St Ignatius College - Ignatian Yearbook (San Francisco, CA)

Page 10 text:

5 Tl-Ili lG.N'.J7'lflN architecture. Rather, let us recognize in the missions the wisdom and adaptability of a wonderful institution. The narration of the years of slow progress, of the untold hardships, the discouraging failures, the painful journeys, the perilous voyages experienced and endured before the final establishment of the missions is CalCula'C6d to awaken in us a knowledge of what the missions rep- resented in the development of the VVest3 to suggest to us the cost of California in effort, in life and in goldl to impress us with the realization that California was not only the cradle of Pacific civilization but also the culmi- nating point of two centuries of military toil and mis- sionary progress. Truly we may with some appropriateness apply to the missionary era in California what the poet of Mantua sang of the foundation of Rome. Ta1ztae molis eraf R0- lllfl11rlIl'l1f conderr g81'Lf6111.n It was through Mexico and the trails of Sonora and Lower California that the ever advancing line of missions and missionaries found a way into the mountains and valleys of California. Mexico was first discovered in l5ll, nineteen years after the discovery of America by a Spanish navigator. At that time Mexico was the seat of the famous and magnificent empire of Montezuma. lVe first learn that the conversion of the natives was an object of the Mexican conquest, when we read in the re- port of Cortez to the emperor, dated 152-l, the following: I have sent to supplicate Your Imperial Majesty that you have the goodness to provide for this end religious persons of good life and example. fn advancing the pale of civilization from coast to coast in Mexico and in founding the pueblos of the new country, a padre always accompanied the explorers. Although it had always been the intent of the Spanish authorities in Mexico to explore and colonize California, even as late as 1768 the sea coast and valleys of our state

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Hatha nf Thr lgahrva , HE long solitude of the centuries in Cali-- X ,I ,X fornia, the early explorations through its fm il, trackless canyons and parched hills, the 1 foundation of the rude and simple mis- sions, the rule of the Spanish military - governors, the revolt against Spanish do- minion, the romance and happy idleness of the Mexican era, the unique lilear Flag Republic, the hauling down of the Bear Flag at Monterey and the raising of the Stars and Stripes, the days of forty-nine, the development of a prosperous State! Do we under- stand it all? Do we appreciate the past glory of Cali- fornia? Ask the Oriental, squatting dreamy-eyed with his fuming pipe, to describe his poppy-dreams. For us also the California poppy has an inliuence-a tyrannous de- licious spell-unless we are of those who motor luxur- iously up and down the State, or travel in commercial haste along the city streets, unashamed of our ignorance of the past, feeling never a desire to learn of the men, the modes, the manners that were once realities upon the same landscapes, beneath the same California skies. The laudable effort, now being made to restore and P1'6S61'VS the California Missions is an encouraging symp- tom. Piut let us not be satisfied with mere 1'omance. Poetry and rambling phrases concerning the missions have been fed up to us even to surfeit. There are those who see in the missions nothing' but Himsy charm. For all other purposes they were stupid, crude attempts at civilization by a mediaeval, old fashioned church when no other means for civilization were at hand. There are those who look upon the missions as mere resting places for chattering tourists. mere models of a unique

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PJTHS OF THE PADRES 9 remained unvisited, save when some lone tempest tossed bark was hurled against its shores or driven by adverse winds into the fog shrouds of its beaches. Rumors of a Russian migration from the frozen realms of Alaska in- cited the Spaniards to action. Galvez was instructed to send tvvo expeditions, one by land and one by sea, into California. This long desired opportunity was seized with joy by the Franciscan friars and especially by Father Junipero Serra, the future founder of Monterey and Carmel. In all ages men have been raised up by God, filled with the holy spirit, who, being sent forth by the Church, have brought new nations to the fold of Christ for the advancement and glory of Mother Church. Augustine Went forth at the request of Gregory and planted the cross in Kent. St. Patrick, the slave boy, carried the Gos- pel to Ireland. St. Francis sailed to Goa, and dispelled the misery and darkness of the Indies with the light of the Faith. And here the name of .lunipero should adorn the illustrious list. For despite the fact that men have never manifested to gerra a gratitude, commensurate with his incalculable deserts, they have recognized that only by his tireless, dauntless efforts, was the spiritual and material glory of California made possible. The land and sea expeditions set forth. lVe may easily imagine the hardships of the explorers aboard their ships, the weary sea nights, the ravages of dread scurvy, the anxious hours of prayer amidst the thundering sweep of the storm. And what must have been the trials of that little band of land explorers, driving their herds be- fore them through the parched deserts of lower California? Can we not see Padre Serra, hampered by his long gown footsore and exhausted, yet ever whispering a word or cheer to the slowly marching soldiers. The fruits of the labors of Serra and Don Gaspar de Portola were the missions of San Diego and San Carlos. The latter is more generally known as Carmel mission.