Sacred Australia?

In spite of the claims and wishful thinking of some, we believe there can be no question that today Australia is a secular nation - it is also beyond question that Australia has a long, strong and rich Christian heritage.

This heritage has influenced our laws, our culture, our values, and more. Australia’s Christian heritage is being rejected by many today in the mistaken notion that it is offensive in our politically correct multicultural society. Others are happy to attack Australia’s Christian heritage because it is almost fashionable to attack anything Christian while promoting any and all alternative philosophies, faiths and viewpoints. Still others reflect a common apathy towards anything spiritual or religious, while many, including a great number of Christians, are just uninformed and ignorant of the Christian heritage that is part of Australia’s history, especially since European settlement.

(We don’t have the space here to discuss the pre-Christian spirituality of Australia’s diverse and mixed Aboriginal culture and heritage.)

The heritage of Australia’s Christian connections began outside Australia long before actual European settlement.

It’s a fascinating story of myth, speculation, exploration, religious rivalry, and more. It is a story in which the Protestant Reformation and the Roman Catholic Counter-reformation play a significant role. Many of the early aspects of European contact, and any Christian connection, often related to the religious and political rivalries between Roman Catholic and Protestant nations and leaders in Europe. Unfortunately, the story of Australia’s Christian heritage is not helped by some Christians, who, because of theological inclination and wishful thinking, are selective with history, historical evidence and truth, often reading far more into the available evidence then is legitimate. This leads to exaggeration and distortion that helps informed non-Christians to more readily reject, rather than accept, claims about our Christian heritage.

This is especially so in relation to claims about Pedro Fernandez de Quiros and his supposed connection to Australia.

One church stated as fact, on their official Internet website, in large and colourful lettering:

’THE FIRST DISCOVERER OF AUSTRALIA. Captain Pedro Ferdinand De Quiros CLAIMED THIS GREAT LAND FOR JESUS CHRIST!’

Apart from the spelling variations of the name, this statement is factually wrong on two counts.

1. Quiros was NOT the first discoverer of Australia.

2. Quiros did NOT claim Australia for Jesus Christ - he may have wanted to, but in reality he did NOT!

The website, and numerous other church and Christian websites, quote the following ’proclamation’ by Pedro Fernandez de Quiros:

’Let the heavens, the earth, the waters with all their creatures and all those here present witness that I, Captain Pedro Fernandez de Quiros…in the name of Jesus Christ…hoist this emblem of the Holy Cross on which His person was crucified and whereon He gave His life for the ransom and remedy of the human race…on this day of Pentecost, 14 May 1606…I take possession of all this part of the South as far as the pole in the name of Jesus…which from now on shall be called the Southern Land of the Holy Ghost…and this always and forever…to the end that to all natives, in all the said lands, the holy, sacred Evangel may be preached zealously and openly.’

Pedro Fernandez de Quiros, a sailor and a very zealous Portuguese Roman Catholic, managed to get sponsorship from Pope Clement VIII and King Philip III of Spain to explore the Pacific Ocean in hope of discovering the unknown, but believed in, southern continent - Terra Australis Incognito - the Unknown South Land. With three ships and some 300 crew and soldiers he left South America in December 1605. After visiting a number of Pacific Islands Quiros believed he had found the Great South Land in May 1606, landed, turned his men into a Holy Religious Catholic Order: - The Knights of the Holy Ghost (which came as a surprise to them!); claimed the land where he had landed for God, the Pope and King Philip of Spain ’all this part of the South as far as the pole’ and called it the Great South Land of the Holy Spirit; he began a small colony, which he called the ’New Jerusalem’.

Unfortunately for Quiros, he had NOT landed on the great southern continent which much later became known as Australia, but on one of the northern islands of what is now Vanuatu - the Island is still called ’Espiritu Santo’ - a long, long way from Australia. His colony failed within a very short time and he took to his ship and became separated from the others. His second in command, Luis Vaez de Torres, continued the explorations, discovered that they had landed on a Pacific island, travelled further northwest and went around what is now New Guinea. He sailed between New Guinea and Australia, never realising that beyond the large reef off Queensland’s Cape York - which he sighted, was the continent for which they had been searching. Instead of going south, Torres, after whom the Torres Strait is named, sailed north to Manila in the Philippines.

