A Professionalizing Priesthood: The Cathedral Chapter of San Juan, Puerto Rico, 1650–1700

There is considerable interest in the social background, ecclesiastical formation, and career patterns of clergy and prebendaries in Latin America. However, our knowledge of these topics for the Spanish Caribbean is limited, especially during the seventeenth century. Scholars have long been critical of the Puerto Rican clergy's lack of academic training, even suggesting that many priests were illiterate. Who became a priest? What was the extent of the clergy's academic training in peripheral regions of the Americas? Which was more important for professional advancement—socioeconomic background or academic training? Did parish work matter? Answering these questions will provide a more nuanced understanding of the priesthood in peripheral areas of the Americas, like Puerto Rico.