De mudanzas y contrastes discursivos. Los franciscanos frente a la Independencia de México

Abstract

By comparing the experiences of diverse friars from Franciscan provinces and colleges in New Spain’s and Mexico’s Northwestern regions, this article offers an overview of the participation of those friars in the insurgency and culmination of the proclamation of Mexico’s Independence. The analysis focuses on the Franciscans’ institutional positions concerning such matters, while also considering some examples of individual opinions expressing either support or condemnation of the insurgency. In a similar vein, attention is paid to the support or criticism of the political movements led by Hidalgo and Iturbide. This article aims to show the complexity in the array of oral or written responses (sermons, historical essays) articulated by Franciscan friars from distinct personal backgrounds and contexts with respect to the insurgency, the counterinsurgency, and the diverse forms of celebrating the independence of Mexico. Thus, the article adheres to current perspectives that underline the myriad of voices and interpretations related to the political construct of nineteenth-century Mexico, especially those coexisting within the Franciscan communities.