Father José Trinidad Reyes y Sevilla (June 11, 1797 – September 20, 1855) was a
Honduran priest who founded the
National Autonomous University of Honduras
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, formerly called "" ('The Society of the Enterprising Genius and Good Taste'). He advocated against poverty by assisting the poor and supporting their right to education on matters of faith, culture and science.
He wrote several theatrical
pastorela
The ''pastorela'' (, "little/young shepherdess") was an Occitan lyric genre used by the troubadours. It gave rise to the Old French ''pastourelle
The pastourelle (; also ''pastorelle'', ''pastorella'', or ''pastorita'' is a typically Old Fre ...
s. These works established a base for the subsequent appearance of
theatre
Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage. The perform ...
in Honduras. Father Reyes presented these pastorelas in
Tegucigalpa's churches. One song he wrote was "" ('Our Christmas'), which over time has turned into a classic of Honduran contemporary theatre due to its harmonious mixing of different traditions that take place during Christmas in Honduras.
Reyes was a polemicist in favor of women's rights. His stance is reflected in his
pastorela
The ''pastorela'' (, "little/young shepherdess") was an Occitan lyric genre used by the troubadours. It gave rise to the Old French ''pastourelle
The pastourelle (; also ''pastorelle'', ''pastorella'', or ''pastorita'' is a typically Old Fre ...
s, which features strong female characters in many of his work. His most celebrated document, a feminist manifesto, appeared under the pseudonym of Sofía Seyers. In it, Reyes pleads for women to be given the right to basic education. Many ideas expressed by Reyes in this article were inspired by the ideas of the women of the
French Revolution
The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in coup of 18 Brumaire, November 1799. Many of its ...
, influencing many perspectives on the French Revolution. Reyes was influenced by ideas from
The Enlightenment
The Age of Enlightenment or the Enlightenment; german: Aufklärung, "Enlightenment"; it, L'Illuminismo, "Enlightenment"; pl, Oświecenie, "Enlightenment"; pt, Iluminismo, "Enlightenment"; es, La Ilustración, "Enlightenment" was an intel ...
,
Humanism
Humanism is a philosophy, philosophical stance that emphasizes the individual and social potential and Agency (philosophy), agency of Human, human beings. It considers human beings the starting point for serious moral and philosophical in ...
and
Religious Art
Religious art is artistic imagery using religious inspiration and motifs and is often intended to uplift the mind to the spiritual. Sacred art involves the ritual and cultic practices and practical and operative aspects of the path of the spiritu ...
.
Reyes was convinced of the importance of the arts, especially in theatre, as an instrument to civilize and bring progress to nations. During his life in Tegucigalpa he fought against political fanaticism and religious superstition.
Biography
José Trinidad Reyes was born to music teacher Felipe Santiago de Reyes and María Francisca Sevilla in San Miguel County,
Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa (, , ), formally Tegucigalpa, Municipality of the Central District ( es, Tegucigalpa, Municipio del Distrito Central or ''Tegucigalpa, M.D.C.''), and colloquially referred to as ''Tegus'' or ''Teguz'', is the capital and largest city ...
. He was baptized on June 14 of same year, at three days old, by the Reverend Father Fray Nicolás Hermosilla.
In 1804, he entered a private school in Tegucigalpa where he was taught reading and teaching of the Catholic faith by Miss Góme. In 1812, at age 15, he learned
Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...
. He took music classes from Friar Juan Altamiran, of the convent "Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes", and learned to draw from Mr. Rafael U. Martínez, a Guatemalan painter located in Honduras.
On June 20, 1815, in order to continue his studies, Reyes left Tegucigalpa for
León, Nicaragua under the guard of a farmworker named Miguel Alvarez. He was accompanied by devotees who were on pilgrimage to the town of El Viejo. In León, he earned a bachelor's degree in
Philosophy,
Theology
Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the ...
and
Canon Law
Canon law (from grc, κανών, , a 'straight measuring rod, ruler') is a set of ordinances and regulations made by ecclesiastical authority (church leadership) for the government of a Christian organization or church and its members. It is th ...
, and perfected his knowledge of music by getting a job as assistant of the Kapellmeister of León's cathedral. In 1819, he joined the ('Convent of the Recoletos of León') as a novice, and later became a
Subdeacon of that convent.
Diaconate and priesthood
In 1825, he began his religious profession as
deacon
A deacon is a member of the diaconate, an office in Christian churches that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions. Major Christian churches, such as the Catholic Chur ...
and
priest
A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in partic ...
, receiving
orders from the bishop of the city, Garcia Jerez.
