The Bull of the Holy Crusade in New Spain: implementation and implications.

Abstract

During the Colonial period, the Church played a major role in political, economic, and everyday life of the novo-Hispanics. One of the most important internal institutions of the Church was the Holy Crusade. With a tradition of almost five hundred years, it was implemented in New Spain with the purpose of strengthening the Catholic Faith in the New World. Nevertheless, due to frictions with the Crown, its administration was granted to the provincial governors, relegating the clergy its diffusion solely among the parishioners. The passing of the years caused a variety of issues related to the publishing and sale of Bulls.