The Old Franciscan Missions Of California

The book delves into the rich tapestry of California's early missions, highlighting the lives and work of the Franciscan missionaries, particularly focused on the significant contributions of figures like Padre Junipero Serra. Through this exploration, James aims to shed light on the spiritual and cultural interactions between the missionaries and the indigenous peoples of California. The opening portion of the book sets the stage for discussing the historical context of the missions, emphasizing the misperception that California's missionswere the only early establishments of their kind in the region. James begins by recounting the broader history of Spanish exploration and the founding of missions in other territories, particularly in Mexico. He details the transition from Jesuit to Franciscan control over the missions in Lower California before explaining the significant mission-building efforts in Alta California. The narrative provides insights into the motivations driving the missionaries and highlights the challenges they faced, as well as their dedication to the spiritual guidance and education of the native population. Overall, this section engages readers with a deep sense of historical inquiry and a reverence for the past endeavors of the Franciscan fathers.It is that the California Missions are the only Missions (except one or two in Arizona and a few in Texas) and that they are the oldest in the country. This is entirely an error. A look at a few dates and historic facts will soon correct this mistake. Cortés had conquered Mexico; Pizarro was conqueror in Peru; Balboa had discovered the South Sea (the Pacific Ocean) and all Spain was aflame with gold-lust. Narvaez, in great pomp and ceremony, with six hundred soldiers of fortune, many of them of good families and high social station, in his five specially built vessels, sailed to gain fame, fortune and the fountain of perpetual youth in what we now call Florida. Disaster, destruction, death-I had almost said entire annihilation-followed him and scarce allowed his expedition to land, ere it was swallowed up, so that had it not been for the escape of Cabeza de Vaca, his treasurer, and a few others, there would have been nothing left to suggest that the history of the start of the expedition was any other than a myth. But De Vaca and his