Eusebio Chini came to our shores and became the preeminent missionary, pioneer, explorer, historian, writer and

geographer. Coming in 1681, he also represents the very first and prototype of our emigrants. His work and achievements affected the native people and the geography of our country so that our nation has declared him the Founder of Arizona. He was an exceptional man who made exceptional contributions to our nation and its peoplesandfor us, Tyrolean Americans, he was truly un de nossione of our very own. Hence, the Filo` will pursue a series of articles detailing his work and accomplishments. We will draw much of our material from the work of Father Bonifacio Bolognani, who studied his life and work and wrote his biography as well as the historian and scholar, Herbert Eugene Bolton who began his

he Tyrol now the Trentino pursuit of Fr. Chino in 1902. gave the world two colossal figures that had enormous impact Segno is one of the lovely villages of the on the world and civilization of Val di Non. It would not have any signifitheir times. Father Martino Martini and cance were it not that it gave birth to someFather Eusebio Chini were both Jesuit misone of tremendous significanceto the sionaries who not only spread Christianity world beyond Segno. Exactly 100 years but made enormous contributions to their after the beginning of the Council of Trent, societies. Father Martini went to China in Eusebio was born in Segno on August 10, 1640, traveled extensively, studied their cul1645, the son of Francesco and Margarita ture, geography and thereby introduced Chini who were inheritors of title of rank China to Europe. He is known as the Father granted by Charles V in 1529. There were of Chinese geography. Father Chini made two significant influences in his early Bolognanis Biography of Fr. Chini his way to Mexico, Southern California and lifethe culture and the religiosity of the Arizona where he became truly a pioneer, a champion of Val di Non and reputation and exploits of the Jesuit misthe native peoples, an historian, an agronomist and a car- sionary born in Trento, Fr. Martino Martini. These two tographer. Whereas Fr Martini interacted with a country acknowledged influences prompted Eusebio to enter the with a developed culture and tradition, Fr Chini came to Jesuit school, a ginnasio, a classical high school in Trento yet to be explored lands with native peoples of a pre- administered by the Jesuits of the Austrian Province. Columbian culture. Whereas Fr Martini wrote and con- These two acknowledged influences prompted Eusebio tributed directly to European society, its commerce and to enter the Jesuit school, a ginnasio, a classical high its governments becoming well known and well regarded, school in Trento administered by the Jesuits of the Fr. Chinis tremendous and singular accomplish- Austrian Province. At the age of eighteen, he left for mentsfar removed from Europe and their networks Austria and Germany. During a serious illness, he made a fell into oblivioneven and especially in the Trentino. vow to St Francis Xavier that if he recovered, he would Hence, leaving Fr Martino Martini aside for now (the devote his life to the missionary work. Once he recuperFilo` will return to this extraordinary Tyrolean in the ated, he added the name Francesco to his own name, future)we turn to Eusebio Chini of Segno of the Val in honor of his patron saint. In 1665, at the early age of di NonAt the beginning of last century, his work was 20, he became a Jesuit in Landsberg, Germany exactly reevaluated by American historians and now his name three hundred years before being recognized and gloriand legacy is legendary. fied in the Capitol of the USA.

Tyrolean Giants . . .

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In Germany, he continued his religious and scientific education for 15 years with distinguished university scholars, in particular with the most distinguished Jesuit professors of science. The Dukes of Bavaria, father and son, asked him to teach in German universities, but Kino was already thinking of China. He would have liked to follow the example of his exemplar, Martino Martini, who had just died in 1611, Jesuit and missionary and fellow Tyroleanand to follow him to that huge country, China. Europe came to know China thanks to Martini`s cartography and historical publications. But Kinos superiors had decided differently: he had to leave for Mexicoand indeed sometimes God writes straight with crooked linesand those crooked lines became the straight lines of greatness in our country..