Nearly 400 years ago, an experiment, unique in the history of Spanish colonization, began in the upper Rio Platte region of South America.  You see, traditionally the conquistadores had been entrusted by the Catholic Church with the task of converting the indigenous tribes of a new region to Christianity.  Often the conquistadores idea of evangelizing was rather forceful and bloody!  But in the Alto Paraná region, consisting of modern day Paraguay, northern Argentina, western Brazil and southern Bolivia, the Jesuits were chosen as the evangelizing wing of the Church and permitted to establish what came to be called the Reductionist Missions.  These are the Missions made famous in the movie, The Mission. 

 

Construction on the earliest Mission began in 1609.  And the philosophy of the Jesuits as they evangelized through their Missions, was reflected in the construction.  Each Mission consisted of a school, a church, living areas for the Indians, and a workshop area.  These Missions were indeed a new concept of social-economic reform, providing living quarters, education and work for the Indians, as they brought the message of Christ.  By 1768, when the Jesuits and their social-economic reform package were ordered out of the region, there were more than 80 Missions evangelizing to the Guaraní Indians! 

 

Two of the finest remaining ruins of the Jesuit Missions are in modern day Paraguay.  Both have been declared Universal Heritage of Mankind sites by UNESCO.

 

One of the Paraguayan sites, Jesus de Tavarangue, has a beautiful church with massive walls reaching to the sky, but no roof.  It is surrounded by the remains of once stately courtyards with commanding views in all directions.  It was started in 1763, just 5 years before the expulsion of the Jesuits.  Thus it is more an incomplete structure than an actual ruin!

 

The other Paraguayan site, Trinidad del Paraná, is one of the most complete ruins in the region.  Construction here began in 1706 and was completed in 1760.  The massive church is surrounded by beautiful corridors that connect to the other ruins, the living quarters, workshops and another smaller church.  Each corridor is framed by arched doorways that exude a life of splendor in the foreboding jungles that covered this land so many years ago. 

 

The contrast as you consider life here and life outside the walls is absolutely incredible!  

 

As the Jesuit social experiment continued, it was found that the Guaraní Indians had a particular talent for the Arts.  Thus, the workshops became artists studios where some truly incredible works were created.  They left behind beautiful wood and stone carvings, as well as paintings.  Their artwork was used for alter pieces as well as statues and decorations.  There are several marvelous museums in some of the small towns of the region exhibiting extremely well preserved examples of the Guaraní artwork. 

 

Again, the relative opulence of the life that was created in the Missions, compared to the struggle of life in the surrounding jungle, strikes me.  The Jesuits provided a social and economic vision and a means of artistic expression.  They provided a means to a relaxed and fulfilling life.  And they provided the message of the Gospel to the Guaraní.   All in all, they certainly had a very appealing package!

 

And as a result, this region, unique in all of the Americas, has a tradition of peaceful coexistence and interrelationship between the European settlers and the indigenous people who had lived on here so very long!