There are various people who wish to remove Christopher Columbus from our calendar saying that he was a savage, a murderer to the indigent people. They refuse to recognize the magnificent task he accomplished in being the first person who sailed across the Atlantic Ocean. One of his main purposes was to bring Christianity to those he found living on distant shores. Read with me several direct quotes from Christopher Columbus he wrote in letters and journals.
The first island Columbus landed on, he christened San Salvador meaning “Holy Savior.” He knelt and prayed, “O Lord, Almighty and everlasting God, by Thy holy Word Thou hast created heaven, and the earth, and the sea; blessed and glorified be Thy Name, and praised be Thy Majesty, which hath deigned to use us, Thy humble servants, that Thy holy Name may be proclaimed in this second part of the earth.”
As a landed on each island, Columbus had his men erect large wood crosses: “as a token of Jesus Christ our Lord, and in honor of the Christian faith.”
According to Columbus his personal wall and purpose in seeking undiscovered world is to:
-bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the heathens
-bring the Word of God to unknown coastlands.”
As reported by the chief physician on Columbus’ second voyage, he described with disgust their encounter with cannibals. He said that captive women gave birth to infants and the child’s flesh was eaten. They preferred the flesh of men since to them it had a better taste. Human bones were found in their houses showing signs of being gnawed. While on site, tropical diseases were spreading to the colonists recently causing discontent.
Six years after the discovery of the New World, Columbus demonstrated concern for the spiritual welfare of native people. He directed four teachers of the holy theology with the intention to convert to the holy religion all those people in India.
On May 30, 1498, Columbus returned to the New World where he found a new island that he named in honor of the Trinity. He gave it the name Trinidad. The day after Christmas, 1499, he was attacked by Indians causing him to set sail out to sea. He reported that Our Lord aided me, saying, “man of little faith, do not fear, I am with you.”
So, you see, Columbus was a godly Christian man with deep concern for the spiritual well-being of his fellow man. Any criticism leveled against him in our modern era is unjust and worthy of rejection. To those who doubt my position, go to any library and research as I have done. My preferred book is America’s God and Country by William J Federer. In that book you will find many more quotes and details about Columbus and his travels.
