Luis Ore Peruvian cleric and missionary Country: Peru

1. Biography of Luis Ore
2. Early Life and Religious Calling
3. Missionary Work and Publications
4. Archbishop of Chile

Biography of Luis Ore

Luis Ore, a Peruvian priest and missionary, was born into a noble family in Peru. His father, Don Antonio de Ore-Rio, was originally from the Canary Islands and was involved in the Conquest. His mother, Luisa Dias Rojas, came from a prominent family in the Asangaro province of Peru.

Early Life and Religious Calling

Ore spent his childhood in the village of Canaria, which was founded by his father and populated by indigenous people who spoke Quechua and Aymara. During this time, Ore witnessed the religious movement known as Taki Onqoy, which had a significant impact on his spiritual development. The family later moved to Huamanguilla (now Ayacucho), where Ore's father received an encomienda.

All nine of Ore's siblings expressed a desire to devote themselves to religious life. Four of his brothers became Franciscan friars, while five of his sisters became nuns at the Santa Clara Monastery. Ore's father, who constructed the monastery, personally taught his sons Latin. In 1571, he was appointed as the corregidor of Huamanga. The family eventually relocated to Lima, where Ore participated in the editing of catechetical texts approved by the local council, including the Catecismo para instrucción de los indios.

Missionary Work and Publications

In 1598, Ore published his most significant work, Symbolo Catholico Indiano, which was simultaneously released in Spanish, Latin, Quechua, and Aymara. This catechetical work facilitated the mission work among the indigenous people who had limited knowledge of the Spanish language. Ore also emphasized the importance of music in his activities, considering it an effective means of communication and even incorporating indigenous polyphony.

In the early 17th century, Ore embarked on a journey to Europe. In Naples, he published his treatise Rituale seu Manuale Peruanorum in 1607, which served as an initial guide for missionaries heading to Peru. In Europe, Ore recruited supporters for the spiritual conquest of Florida, where he was appointed as the provincial of the Franciscan order. However, he was not successful in this position. Around 1612, Ore met the Inca historian Garcilaso de la Vega in Cordova. In 1617, he published the treatise Relación de los mártires que ha avido en las provincias de la Florida.

Archbishop of Chile

In 1620, Ore was appointed as the Archbishop of Chile, but he initially returned to Lima and only arrived in his diocese in 1623. He felt it was his duty to visit all the parishes in his diocese and spent about a year among the Araucanian people on the Chiloé archipelago. Upon his return, he wrote a letter to King Philip IV, suggesting that trained missionaries, rather than conquistadors, should be sent to convert the indigenous people. From 1625 to 1626, Ore participated in the Second Provincial Council of the Chilean Diocese in Concepción, where issues regarding the competence of the clergy and missionary education were discussed. He passed away in Chile on January 30, 1630.