An island in Vanuatu, not the continent of Australia, was claimed and named ’The Great South Land of the Holy Spirit’. It could have been Australia if Quiros - or Torres - had travelled further south and actually landed on our continent. We had a potential Portuguese-Spanish connection. Had they succeeded in their search, we might have become a predominantly Roman Catholic, Spanish speaking nation, as many of the nations in South America. But that didn’t happen…

In spite of the true history, there are many, especially in the Pentecostal community, who virtually regard Quiros as a ’Pentecostal Prophet’:

’In 1606 the explorer Pedro Fernandez de Quiros, sailing under the Spanish flag, mistook one of the islands of the Pacific nation now known as Vanuatu (New Hebrides) for the Great South Land. Believing he had discovered the long searched-for southern continent, he held a mass and set off fireworks to commemorate his discovery. As far as we know he was the first to use the name "Terra Australis del Espiritu Santu" - the "Great South Land of the Holy Spirit" - for what we now know as the nation of Australia.

Did de Quiros pen this name for the great southern continent prophetically? Along with many other Australian Christians, we believe so.’

Some are organising pilgrimages to Vanuatu and special meetings at Uluru (formerly known as Ayers Rock) in response to the claimed prophetic message of Quiros:

’This year, 400 years later, in 2006 we will renew this prophetic declaration over our nation and the nations of the South Pacific so that "the holy and sacred evangel may (continue to) be preached zealously and openly" in our respective lands for another 400 years. We will celebrate the occasion with the other South Pacific nations in Vanuatu and then renew the dedication of our own nation to God here in Australia on the night of our National Day of Thanksgiving on Pentecost 2006 (3rd June)…Home here in Australia The Children’s Prayer Network is organising a special event at Uluru on Saturday 3rd June which will be the official national gathering to celebrate the 400th Anniversary of the Great Southland declaration.’

In May 2005 the ABC ran a Sunday night programme, Pentecost Talkback: The Influence of Charismatic Christians, in which it was stated:

’Today is celebrated throughout the Christian world as Whitsunday or Pentecost. It may be a largely forgotten holiday in today’s Australia, but it also may be that it should be celebrated as our most significant national holiday, a new Australia day, for it was on this day in 1606 that the Portuguese Navigator de Quiros, exploring the South Pacific, sighted land, and declared it to be ’Terra Australis Del Spirito Santo’, The Great South Land of the Holy Spirit. His actual words were:…’

Then followed the ’proclamation’ of Quiros (exactly as worded in the earlier given quote - but as one single quotation without any ellipses), and then the comment:

’Well Captain Quiros may have had to wait around four hundred years for its fulfilment, but the spirit that inspired Quiros’ vision energises the spread of charismatic Christianity across Australia today, reaching even into the heart of our political life.’

(http://www.abc.net.au/sundaynights/stories/s1371460.htm)

The information about Quiros would have been provided by one or more of the Pentecostal- Charismatic participants in the programme. Several issues are important to raise here:

1. Pedro Fernandez de Quiros (who was Portuguese, not Spanish as some have referred to him) made numerous statements about his supposed discovery of the Southland of the Holy Spirit - his statements were balanced by the reports from others with him at the time. The evidence shows that in his declaration or so-called proclamation he called the island he discovered in the Pacific: ’La Austrialia del Espiritu Santo’ - this was a subtle combination of the previously used ’Terra Australis’ (Latin for ’Southern Land’) of the unknown southern continent and ’Austria’ - because King Philip III of Spain was also of the House of Habsburg in Austria. Quiros did NOT invent the term ’Australis’ or ’Australia’ - though some later translators of his writings changed his ’Austrialia’ to ’Australia’.

2. In the ABC statement it says: ’His actual words were:…’ and then followed the so-called Quiros proclamation (as already noted, without any ellipses). The use of the ’proclamation’ is misleading. What the ABC quoted were NOT the actual words of Quiros. The use of ellipsis [three dots/periods/…] indicates that words have been omitted (for whatever reason - usually for the sake of brevity). It is extremely misleading, if not fraudulent, to present someone else’s statements, without clearly showing that words have been deliberately left out of the quotation.

