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Um cidadão de Macau pede ao Ministro para fazer o acto de abjuração muçulmana.

Resource type
Title
Um cidadão de Macau pede ao Ministro para fazer o acto de abjuração muçulmana.
Abstract
Petition letter dated 26 February 1820, addressed to Count Pedro de Mello, Plenipotentiary Minister and Envoy of the Portuguese Crown at the Holy See, from Don Filippo Colonna, Rector of the Pious House of the Catechumens in Rome. The document concerns two individuals undergoing religious instruction: Bakxù, a 14-year-old Muslim youth of Macao, China—located within the Portuguese-administered territory under the Province of Guangdong, District of Quanzhou—who seeks baptism and relief from destitution while residing at the institution; and an unnamed 19-year-old Jewish catechumen described as nearly destitute. Colonna requests alms on behalf of both, specifically appealing for clothing previously donated to another convert, referred to as Moro, a Turkish catechumen. The petition underscores the material hardship endured by these converts, particularly Bakxù, who is described as poorly clothed and in fragile health, dependent on minimal sustenance provided by his guardian. The text reflects institutional practices of conversion and charitable support within the Roman Catholic Church during the early 19th century, highlighting transnational religious migration and the role of diplomatic patronage in ecclesiastical welfare. This primary source offers insight into colonial subjecthood, religious conversion, and the socio-economic conditions of foreign converts in papal Rome, as mediated through ecclesiastical authority and diplomatic channels.
Date
1820
Language
Italian
Short Title
Macau citizen asks renunciation from Islam
Archive
Portugal. Arquivo Diplomático e Biblioteca do Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros
Loc. in Archive
Arquivo da Embaixada de Portugal Junto da Santa Sé até 1930
Call Number
33, Maço 7
Extra
Doc.42
Notes

Transcription

Page 1

1820

Lee. Oriente - 442 - Um exercício
de Missões feito ao Ministério
para fazer o acto de obsequio
com os donativos mensalmente-


Page 2

Ecc.mo Signore

1826

Bakxù figlio di Mahomet, e d’Olifetta Conjugì d’anni 14 di Reli-
gione Maumettana nativo del Macao Città della China nella Provincia di
Quanton del Distretto della Città di Quancheu nell’Stabilimenti di Porragallo
Ore umò dell’Eccja V. sponde umilmente, e con tutto il rispetto dovuto
offerì portato in Roma Centro della Cattolica Religione per abjurare e li
suoi errori, e lavarsi con l’acqueracrfante e del S. Battesimo, ed a tal’ef-
fetto ritrovajì nella Pia Casa delli Catecumeni per istruirsi: Il povero
Ore è nelle massime miserie, e quasi nudo di panni, al che s’aggiunge,
che per lo più là ammalato, e ridotto quasi in un cronosifmo: ed il suo
go Dio ove attualmente dimora non le passa altro, che il semplice
vitto; Si rivolge percio il povero Ore all’Eccja V. onde voglia degnarli
con la sua Innata Bondà, e Carità confueta darle, qualche Sufridio
per ricoprire le sue nudità, mentre non mancherà particolarmente il
giorno del S. Battesimo porgerò fervorose Orazioni all’Alteissimo Dide
per la felicità dell’Eccja V. e di tutta la di Lei Eccellentissima
Famiglia

Quam Beyl


Page 3

Eccmo Sigre

Il Rettore de' Catecumeni D. Filippo Colonna, umilmente rappresenta all'Ecc.
Vra avere attualmente fra li Catecumeni un povero Ebreo di anni 19. mist
rabilissimo, e quasi affatto spoliatò. S'avanza pertanto a supplicare l'Ee
Vra di voler concedere a questo povero Catecumeno quei panni, che la sua
gran Carità, e Bontà fece già al finto Turco Catecumeno Moro così rico
nosciuto d'opera, e virtù dell'Eccza Vra. Che ès.


Page 4

A Sua Eccellenza
Il Sig. Comt. Pietro De Mello
Ministro Plenipotenziario ed Invia
di S.M.T. presso la Santa Sede

Die 26. Februarii 1820.

Tastor de bonis honestis, moribus, nec nondum
gravisima, et extrema paupertate B.
veritatum in precibus exponentis, pro
deg. maxima commiseratione, at aux
lio digni. In grumisfident
Philippus Colonna Rector
Catechumenorum.

Memoriale inutile di Lorenzo
Puel confessor de rumentante
L'incultura, come peditoria

Per
Il Catecumeno Baxxi nativo
Del Naccavo

Translation

Page 1

1820 Lee.


Page 2

--- TRANSLATION ---
Most Reverend Lord,

In 1826, Bakxù, son of Mahomet and Olifetta Conjugì, aged 14, of the Muslim religion, native to Macao, a city in China within the Province of Guangdong, District of Quanzhou, under the Portuguese establishments, humbly and with all due respect petitions Your Excellency. He has come to Rome, the centre of the Catholic faith, to abjure his former errors, to be cleansed through the waters of baptism, and to receive the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. For this purpose, he is currently residing at the Pious House of the Catechumens for instruction.

The poor youth suffers extreme destitution, is nearly naked, and, moreover, is frequently unwell, reduced almost to a state of chronic debility. His present guardian provides him with no more than basic sustenance.

Therefore, the said youth, Ore, turns to Your Excellency, imploring that, by virtue of your innate kindness and habitual charity, you may deign to grant him some small alms to cover his nakedness. In return, he promises especially on the day of his Holy Baptism to offer fervent prayers to the Most High God for the well-being and happiness of Your Excellency.


Page 3

The Most Reverend Sir, Don Filippo Colonna, Rector of the Catechumens, humbly submits to Your Excellency that there is currently among the catechumens a poor Jewish youth of nineteen years of age, in a most pitiable condition and almost entirely destitute. He therefore respectfully petitions Your Excellency to grant this poor catechumen the garments which Your great Charity and Benevolence previously bestowed upon the pretended Turkish catechumen, Moro, duly recognised through the intervention and merits of Your Excellency. Such is the case.


Page 4

To His Excellency, the Honourable Count Pedro de Mello, Plenipotentiary Minister and Envoy of His Most Faithful Majesty at the Holy See.

Rome, 26 February 1820.

Tastor, a man of good character and upright conduct, not yet reduced to the most severe and extreme poverty, but nevertheless deserving of great compassion and assistance in his petitions regarding matters of faith.

Signed by: Philippus Colonna, Rector of the Catechumens.

Citation
Um cidadão de Macau pede ao Ministro para fazer o acto de abjuração muçulmana. (Arquivo da Embaixada de Portugal Junto da Santa Sé até 1930). (1820). Portugal. Arquivo Diplomático e Biblioteca do Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros. http://localhost:8000/docs/4G23HD9Z/viewer_4G23HD9Z.html