emselves higher, for they are better disposed
than all others to seize the impulses and the inspirations of the
divine faith. Certainly, Columbus had united the study of nature to
the study of religion, and he had conformed his mind to the
precepts intimately drawn from the Catholic faith.

It is thus that, having learned by astronomy and ancient documents
that beyond the limits of the known world there were, in addition,
toward the west, large tracts of territory unexplored up to that
time by anybody, he considered in his mind the immense multitude of
those who were plunged in lamentable darkness, subject to insensate
rites and to the superstitions of senseless divinities. He
considered that they miserably led a savage life, with ferocious
customs; that, more miserably still, they were wanting in all
notion of the most important things, and that they were plunged in
ignorance of the only true God.

Thus, in considering this in himself, he aimed first of all to
propagate the name of Christianity and the benefits of Christian
charity in the West. As a fact, as soon as he presented himself to
the sovereigns of Spain, Ferdinand and Isabella, he explained the
cause for which they were not to fear taking a warm interest in the
enterprise, as their glory would increase to the point of becoming
immortal if they decided to carry the name and the doctrine of
Jesus Christ into such distant regions. And when, not long
afterward, his prayers were granted, he called to witness that he
wished to obtain from God that these sovereigns, sustained by His
help and His mercy, should persevere in causing the gospel to
penetrate upon new shores and in new lands.

He conceived in the same manner the plan of asking Alexander VI.
for apostolic men, by a letter in which these words are found: "I
hope that it will some day be given to me with the help of God to
propagate afar the very holy name of Jesus Christ and his gospel."
Also can one imagine him all filled with joy when he wrote to
Raphael Sanchez, the first who from the Indies had returned to
Lisbon, that immortal actions of grace must be rendered to God in
that he had deigned to cause to prosper the enterprise so well, and
that Jesus Christ could rejoice and triumph upon earth and in
heaven for the coming salv