In 1825, due to the civil war unleashed in
Nicaragua
Nicaragua (; ), officially the Republic of Nicaragua (), is the largest country in Central America, bordered by Honduras to the north, the Caribbean to the east, Costa Rica to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Managua is the countr ...
, the Recoletos were expelled and saw themselves forced to go to
Guatemala. There, Reyes studied the Greek and Latin classics, works of the Spanish dramatists
Lope de Vega and
Calderón de la Barca, and read some theatrical pieces from
México
Mexico ( Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatem ...
, especially from
Oaxaca
Oaxaca ( , also , , from nci, Huāxyacac ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Oaxaca ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca), is one of the 32 states that compose the political divisions of Mexico, Federative Entities of Mexico. It is ...
and
Chiapas. He finished his humanist and religious education in Guatemala.
In 1828, with permission from his superiors, Reyes returned to Honduras to spend time with his family. He passed through the town of
Chiquimula
Chiquimula is a city in Guatemala. It is the capital of the department of Chiquimula and the municipal seat for the surrounding municipality of the same name.
It is located some 174 km from Guatemala City and within Guatemala known as "La p ...
and stopped in
Esquinpulas, where it is said that he lost his sight for a few days. On the afternoon of July 13, he arrived to the nearby town "" ('The Conception') —or
Comayagüela— and at next day celebrated his first mass in the church of "La Concepción".
After that, Reyes was installed in the vacant convent of "", located in Tegucigalpa. According to his biographer
Ramón Rosa, that would be his habitual dwelling until his death.
In 1830, Trinidad Reyes wrote in verse a birthday felicitation to General
Francisco Morazán
José Francisco Morazán Quesada (; born October 3, 1792 – September 15, 1842) was a Central American politician who served as president of the Federal Republic of Central America from 1830 to 1839. Before he was president of Central America h ...
, president of the
Federal Republic of Central America
The Federal Republic of Central America ( es, República Federal de Centroamérica), originally named the United Provinces of Central America ( es, Provincias Unidas del Centro de América), and sometimes simply called Central America, in it ...
.
In 1835, he rebuilt the chapel of the temple in "La Merced" and the temples in "San Francisco" and "El Calvario". He also built the small temples in "Las Casitas", the temple "Soraguara" and "Suyapa", since then famous for its little virgin. He also helped to Mr. Antonio Tranquilino de la Rosa in the reparation of the Parochial Church of Tegucigalpa, which was in ruins due to land tremors at 1809.
In February 1837, Reyes pronounced a praise sermon to mark the restoration of Parochial Church of Tegucigalpa, where he opened his Mass called "El Tancredo". The same year, he contracted Asian cholera during his work helping victims, and barely survived after being "between life and death", according to Ramón Rosa.
In 1838, he wrote his "Second Pastorela" ''Micol'', dedicated to Misses Juana y Rafaela Robelo. Previously had written ''Noemí'' that, according to his biographers, is his earliest work, written between 1828 and this year.
In 1840, Reyes wrote an
Auto Sacramental divided into three acts: ''Adoración a los Santos Reyes Magos'', literally translated: ''Adoration to the Three Magician Kings'', so called the
Wise Men.
In 1841, he opened his pastorela ''Micol'' in Tegucigalpa.
In 1842, Reyes was nominated in the list of candidates to occupy the Honduras' church diocese. He appointed the presbyter Mr. Francisco de Paula Campoy y Pérez, who had been Vicar Departmental of Gracias. However, Dr. Ramón Rosa claims Father Reyes was appointed as Honduras'
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution.
In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is c ...
by Gregory XVI. In 1845, he traveled to city Comayagua, where traded the recently consecrated Honduras' Bishop, Campoy y Pérez. Ramón Rosa declares that Reyes was there as detained by orders of General
Francisco Ferrera.
On December 14 of that year, he installed himself at the Government House, the "Society of the Enterprising Genius and Good Taste", where he later founded the Honduras Autonomous University. As a rector of the university, Reyes gave an eloquent opening speech, whose text was recorded by Esteban Guardiola in his ''History of the University of Honduras''.
In 1846, he went to Comayagua, and on May 23, wrote his ''Elegy to General Mr. Francisco Ferrera'', on the death of his son Fulgencio. This composition shows, relatively, that he did not have enmity with General Francisco Ferrera, but the contrary, a familiarity.
In June 1847, he returned to Tegucigalpa due to his mother's death.
