Alessandro Valignano - Education and Commission

Education and Commission

Valignano was born in Chieti, then part of the Kingdom of Naples a part of the Spanish Monarchy.

He excelled as a student at the University of Padua, where he studied Christian theology. Valignano's insights into Christian message convinced many within the Church that he was the perfect individual to carry the spirit of the Counter-Reformation to the Far East. He was ordained in the Society of Jesus and, at the age of 34, he was appointed Visitor of Missions in the Indies and had made his profession of the Fourth Vow after only seven years in the Society.

As Visitor, it was his responsibility to examine and whenever necessary reorganize mission structures and methods throughout India, China and Japan. He was given an enormous amount of leeway and discretion, especially for someone so young, and was answerable only to the Jesuit Superior General in Rome. His commanding presence was only increased by his unusual height, enough to "turn heads in Europe and to draw crowds in Japan." Valignano formed a basic strategy for Catholic proselytism, which is usually called "adaptationism". He put the advance of Jesuits' influence above adherence to traditional Christian behavior. He attempted to avoid cultural frictions by making a compromise with local customs that other missionaries viewed as conflicting with Catholic values. His strategy was in contrast to those of mendicant orders including Franciscans and Dominicans, whom Valignano worked hard to block from entering Japan and later lead to the Chinese Rites controversy