Spain and France competed for control of the island of
Hispaniola finally settling their dispute in 1697 by dividing the island
between them. France
received the western third now known as Haiti. The French developed the land into sugar cane
plantations and imported thousands of slaves from Africa.
Dominicans and the
Capuchins came to Haiti with the French colonists. Dominicans concentrated
their missionary efforts in the western and southern parts of the island. The
Capuchins looked after the northern part of the island. Both were assisted in their missionary
activities by other orders and secular priests.
However they were unable to supply enough missionaries and the
Dominicans and Capuchins withdrew from the mission in 1704. Early missionaries to Haiti shared the guilt
associated with its colonization, the enslavement of its people and the
atrocities committed along with evangelization.
Dominican missionaries helped to make those atrocities known in Europe
and worked to bring about justice for the natives, but that led to the tragedy
of the trafficking of millions of West Africans. Native religion mixed with the spirituality
of the slaves and a distorted Catholicism marred by heretical superstitious
practice evolved.
Jesuits came after the
Dominicans and Capuchins withdrew and worked in Haiti until their expulsion at
the end of 1763. Chaos followed during the
period of the revolution as several priests capitulated and took the
constitutional oath demanded by the government.
In the north all celebration of the Mass ceased, while in the south the
apostolic prefect, Père Virot, and several priests remained and were
murdered.