A number of writers and websites present Quiros’ proclamation with a number of ellipses, indicating that words have been left out - which is the right and appropriate thing to do - but this still leaves the reader wondering what, in the original quote[s], has [have] been left out. In this case it is VERY interesting reading the WHOLE of Quiros’ proclamation and statements of possession.

Early on Pentecost morning the priests, and some crew, went ashore and constructed a crude hut or booth to serve as the first [Roman Catholic] church in the newly discovered land, and Quiros named it, ’Our Lady of Loreto.’ Then the Captain and the rest of the ship’s company all came ashore.

’Presently the Captain came out and went down on his knees, saying: "To God alone be the honour and glory." Then, putting his hand on the ground, he kissed it, and said: "O Land! sought for so long, intended to be found by many, and so desired by me!"’

Not long after this came Quiros’ proclamation of possession:

’Be witnesses the heavens and the earth, and the sea with all its inhabitants, and those who are present, that I, the Captain Pedro Fernandez de Quiros, in these parts which up to the present time have been unknown, raise and plant in the name of Jesus Christ, Son of the eternal Father, and of the Holy Virgin Mary, true God and man, this sign of the Holy Cross, on which His most holy body was crucified, and where He gave His life as a ransom for the whole human race.

In the same place, and at the same time the six following possessions were read, which our people heard with joy and gladness, the eyes of many filling with tears.

ACTS OF POSSESSION

Possession in the name of the most Holy Trinity

In these parts of the South, until now unknown, where I am, and have come with authority from the Supreme Roman Pontiff, Clement VIII, and by order of the King, Don Philip III, King of Spain, despatched by his Council of State, I, Captain Pedro Fernandez de Quiros, in the name of the most Holy Trinity, take possession of all the islands and lands that I have newly discovered, and desire to discover, as far as the South Pole.

Possession in the name of the Catholic Church

I take possession of all these, the said lands, in the name of Jesus Christ, saviour of all men, how unknown soever they may be, and in the name of His mother the most Holy Virgin Mother of Loreto, and in the name of St. Peter and St. Paul, and of all the holy apostles and disciples, and in the name of the universal Vicar of Christ, the Roman Pontiff, and in the name of the whole Catholic Church, and of all those pious, just, and holy things that have a right in such possession; which I do with joy and to the end that to all the natives, in all the said lands, the holy and sacred evangel may be preached zealously and openly.

Possession in the name of St. Francis and his Order

I take possession of all the said lands in the name of my father, St. Francis, and of all his religion and professors of it, and being present, in the name of the Father Commissary, Friar Martin de Monilla, Friar Mateo de Vascones, Friar Antonio Quintero, and Friar Juan de Marlo, all four priests; and in the names of Fray Juan de Santa Maria and Fray Francisco Lopez, both lay brethren, come here, all six, at my request by order of His Holiness and of His Majesty, and of their Commissary General and Provincial of the province of the Twelve Apostles of Peru: from whose order I desire that all the workers sent to tend this vineyard may come, and the labourers who have to show His holy word and doctrine, and to gather in the fruits.

Possession in the name of John of God and his Order

I take possession of all the said lands in the name of John of God, and of all the professed brothers of his Order, and being present, in the name of Lazaro de Santa Maria, who came here in compliance with a brief of His Holiness, given to me for that end, that the same Brotherhood might found, administer, and maintain by their professed charity all the hospitals there may be in those parts, so necessary that the natives may learn all our methods, and hold us in the love and veneration which the sight of our curing the native sick, and giving them other benefits, deserve.

Possession in the name of the Order of the Holy Ghost

I take possession of all these lands, by the right that His Holiness and His Majesty granted, to make just divisions of the lands and of the people on them; for all the Knights that are in these parts of the Order of the Holy Ghost as discoverers, settlers, defenders, and preservers, and no other, obliged without pay to serve in all the royal and public employments, with every human and divine office as regards the natives as their defenders, and with profession of all the rest that is in their constitution.

