On October 12, 1492 Christopher Columbus landed in the Bahamas. While other explorers had previously set foot in the Americas, this encounter with the New World would begin a new chapter in history.
Christopher Columbus set out from Spain with the goal of finding new westward trading route to the Far East, establish trading relations with China, India and Japan. He hoped his voyages would fund a new crusade to the Holy Land.
Having a missionary spirit, Columbus also wanted to to introduce the Christian religion to the East, with the hopes of saving souls.
A devout Catholic, Columbus was often described as a pious man. He had a passion for spreading Christianity and was a member of the Third Order of St. Francis, which had a heavy influence on his life.
Columbus’ dedication to his faith can be seen in the names of his ships. The Nina was the nickname for a ship named after St. Clare, and the Santa Maria was dedicated to the Blessed Mother’s Immaculate Conception.
Seeing his exploration as a spiritual mission to share the Gospel and the teaching of the Catholic Church with the people of the New World, he even named his first few landing places after Jesus, the Holy Trinity, and the Nativity.
Christianity spread throughout the Americas after Columbus arrived. His four voyages over 11 years brought missionaries to the New World and the first Catholic Mass in the Americas was offered on January 6, 1494, during his second voyage.
Americans have been inspired by Columbus’ accomplishments which eventually lead to the founding of the United States of America, whose national capital is derived from his name.
Christopher Columbus was the first Catholic to be honored with a national holiday in the United States. Columbus Day was originally celebrated on October 12, but is now celebrated on the second Monday of October every year.
A voyage that changed the world:
For I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to lead the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum I have finished preaching the Gospel of Christ. Thus I aspire to proclaim the Gospel not where Christ has already been named, so that I do not build on another’s foundation, but as it is written: “Those who have never been told of Him shall see, and those who have never heard of Him shall understand.”
Romans 15: 18-21
Columbus was motivated by his Catholic faith:
A voyager inspired by his religion:
An explorer with a missionary spirit:
For we have the record of not a few brave and experienced men, both before and after Christopher Columbus, who with stubbornness and zeal explored unknown lands and seas yet more unknown. And the memory of these, man, mindful of benefits, rightly holds, and will hold in honour; because they advanced the ends of knowledge and humanity, and increased the common prosperity of the race, not by light labour, but by supreme exertion, often accompanied by great dangers. But there is, nevertheless, between these and him of whom we speak, a generous difference. He was distinguished by this unique note, that in his work of traversing and retraversing immense tracts of ocean, he looked for a something greater and higher than did these others. We say not that he was unmoved by perfectly honourable aspirations after knowledge, and deserving well of human society; nor did he despise glory, which is a most engrossing ideal to great souls; nor did he altogether scorn a hope of advantages to himself; but to him far before all these human considerations was the consideration of his ancient faith, which questionless dowered him with strength of mind and will, and often strengthened and consoled him in the midst of the greatest difficulties. This view and aim is known to have possessed his mind above all; namely, to open a way for the Gospel over new lands and seas.
Pope Leo XIII, Quarto Abeunte Saeculo, 16 July 1892
Celebrating the spread of the faith on Columbus Day:
Catholics should be in a permanent state of mission:
Secondly, the Church is catholic because she has been sent out by Christ on a mission to the whole of the human race: All men are called to belong to the new People of God. This People, therefore, while remaining one and only one, is to be spread throughout the whole world and to all ages in order that the design of God’s will may be fulfilled: he made human nature one in the beginning and has decreed that all his children who were scattered should be finally gathered together as one…. the character of universality which adorns the People of God is a gift from the Lord himself whereby the Catholic Church ceaselessly and efficaciously seeks for the return of all humanity and all its goods, under Christ the Head in the unity of his Spirit.
Catechism of the Catholic Church 831
