peru.
Butler tries hard, but the best he came up with for Toribio’s qualifications for archbishop was that, as a child, Toribio liked to build altars and make them fancy-looking. And the best the Butler came up with for Toribo’s qualifications for sainthood is that, after arriving in Peru, Toribo managed to squelch dissension and that “made that kingdom (Peru) a flourishing portion of the Christian Church.”
Mission accomplished.