The Famous Missions of CaliforniaHudson, William Henry
Religion
The Famous Missions of California
Hudson, William Henry
Missions -- California -- History; Missions, Spanish -- California -- History; Spanish mission buildings -- California
Antonio, bearing the much needed succour. She had passed up towards
Monterey in the expectation of finding the larger body of settlers
there, and had only put back to San Diego when unexpectedly, (and as it
seemed, providentially), she had run short of water. It was inevitable
that Father Junipero should see in this series of happenings the very
hand of God--the more so as the day of relief chanced to be the festival
of St. Joseph, who, as we have noted, was the patron of the mission
enterprise.
The arrival of the San Antonio put an entirely new complexion upon
affairs; and, relieved of immediate anxiety, Portola now resolved upon a
second expedition in quest of Monterey. Two divisions, one for sea, the
other for land, were accordingly made ready; the former, which included
Junipero, started in the San Antonio, on the 16th of April; the latter,
under the leadership of Portola, a day later. Strong adverse winds
interfered with the vessel, which did not make Monterey for a month and
a half. The land-party, following the coast, reached the more southern
of the great wooden crosses on the 24th of May, and after some
difficulty succeeded at last in identifying the harbour. Seven days
later, steering by the fires lighted for her guidance along the shore,
the San Antonio came safely into port; and formal possession of the bay
and surrounding country was presently taken in the name of church and
King. This was on the 3rd of June, the Feast of Pentecost; and on that
day of peculiar significance in the apostolic history of the church, the
second of the Upper California missions came into being. Palou has left
us a full account of the ceremonies. Governor, soldiers and priests
gathered together on the beach, on the spot where, in 1603, the
Carmelite fathers who had accompanied Viscaino, had celebrated the mass.
An altar was improvised and bells rung; and then, in alb and stole, the
father-president invoked the aid of the Holy Ghost, solemnly chanted the
Venite Creator Spiritus; blessed and raised a great cross; "to put to
flight all the infernal enemies;" and sprinkled with holy water the
beach and adjoining fields. Mass was then sung; Father Junipero preached
a sermon; again the roar of cannon and muskets took the place of
instrumental music; and the function was concluded with the Te Deum.
Though now commonly called Carmelo, or Carmel, from the river across
which it looks, and which has thus lent it a memory of the first
Christian explorers on the spot, this mission is properly known by the
name of San Carlos Borromeo, Cardinal-Archbishop of Milan. A few huts
enclosed by a palisade, and forming the germ at once of the religious
and of the military settlement, were hastily erected. But the actual
building of the mission was not begun until the summer of 1771
V.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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