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I N H A L T

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THE MISSIONS OF CALIFORNIA

about the missions …

More than 150 years ago, as part of the expansion of the Spanish empire along the Pacific, Father Junipero Serra and a group of dedicated Franciscan priests founded a string of missions that ran much of the length of California. The chain of 21 missions along California’s El Camino Real, which is also called “The Royal Highway” respresents the first arrival of non-Native Americans to California. Life for the California Native Americans was forever changed. In addition to Christianity, the missions brought many other things to the sunshine-state such as livestock, fruits, flowers, grains and industry. This was also the start of the civilisation in which they live today. However, as a result of the arrival of the Spanish, many Native American lives were lost.

The very first idea to found the missions goes back to King Charles III of Spain in the year 1768. Spain has claimed a vast area of land along the western side of North America more that 200 years before. The land was rich, fertile and near the sea; it was the perfect place to start cities and safe harbours for Spanish ships. The king and the queen of spain decided to found farms along the coast. But with the lack of labour with no Spanish people in the area there was no one to work on the farms, so they solved the problem by turning those farms into missions.The locations of the missions were all very planned and very deliberate. Each mission was placed one day’s ride or hard walk from its nearest neighbours. This made it easier fro the Spaniards to trade and sell their food and crafts as well as to share information. Also the nearness of the sea ensured fresh supplies through ships.

The influence of the vibrant history and profound beauty of these historic adobe structures can still be seen in much of California’s architecture. The just recently found the 22nd mission north of San Francisco: Mission St. Rosa

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bibliography:BOOK: Young, Stanley – “The missions of California”, San Francisco, Chronicle Books, 1988WEB: http://missions.bgmm.com, The California Missions Website, not dated, p. 23, downloaded p. 5 http://library.thinkquest.org/3615/who.html, “ThinkQuest Internet Challenge Library”, 1996, p. 6 http://www.escusd.k12.ca.us/mission_trail/MissionTrail.html, “California Missions Internet Trail, 1996, p.22

introducing the missions …

Among all the 21 missions, that are beautifully presented with striking color photographs by Melba Levick in Stanley Young ‘s “The Missions Of California” …

… I decided to pick out the ones that seemed special to me, like the

1.

mission san luis rey de francia –which is known as the “KING OF THE MISSIONS”,

2.

mission santa barbara - so prosperous that it became known as the “QUEEN OF THE MISSIONS” ,

3.

mission san juan capistrano –which is also called the “JEWEL OF THE MISSIONS” , as well as

4.

mission san miguel archangel –simply because it’s fun to dedicate my precious time of research to my friend Michael :- )

5.

mission santa rosa –the new-found mission in the north.

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cover image: mission san diego

1. mission san luis rey de francia

Established in June 1798 by Father Fermin Lasuen the “King of the Missions” is the 18th and the largest of the 21 missions on the West Coast, covering almost 6 acres. It is named after King Louis the 9th of France.. When Father Lasuen founded this mission in a quiet inland valley, he chose to grace it with the name of the 13th century king of France who left his country for the Holy Land to fight in the Crusades. A short episode

about Father Antonio Peyri, who designed the original compound and stayed on to manage the mission for more than thirty years and the tale about his veil departure in 1829 can be read in “The Missions Of California”, p. 17. San Luis Rey is one of only two missions that is shaped like a cross. It has one bell tower that was used for the guards to signal workers from the field and to see visitors who were coming. During the Mexican War it was used as a military outpost, and in 1893 the mission was redesignated a Franciscan college.

BOOK: Young, Stanley – “The missions of California”, San Francisco, Chronicle Books, 1988, p. 17 fWEB: http://library.thinkquest.org/J001749 - “Missions San Luis Rey de Francia”, 1996, p. 1 http://missions.bgmm.com/SLUISREY.HTM - “San Luis Rey de Francia”, p. 23, downloaded p. 1

Web excerpt:

Nicknamed "King of the missions", Mission San Luis Rey was the largest and most populous of all the California missions. Its buildings covered 6 acres of land, and its Native American population reached 2,700 at its peak. Its important location filled

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the critical gap between San Diego and San Juan Capistrano. It was the ninth and last mission founded by Father-President Lasuen before his death in 1803. The quick success of this mission is owed to Father Antonio Peyri, who staved with the mission for 34 years. Not wanting to see the destruction he believed secularization would bring, he retired two years earlier and returned to Spain.

Within 2 years most of the buildings were up and covered with tile roofs and work had begun on the big church that would be able to accommodate up to a thousand worshippers. Eventually even this was replaced with an even larger church with a single tower used as a lookout. With two people always stationed there, they were able to quickly announce the arrival of visitors, friendly or otherwise, and with flags were able to signal messages to the workers in the fields.