On September 19, Trinidad Reyes opened the Honduras' University, chairing the event with the chief of state Mr
Juan Lindo
Juan Nepomuceno Fernández Lindo y Zelaya (generally known as Juan Lindo) (16 May 1790, Tegucigalpa, Honduras – 23 April 1857, Gracias, Honduras) was a Conservative Central American politician, provisional president of the Republic of El Sa ...
and Bishop Campoy y Perez. That year, he organized the first Honduras' library called "Library of the Academy", and made first operational print of the Honduran country, the "Print of the Academy", which was brought by General
Francisco Morazán
José Francisco Morazán Quesada (; born October 3, 1792 – September 15, 1842) was a Central American politician who served as president of the Federal Republic of Central America from 1830 to 1839. Before he was president of Central America h ...
in 1829.
Reyes brought the first piano to the city Tegucigalpa, believed to have formerly been in the municipality
Ojojona
Ojojona is a municipality in the Honduran department of Francisco Morazán, located 34 km south of Tegucigalpa. The town is one of the many touristic places of near the capital of Honduras, Tegucigalpa. It is also the place of birth of nota ...
, property of the Díaz Zelaya family by his biographers.
This same year he wrote one of his acquaintances ''When...'', satirical compositions and filled of family humour. To these, only three numbers were conserved, written in tenths octosyllabic and ending with the exclamation "when".
On February 9, 1848, Reyes wrote his well-known "''Invitation to stroll to the lake''" to the society of Tegucigalpa, made by petition of students.
In 1849, his father died, due to mental illness.
On April 16 of 1850, Reyes wrote his poem ''Honduras'', which has six octaves in ten syllables and is dedicated to the generals
Gerardo Barrios
José Gerardo Barrios Espinoza (24 September 1813 – 29 August 1865) was a liberal Salvadoran military general and politician who served as President of El Salvador
The president of El Salvador ( es, Presidente de El Salvador), officially ...
and
Trinidad Cabañas, and all soldiers, officers and chiefs of
El Salvador and
Honduras.
On September 29 of the same year, he wrote his poem "''To the independence"'', which consists of seven octaves in ten syllables, and a quartet as the
epigraph.
On February 2, 1851, the
Candlemas Day
Candlemas (also spelled Candlemass), also known as the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus Christ, the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or the Feast of the Holy Encounter, is a Christian holiday commemorating the presenta ...
, he opened with his pastorela ''Elisa'', dedicated to the Juana and Jerónima Godoy. By then he had written and presented his pastorelas: ''Neftalia, Selfa'' y ''Rubenia''. The first was dedicated to María and Isidora Reyes, who did the role of Séfora. The other two pastorelas were dedicated to Manuela Vega, Juana Velásquez and Maclovia Bonilla.
He also wrote his pastorela ''Albano'', which he dedicated to Raimunda Milla, and although it was rehearsed, it was never performed due to threatened violence over the appearing of political figures, according
Ramón Rosa.
On September 15, 1852, he presented his Political-Religious Discourse at the opening of Central American Congress, in Tegucigalpa. On October 10, he wrote and issued his ''Octaves to the deputies of the National Constituent Congress''.
On September 10, 1853, he wrote ''Canto Elegíaco'', on the death of Bishop Mt.
Jorge Viteri y Ungo.
In early 1855, Reyes had a stomach illness and was treated by the doctors Mr. Máximo Soto and Mr. Hipólito Matute. This year he published his '' Elementary Lessons of Physics'', which in March, with the Printer of Academy, became a study book for the youth of the time.
Before June, he traveled to the city Comayagua, to visit the bishop, Hipólito Casiano Flores, who had come to consecrate himself from
El Salvador, and who he accompanied on his first Pontifical Mass, according to
Ramón Rosa.
In his final year, he wrote his most poetically successful pastorela, ''Olympia'', named probably by inspiration of the French feminist
Olympe de Gouges
Olympe de Gouges (; born Marie Gouze; 7 May 17483 November 1793) was a French playwright and political activist whose writings on women's rights and abolitionism reached a large audience in various countries. She began her career as a playwright ...
, murdered by her struggle for equality between men and women. This work was dedicated to a young lady, Trinidad Boquín.
He retired to the country, to the neighboring village of Soroguara, to recover his health, and returned in late August to Tegucigalpa, where, he was on his deathbed until his death on September 20 at 10am, surrounded by his disciples and families in the room now occupied by the National Archive. His remains are buried in the Parish Church.
Literary criticism
Rubén Darío
Félix Rubén García Sarmiento (January 18, 1867 – February 6, 1916), known as Rubén Darío ( , ), was a Nicaraguan poet who initiated the Spanish-language literary movement known as ''modernismo'' (modernism) that flourished at the end of ...
said of Father Reyes: "This was a simple poet, though sometimes he took flight with the audacity of a magnificent inspiration. His main works were made to be sung or performed."
Notes and references
References
Sources
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Reyes, Jose Trinidad
1797 births
1855 deaths