<P> In converting natives, missionaries had to find various ways of implementing sacramental practices among them . Some sacraments, like Baptism, were already similar to the Nahuatl rituals during birth, usually performed by a midwife . Many missionaries even allowed for natives to keep some aspects of their original ritual in place, like giving the child or newborn a small arrowhead or broom to represent their future roles in society, as long as it complied with Catholic beliefs . Other sacraments, like Matrimony, were fairly different from native practices . Many natives were polygamous and to perform the sacrament of marriage, Franciscan monks would have a husband bring his many wives to the church, having them all state their reasons for being the one true wife . The monks would then decide based on the testimony who was his wife and perform the sacrament . (Reilly, 2016) </P> <P> In addition to religious changes, Spanish missionaries also brought about secular changes . With each generation of natives, there was a gradual shift in what they ate, wore and how the economy within the missions worked . Missionaries introduced adobe style houses for nomadic natives and domesticated animals for meat rather than wild game . The Spanish colonists also brought more foods and plants from Europe and South American to regions that initially had no contact with nations there . Natives began to dress in European - style clothing and adopted the Spanish language, often morphing it with Nahuatl and other native languages . (Jackson, 1995) </P> <P> Franciscan missionaries were the first to arrive in New Spain, in 1523, following the Cortes expeditions in Mexico, and soon after began establishing missions across the continents . In addition to their primary goal of spreading Christianity, the missionaries studied the native languages, taught children to read and write, and taught adults trades such as carpentry and ceramics . The first missionaries to arrive in the New World were Franciscan monks from the observant faction which believed in a strict and limited way of practicing religion . Because the monks believed teaching and practicing can only be done through "meditation and contemplation", Franciscans were not able to convert as many people as quickly as the Spanish would have liked . This caused strain between colonial governments and Franciscan friars, which eventually led to several of the friars fleeing to present day western Mexico and the dissolution of Franciscan parishes . Other issues also contributed to the dissolution of Franciscan parishes including the vow of poverty and accusations made by the colonial governments . However, Spanish missions often used money provided by the King to fund missions . Having monks taking money proved to be a controversial issue within the church . In addition, the colonial government claimed missionaries were mistreating indigenous people who were working on the missions . On the other hand, the Franciscan missionaries claimed that the Spanish government enslaved and mistreated indigenous people . Present day efforts are to show where Franciscan missionaries protected the indigenous people from Spanish cruelties and supported empowering the native peoples . </P> <P> The Jesuits had a wide - spread impact between their arrival in the New World about 1570 until their expulsion in 1767 . The Jesuits, especially in the southeastern part of South America, followed a widespread Spanish practice of creating settlements called "reductions" to concentrate the widespread native populations in order to better rule, Christianize, and protect the native populace . The Jesuit Reductions were socialist societies in which each family would receive a house and field, and individuals were clothed and fed in return for work . Additionally, the communities would include schools, churches, and hospitals as well as native leaders and governing councils to be overseen by two Jesuit missionaries in each reduction . Like the Franciscans, the Jesuit missionaries learned the local languages and trained the adults in European methods of construction, manufacturing, and, to a certain extent, agriculture . Spanish settlers were prohibited from living or working in reductions . This led to a strained relationship between Jesuit missionaries and the Spanish because in surrounding Spanish settlements people were not guaranteed food, shelter, and clothing . </P>

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