Past exhibition: Catholics in the New World

A Selection of 16th - 18th Century Texts
From 09/01/2015 to 01/31/2016

Over 65 years before the first English settlers stepped off the boat in Jamestown, Virginia, the first Catholic books printed in the Americas rolled off the presses in Mexico City. Catholics in the New World presents 16th-18th century works from both sides of the Atlantic that document Catholics’ evolving relationship with the Americas. Highlights include the oldest surviving book printed in the Western hemisphere, Doctrina Breve, published in Mexico City in 1544; the oldest book published in South America, Doctrina Christiana, printed in Lima in 1584; an 18th-century Mexican book containing 2624 anagrams of the angel’s greeting to Mary; and prayer books and catechisms translated into Native American languages from across the Americas, including Aymara, Zapotec, and Montagnais.

We are pleased to offer Free Admission to this exhibition during the World Meeting of Families, September 22 – 25.