MOLINA. 1027 
Molina {Fr. Alonzo de)— continued. 
reply when they are questioned iu auy place concerning Christianity; and in 
order that this Doctriua may reach to all parts and be known by all it is neces- 
sary that it should be translated into other languages proper to know in the 
language of Mechoacan, and in that of the Otomies, etc. And the Lord Bishop 
D. Fr. Juan de Zumarraga orders those that teach iu all parts, and instruct in 
reading and writing, that they should first teach this Doctrina, so that all may 
know it by heart, before they undertake to learn anything else. This Doctrina 
has been newly (nuevameute) printed here in Mexico, by command of the same 
Lord Bishop D. Fr. Juan do Zumarraga." The word nuevamente may suggest that 
there was an earlier edition, but it is not so. The reverend authoV of the docu- 
ment says plainly that in 1570 it was being printed/or the second time. Nnevamente 
ought to be taken here for ultimamente, recieniemente, poco lid {nupcr) ; and that is 
the proper signification of the adverb. 
The chapters which the work comprises are: the Per signum Crucis; the 
Credo; the Pater noster; the Ave Maria; the Salve Eegina; another prefice 
without title; the fourteen articles of the faith; the commandments of God; 
those of the Church ; the sacraments ; declaration of the venial sin; declaration 
of the mortal sin; the mortal sins; the theological and cardinal virtues; the 
works of mercy; the gifts of the Holy Spirit; the bodily senses; the faculties 
of the soul; the enemies of the soul; the eight beatitudes; the blessings of the 
glorified body; the obligations of sponsors; ihe questions to be asked of adults 
at baptism; short advice to those who have just been baptized; the blessing of 
the table; the giving of thanks after eating. 
The four reimpressions mentioned above were printed in 1675, 1718, 1732, and 
1735. They contain only the Mexican text. But in comparing the 1735 edition 
(the only one which I now have before me) with the Mexican part of that of 
1546, there will be noticed great differences in the compilation and in the order 
of the chapters, as well as the omission of some things and the addition of others. 
At the same time it is evident that the original of 1546 was not used for this 
edition of 1735. What was, then, this original to which it is said that the editions 
of 1732 and 1735 wera faithfully conformed? Can it be the Mexican part of that 
of 1571, in which the author had made revisions ? It is impossible to tell with- 
out finding a copy of that edition ; but I doubt this very much, and am inclined 
to believe that the alterations are the work of later hands, because in the four 
editions it ia said that they were newly {nuevamente) revised and corrected; and 
in that of 1718 the name of the corrector also appears. The original to which 
the last two editions refer, is probably the text corrected by P. Perez, who, per- 
haps with the pious intention of making it the more useful to the Indians of his 
own time, transformed the pure language of P. Molina into the corrupt dialect 
which was generally used about two centuries afterwards. 
2610 Doctrina | Christiana | y | Catbecismo, en Lengva | IMe.xi- 
cana. | aSTiievamente Bmendada, Dispnesta, y j ATiadida: para el 
vso, y eDseuanga | de los Naturale.s. | Compvesta | Per el P. Fr. 
Alonso De Molina, de la Urden del | Gloricso Padre Sun Francisco. | 
Auo de [Woodcut] 1675. ( Con licencia. | En Mexico, Por la Viuda 
de Bernardo Calderon. | job. 
10 unnumbered 11. 8°. Improved title of No. 2610. 
2612 Doctrina | Christiana, | y Catbecismo | En Lengua JMe.xi- 
cana. | Compuesta | por el P. Fr. Alonso de Molina, ( de la Ordeii 
del Glorioso, y Serapliico Padre | San Francisco. | Corregida fiel- 
mente, por su original. | 
