The global perspective of this work can be measured in the array of sources, in Chinese, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Latin, apart from the historiographical literature in French and English a linguistic achievement that deserves to be praised… As for the methodological and historical framework, A. Hosne’s book is a precious contribution to a connected history of the Catholic missions. She eloquently proves the enormous potential of this path that undoubtedly deserves to be pursued in future works.
Wu Huiyi, Annales.
The author’s spirit of synthesis, which never gives in to the temptation of unnecessary displays of a clear erudition, needs to be celebrated. Thus, this book, in its effort to put in perspective the two locations under consideration, is grounded on a deep and thorough knowledge of the Andean context and the Chinese context, of Acosta’s works and Ricci’s works, and the situation of the missions when the two missionaries’ respective catechisms were published. It also proposes multiple references – always accurate and pertinent – to the secondary literature, even the most recent. The book’s numerous, and usually short, sections, allow readers to quickly find the information of their interest.
Matthiew Bernhardt, Archivum Historicum Societatis Iesu.
Newcomers to the subject will appreciate the care with which Hosne introduces her material. In the first three chapters, we find brief biographies of Ricci and Acosta, and introductions to the history of the Society’s missionary work in China and Peru. Hosne draws an important contrast between the strategy of “Hispanization” that characterized the Peru mission, where Spanish rule sought to “civilize” the indigenous inhabitants of the Andes as well as make Christians of them, and the strategy of “accommodation” characteristic of the mission in China, where the Jesuits tried to adapt Christian teaching for a people whose culture they had no hope of changing.
Ricardo Padrón, Journal of Jesuit Studies.
The global perspective of this work can be measured in the array of sources, in Chinese, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Latin, apart from the historiographical literature in French and English a linguistic achievement that deserves to be praised… As for the methodological and historical framework, A. Hosne’s book is a precious contribution to a connected history of the Catholic missions. She eloquently proves the enormous potential of this path that undoubtedly deserves to be pursued in future works.
Wu Huiyi, Annales.
The author’s spirit of synthesis, which never gives in to the temptation of unnecessary displays of a clear erudition, needs to be celebrated. Thus, this book, in its effort to put in perspective the two locations under consideration, is grounded on a deep and thorough knowledge of the Andean context and the Chinese context, of Acosta’s works and Ricci’s works, and the situation of the missions when the two missionaries’ respective catechisms were published. It also proposes multiple references – always accurate and pertinent – to the secondary literature, even the most recent. The book’s numerous, and usually short, sections, allow readers to quickly find the information of their interest.
Matthiew Bernhardt, Archivum Historicum Societatis Iesu.
Newcomers to the subject will appreciate the care with which Hosne introduces her material. In the first three chapters, we find brief biographies of Ricci and Acosta, and introductions to the history of the Society’s missionary work in China and Peru. Hosne draws an important contrast between the strategy of “Hispanization” that characterized the Peru mission, where Spanish rule sought to “civilize” the indigenous inhabitants of the Andes as well as make Christians of them, and the strategy of “accommodation” characteristic of the mission in China, where the Jesuits tried to adapt Christian teaching for a people whose culture they had no hope of changing.
Ricardo Padrón, Journal of Jesuit Studies.
