PARAGUAY, 1956, the 4th centenary of Ignatius' death (from a set of
five), Scott 522
featuring Jacopino
del Conte's portrait of Ignatius above the reduction named for him, San
Ignacio Guazú
PARAGUAY, 1966, the 350th anniversary of San Ignacio Guazú
(from a set of 8), Scott 939-942
San Ignacio Guazú is one of many Jesuit missions in Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil. This mission is called guazú, Guaraní for large, to distinguish it from the St. Ignatius mission in Argentina called mini, Guaraní for small. The Jesuits came to this place in 1695, and by 1724 had finished the building. The Jesuits gathered the natives, usually nomadic, into these reductions (communities) to teach and evangelize them, and to protect them from exploitation and enslavement by the Europeans. At the Suppression of the Society the missions were destroyed and only the ruins remain. Voltaire, no friend of the Society, nevertheless wrote, "The establishment in Paraguay by the Spanish Jesuits appears alone, in some way, the triumph of humanity. It seems to expiate the cruelties of the first conquerors. The Quakers in North America and the Jesuits in South America gave a new spectacle to the world." More
PARAGUAY, 1998, Mercosur (Common Market of Latin America) issue, Scott
2594
the Jesuit Mission of Jesús, side entrance
PARAGUAY, 1955, surcharged in 1959, Scott 496,
550, C230, C256
the same door at the Jesús Mission
These stamps are part of set of 15 to honor Monseñor Augustin Rodríguez (1900-1996) on the silver anniversary of his ordination. They show views of five different Jesuit missions, or rather of their ruins (Scott 491-97, C225-32 surcharged in Scott 545-51, C252-59).
PARAGUAY, 1955, surcharged in 1959, Scott 495,
549, C229, C255
a gate at Saint Cosmas and Damian Mission.
PARAGUAY, 1994, on the occasion of a total solar eclipse, Scott 2496
The sundial pictured is that of Fr. Buenaventura
Suarez, SJ,
and it is located at the Mission of Sts. Cosmas and Damian