Possession in the name of His Majesty

Finally, I take possession of this bay, named the Bay of St. Philip and St. James, and of its port named Santa Cruz, and of the site on which is to be founded the city of New Jerusalem, in latitude 15 degrees 10’, and of all the lands, and of all the lands which I sighted and am going to sight, and of all this region of the south as far as the Pole, which from this time shall be called La Austrialia del Espiritu Santo, with all its dependencies and belongings; and this for ever, and so long as right exists, in the name of the King, Don Philip, third of that name King of Spain, and of the eastern and western Indies, my King and natural Lord, whose is the cost and expense of this fleet, and from whose will and power came its mission, with the government, spiritual and temporal, of these lands and people, in whose royal name are displayed there his three banners, and I hereby hoist his royal standard.

The reading being finished, all cried with loud voices: "Long live the King of Spain, Don Philip III, our Lord!" Then we entered the church to give due thanks to God.

They said three Masses, and the fourth, which was sung, was by our Father Commissary. All the people took the sacrament very fervently. This done, the three Ensigns, who now held the banners in their hands, inclined them to the ground in front of the altar, the Royal Ensign holding the royal standard. The Commissary blessed them with great solemnity; and, at a certain signal that was given to the ships, whose mast-head banners displayed the royal arms, and at the sides the two columns and the plus ultra, with the streamers fluttering, fired off all their guns with full charges; the soldiers discharged muskets and arquebuses, and the gunners sent off rockets and fire-wheels. In the middle of all this noise, all shouted with almost infinite joy, and many times: "Long live the Faith of Christ!" And with this the celebration of the festival came to an end.’

(see the reputable Hakluyt Society translation of Quiros’ ’knighting’ of his men, and his proclamation, at the end of Michael de Looper’s article at: http://www.chr.org.au/vol2/chp5.htm)

3. Prophecy based on error (navigational, historical, theological or otherwise) is NOT the Biblical concept of true prophecy. It becomes false and misleading prophecy.

4. Australian historian, Manning Clark, described Quiros as:

’Pedro Ferdandez de Quiros…was one of the flowers of the Catholic reformation, part of that movement of religious idealism and of missionary fervour which strengthened the church after the disasters of Luther and Calvin…From his youth he seems to have been caught up in the missionary enthusiasm of the age. He began to believe that he had been singled out by God as the vessel through whom the inhabitants of ’terra australis’ would be received into the true church, and that ’terra australis’ would be Austrialia del Espiritu Santo - a land dedicated to the Holy Spirit….he was anxious to win the race against the Protestants to the Indies and the south seas, to confound those powers of false doctrine…With that abundance of good will conferred by their desire to serve God and spread the holy Catholic faith, and aggrandize the royal crown of the king their lord, all seemed easy to them - as they believed that for them the mountains would be moved, the seas made Calm, and the winds hushed. They sailed west till they reached a harbour in the New Hebrides, which Quiros in the first flush of the excitement named Austrialia del Espiritu Santo - a name which, together with the errors in measuring longitude, created confusion for posterity when it plotted his voyage, and even seduced men of scholarship and learning to argue that he had landed on the east coast of Australia.’

(see some of Manning Clark’s comments - including the full statement of the preceding quote at: http://www.chr.org.au/VOL1/Volume%201%20chapter1%20part%201.html)

All of this (as well as other evidence) shows clearly that, the very Roman Catholic, Pedro Fernandez de Quiros would have totally abhorred the modern efforts of some, to turn him into some sort of ’Pentecostal Prophet’ supporting the cause of Protestant, Evangelical, Pentecostal, Charismatic or other non-Roman Catholic preachers and groups, in a rather questionable theology of making Australia a nation of God’s special choosing and favour.

It is also worth noting that, as a result of a misrepresentation of Quiros, his Roman Catholic and anti-Protestant intentions and his navigational errors, Geoff Bullock, while at Hillsong, wrote his well-known song: The Great South Land of the Holy Spirit. He has since come to regard this song as a ’rather ignorant racist song’ and has rewritten the song to be more acceptable to all Australians.

(see: http://www.signposts.org.au/2005/09/04/the-great-south-land/#comments)

The misuse of historical evidence adds no credibility to claims of a Christian heritage for Australia. We DO have a Christian heritage, and we need to show honesty, integrity, appropriate analytical research skills, as well as a sound and in-context use of Scripture and history as we seek to point to, and further, that worthy heritage.

(From TACL Vol 27 #1 2006)