Kerigma: preguntas teóricas en torno a la primera evangelización de América (Antillas, 1510-Nueva España, 1524)

Abstract

This article aims to develop a theoretical reflection on the nature of the first announcement of Christianity in America, based on an analysis of the cycles of early evangelization in the Antilles and New Spain. For this purpose, it proposes the use of the theological concept kerygma in order to highlight a phase of the missionary project that would constitute the cutting edge of the struggle between the new faith and the old local cults. Taking kerygma as its starting point, this study deals with Pedro de Córdoba’s Christian Doctrine for the Instruction and Information of the Indians (1510-1521) and the Colloquia of the Twelve Apostles (1524) recorded by Bernardo de Sahagún, as foundational works in the cycles of evangelization in the Antilles and New Spain, and simultaneously, the transformation of the first forms of preaching in each territory into texts. It concludes that the characteristics of the missionary challenge in the Americas involved the need to establish a pre-catechetical and pre-Christological basis, as the cutting edge of evangelization in each missionary experience analyzed.

Keywords

• Catholicism (Thesaurus); Antilles
• New Spain
• evangelization
• missions
• 16th century (author’s keywords)