Within the quadrangle was planted the first pepper tree in California, and in a sunken garden in front of the mission were many exotic plants and fruit trees. The mission's open-air laundry was also located in the sunken garden where water flowed from the mouth of a stone gargoyle. The water then flowed down the tiles to be reclaimed for other uses. The mission's extensive water irrigation even had a charcoal filter purification system for drinking water. Mission San Luis Rey also had the largest herd

of livestock of any of the missions. In addition to the greater than 50,000 cattle and sheep, they had 1,300 goats, 300 pigs, and almost 2,000 horses.

After the loss of the revered Father Peyri the mission's decline began. The Native Americans attempted to maintain the mission for several years after secularization, but eventually, in 1846, all the buildings were sold. For a time the site was occupied by the United States Army. Though the mission was returned to the Church in 1865, it was mostly ignored until 1893, when it was rededicated. By then most of the quadrangle walls had collapsed, and much of the church was destroyed. Major reconstruction was begun immediately, and continues today.

San Antonio de Pala

This is the only asistencia (sub-mission) that still stands today. In 1816 a large chapel and buildings to house the many Native Americans was built in this area 20 miles inland from Mission San Luis Rey. This branch of Mission San Luis Rey is where most of its crops were grown.

Located here is the only known freestanding bell tower in the mission chain. The chapel, purchased back for the Catholic Church by the Landmarks Club in 1903, is the only parish church still serving the Native Americans.

http://missions.bgmm.com/SLUISREY.HTM

2. mission santa barbara

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With lush botanical gardens nearby and a scenic coastline a few minutes’ drive away, the Santa Barbara mission is an inextricable and beautiful part of Californias’s Spanish heritage. Founded in December 1786 by Father Fermin Lasuen and completed in 1820, the “Queen of the Missions” is best known for its unique architecture. It is the only mission with two matching bell towers.The 10th of the 21 missions is located 220 miles north of San Diego.

In 1835, the mission was secularized and its land was divided among the community. Later it became a school for training Franciscan priests. Today the Franciscans still minister to Indians of the South-west, and the church itself houses the parish of St. Barbara. Here, you can visit a museum of the mission era and the archives of the Franciscan order, which include a large collection on Father Junipero Serra and more.

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Web excerpt:

Santa Barbara was the first mission founded by Father Fermin Francisco de Lasuen, Father Serra's successor as President of the California missions. Although Father Serra dedicated the site of the Santa Barbara presidio (fort) in April of 1782, he did not have permission at that time to found a mission in Santa Barbara. The Governor at that time, Filipe de Neve, was jealous of the power he believed the Franciscans gained with each new mission. Through his superior, the Viceroy in Mexico, he was able to delay the necessary funding for new missions.

Sadly, Father Serra died just one month after the new Gover-neur told him that permission was granted to found his longed for mission in Santa Barbara. It was Father Lasuen who traveled to Santa Barbara and selected the mission site. It was one and a half miles northeast of the Presidio (fort) in a hilly area called "rocky mound" with a majestic view of the valley and channel.

The first mission buildings were made of logs, with thatch roofs. Later an adobe wing completed the quadrangle with a dormitory, kitchen and storeroom. There were also rows of over 200 houses for the mission natives built next to the mission. Eventually, construction of a second quadrangle was begun adjacent to the first. Throughout all this construction a succession of larger adobe churches was being built. The largest one, completed in 1794, for the entire California mission chain are in the archives here along with a large collection of sheet music from the mission era.

An earthquake in 1925 nearly destroyed the beautiful stone church that had survived all these years. An extensive restoration, at the cost of almost $400,000, was completed in 1927. Unfortunately, in 1950 a chemical reaction in the materials used in the restoration weakened the structure. The front of the church then had to be rebuilt, and steel-reinforced concrete now supports the mission that now appears just as it did in the mission's glory days.

http://missions.bgmm.com/barbara.htm

3. mission san juan capistrano

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The ever-vigorous Father Serra led an attempt to found this mission as early as 1775. The formal founding took place in November 1776. It is the 7th of the 21 missions, named for Saint John of Capistrano (Italy). Located between San Diego and San Gabriel the “Jewel of the Missions” is considered to be California’s oldest building and is often referred to as “Father Serra’s Church”.

Web excerpt:

Called the "Jewel of the Missions" Mission San Juan Capistrano is probably the best known of all the California missions. Famous for its beautiful gardens, it is the spring home for thousands of swallows that annually migrate some 2,000 miles from their winter homes in Central America. Their arrival in San Juan Capistrano is celebrated on March 19th, Saint Joseph's Day, with the ringing of the mission bells.

Originally founded by Fr. Lasuen on October 30, 1775, the site was abandoned after eight days when they received word of an attack at the San Diego Mission. They quickly buried the bells for safe keeping and fled to the Presidio (fort) in San Diego for shelter.

When Fr. Serra returned a year later he found that the cross erected earlier by Fr. Lasuen was still in place and the bells remained safe in their hiding place in the ground.

