José Trinidad Reyes, Honduran priest and educator (b. 1797)
The Father José Trinidad Reyes y Sevilla (June 11, 1797 – September 20, 1855) was a Honduran priest who founded the National Autonomous University of Honduras, formerly called "La Sociedad del Genio emprendedor y del buen gusto" ('The Society of the Enterprising Genius and Good Taste'). He advocated against poverty, assisting the poor and insisting on their right to education in matters of faith, culture and science.
He wrote several theatrical pastorelas. These works established a base for the subsequent appearance of theatre in Honduras. These pastorelas were presented by Father Reyes in Tegucigalpa's churches. One song he wrote was "Navidad nuestra" ('Our Christmas'), which over time has tuned into a classic of Honduran contemporary theater owing to its harmonious mixing of different traditions that take place during Christmas in Honduras.
Reyes was a polemicist in favor of women's rights. His stance is reflected in his pastorelas, with many of them featuring strong female characters. His most celebrated document, a feminist manifesto, appeared under the pseudonym of Sofía Seyers. In it, Reyes pleads for women to be given the right to basic education. Many ideas expressed by Reyes in this article were inspired by the ideas of the women of the French Revolution. During his political tenure, he was able to change the views of many on the French Revolution. Reyes was influenced by ideas from The Enlightenment, humanism and religious art.
He was convinced of the importance of the arts, especially in theatre, as an instrument to civilize and bring progress to nations. During his life in Tegucigalpa he fought against political fanaticism and religious superstition.