Within the first year a little chapel that is still in use today was completed. It is believed to be the oldest church in California, and since it is one of only two still standing where Fr. Serra is known to have said Mass it is called "Father Serra's Church".

In 1796 work was begun on a large stone church that was to be the most magnificent of all the California mission churches. Under the guidance of an expert stonemason from Mexico the natives transported the stones from a quarry six miles away. Nine years later the church was completed. The Great Stone church was built in the shape of a cross, 180 feet long and 40 feet wide. Above the front entrance is a 120 foot tall belltower that could be seen for miles.

Tragically, this magnificent church only stood for six years. The devastating earthquake of 1812 destroyed this pride of the California missions. Even more tragically, 40 bodies were dug out of the rubble, as the quake struck during a Mass. No plans were ever made to rebuild the Great Stone Church.

When an attempt at restoration was made in 1860, so little was known about this painstaking process that they actually destroyed more than they restored. Later, in the 1890s, restoration attempts were successful in saving Father Serra's Church from disintegrating. The most recent and thorough restoration began in 1987 after the Whittier earthquake.

http://missions.bgmm.com/SANJUANC.HTM

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4. mission san miguel arcangel

Father Fermin Lasuen and Father Buenaventura Sitjar located the Mission San Miguel in 1797 near the Salinas River. Fifteen native children were batized on the same day the mission was founded.Origianally Mission San Miguel controlled lands up and down the Salinas River for 50 miles, and operated a rancho at San Simeon on the coast. Because of the first pepper tree ever planted it is also called

the “Mother of the Pepper Trees.” Estavan Munras, a professional artist of Monterey,came to San Miguel and taught Indians the art of fresco painting. Much of their original have not been retouched. The vivid colors are still bright. Like the image on the right shows, the blue (Königsblau) used to decorate the door actually is the color of Michael the Arcangel. San Miguel also has a variety of arch shapes and sizes in its colonnade, a characteristic unique among the existing mission structures. The last padre left San Miguel in 1840 and the buildings were sold. The monastery became a shopping center. In 1928 the Franciscans returned . The monastery building is now a museum.

Web excerpt:

The third mission founded by Father Lasuen in the summer of 1797 was quickly filled with the many friendly Native Americans in the area. Fifteen native children were baptized on the same day the mission was founded. Accompanying the padres were many neophyte (Christianized Native Americans) families from other missions that helped to quickly win the confidence of the local natives.

For many years the padres kept the natives busy making and drying large amounts of adobe bricks to be used in a new large church. When the stockpile of adobe bricks was large enough construction began and was completed in just two years.

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Although the exterior of the church was simple, the interior was elaborately adorned by an artist from Spain. Fortunately, this artwork has been preserved in its original form. Scenes show false balconies and pillars, archways, and imitation marble. Above the alter is the "all-seeing eye of God" with rays of light shining in all directions.

The neophytes were so content here that even when, in 1831, in anticipation of secularization, they were told that they were now free to leave the mission, none did. They all chose to stay with the padres. A few years later, in August 1834, the mission was secularized and all the property was given to the Native Americans. But without the guidance of the padres, the mission soon fell into disrepair. By 1844 most of the neophytes had left and all of the livestock was gone.

In 1846 all the mission property, except the church, was sold into private hands. One of the purchasers was William Reed, who along with his family and servants, lived in the mission until they were all murdered by a band of tramps looking for gold to steal. The tramps were all later caught and executed.

When the church was finally put back into service, in 1878, some restoration was begun. In 1928 it was returned to the Franciscan's to be used as a monastery and a parish church.

http://missions.bgmm.com/SMIGUEL.HTM

5. mission santa rosa

It is said that on the feast day of Santa Rosa de Lima in 1828, Father Juan Amoros was celebrating Mass on a creek bank when he noticed a group of Native Americans watching a short distance away. And he turned to them and spoke to them of eternal life in Jesus Christ and the necessity of Baptism. One young woman came forward and asked to be babtized. As he administered the sacrament, Father Juan gave her the name Rosa and declared that creek and the entire area would be known as “Santa Rosa”.

Today Bishop Daniel Walsh has called on the Catholic of the Diocese of Santa Rosa to extend the Crusade of Prayer which began in October ,2001 for a five year period. In doing so he places this Diocese under the special protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and requests prayers to the patroness, St. Rose of Lima, for the healing and spiritual growth of the Church.

You can visit the official website of the diocese at:http://www.santarosacatholic.org/diocese/history.html

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For those who are interested to take a closer look at the beautiful California missions, I can highly recommend Stanley Young’s fantastic book, which is a colorful, informative tour of the twentyone missions, each with a rich history and an architectural flavor all its own.The book can be ordered via “Fernleihe” from the Universität für angewandte Kunst /Wien for a fee of € 2.75. ISBN: 0-8118-1938-8