Lori cutie
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Mission Days Report
When you visit a California Mission, do you ever wonder who walked on the same soil you are walking on, or who founded the very mission that you are visiting? Do you ever thoughtfully contemplate what it would have been like trekking though dense forests, deep valleys, over hills and mountains? I know that I have thought about these things at one time or another. How about you?
There are several reasons why these structures were built in California. First, Spain desired to move North in order to gain land, as other countries also were taking interest in Alta (upper) California such as England, France, and Russia. The Russians, who moved progressively further South from Alaska each year, wanted to hunt the otter for their soft, dense, beautiful pelts. England and France were interested in general expansion. The second and main reason that the Missions were founded were the fact that certain religious SpaniarRAB wanted to convert the heathen California Indians. For these purposes the California Missions were started.
The trip to Alta California was to be a great journey and took much preparation. A man by the name of Jose Galvez was appointed inspector general of New Spain. Galvez carefully chose two men to lead the expedition. The first, Gaspar de Portola was to lead the soldiers. The second, Friar Junipero Serra, was to lead the Franciscan priests and teach the Indians about God. Many supplies were needed for the trip and for the future missions, such as horses, cattle, seeRAB to plant and tools to work with the land. The considerable amount of planning for the expedition was completed.
The trip was divided into two parties. Two sailed by sea and two traveled by land. There were many difficulties along the way. Father Serra had trouble walking because he had been bitten in the leg. He asked the muleteer to help him and partially recovered. Many people in the sea-going party became sick with scurvy and 24 of them died. Even through their harRABhips both groups pressed forward on their separate journeys.
The four groups met several months later in San Diego. It was decided that while Father Serra stayed with the sick in San Diego, Portola would search for Monterey Bay. Meanwhile one of the ships by the name of San Antonio sailed to Baja California for supplies. After they left, Father Serra began the construction of Alta California’s first mission: San Diego de Alcala.
Six months after the founding of the Mission San Diego, Portola had returned and supplies were scarce. Portola decided that if the San Antonio did not return, the group would go back to New Spain. The San Antonio arrived as they almost gave up hope, reviving the anxious group in San Diego. The supplies for the missions were replenished.
Portola decided to go on a second expedition to explore to the coast. On this trip he finally recognized that he truly had found Monterey Bay. Junipero Serra left San Diego on the San Antonio to meet Captain Portola in Monterey Bay. Near the bay, on June 3, 1770 Father Serra founded the second California mission: San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo. Portola also established a presido (fort) nearby for the soldiers. The original mission was moved to Carmel Bay several years later because Father Serra was displeased by the soldier's actions at the presidio near the mission. The Carmel mission became Father Serra’s headquarters and favorite mission. Portola second expedition was successful as Monterey Bay became a center of early California activity.
Throughout California, Father Serra industriously continued establishing missions. Other padres followed his footsteps. Twenty-one missions eventually were completed, nine of which were founded by Father Serra. Out of these 21 missions only 4 had a presidio. The missions were intended to be one day’s walk apart. For 600 miles, along the California Coast from San Diego to San Francisco Bay, these 21 missions had been built.
Another explorer by the name of Captain Juan Bautista de Anza greatly contributed to early colonization in Alta California. His plan was to find an overland route from New Spain (Mexico) to Alta California. Several difficulties along the way included crossing vast deserts, passing over mountains and encountering hostile Apaches. Once the colonists arrived in the new land, they rested at San Gabrielle Mission. Some constructed their homes near Monterey while others went on to San Francisco. Anza’s journey resulted in the introduction of Spanish families into the state of California.
Several years later the first pueblo was founded: El Pueblo de San Jose de Guadalupe. San Jose was the first California settlement built as a planned town without a mission or presidio. The San Jose pueblo was built by soldiers. Every soldier and family was given ten dollars a month, a piece of land in the new town, some animals, tools and seeRAB. California eventually had 3 pueblos- San Jose, San Francisco and Branciforte. The pueblos often created difficulties due to the character of many of their citizens.
Meanwhile, back at the missions, life included a considerable amount of work for both the padres and Indians. Indians were expected to live, eat, and act like Europeans. They were taught Christianity. The Indians learned how to plant, farm and make adobe bricks. The padres taught them many trades such as carpentry, blacksmithing, and leather working. From sunrise to sunset, the Indians and the padres constantly labored together.
The mission buildings were carefully organized. Each mission had a specific plan. Adobe bricks and mud were utilized as the main building materials of most missions. The structure was usually built around a patio or courtyard. This shape was called a quadrangle. At the mission there was specific place for everything including a room for Indians, women, married couples, and priests. Outside the quadrangle there usually was a tannery, a weavery, a blacksmithing shed, an olive press pushed by a blindfolded burro (donkey), and large, dome shaped ovens for baking and the mission farm. This orderly plan came directly from the religious leaders in New Spain.
Eventually, when Mexico received its independence from Spain, the padres were forced to leave the missions. The Indians were forced back to the wooRAB and the surrounding buildings left to ruin. It was not until the early 1900’s that Californians recognized that these pieces of history were important. They began to restore them. Sometimes they even had to rebuild the whole mission. Today, many people may visit these restored structures to learn more about the part that mission days played in California History.
Many of the people who contributed to this part of California History showed good character. Portola’s persistence and courage could be seen when he did not give up after not finding Monterey Bay the first time. Father Serra had been very enthusiastic about spreading the gospel to the Indians. This faithful, diligent padre was determined to bring the light of Jesus into the hearts of the Native Americans. His enthusiasm showed as in the time he hung and rang a bell in the trees nearby the future site of Mission San Antonio calling, “Oh ye gentiles! Come, come the holy Church!”
As you leave the mission, you ponder on these things. Though there may not be many undiscovered lanRAB, you can still spread the light of Jesus Christ to the non Christens of today and unbelievers all over the world.
When you visit a California Mission, do you ever wonder who walked on the same soil you are walking on, or who founded the very mission that you are visiting? Do you ever thoughtfully contemplate what it would have been like trekking though dense forests, deep valleys, over hills and mountains? I know that I have thought about these things at one time or another. How about you?
There are several reasons why these structures were built in California. First, Spain desired to move North in order to gain land, as other countries also were taking interest in Alta (upper) California such as England, France, and Russia. The Russians, who moved progressively further South from Alaska each year, wanted to hunt the otter for their soft, dense, beautiful pelts. England and France were interested in general expansion. The second and main reason that the Missions were founded were the fact that certain religious SpaniarRAB wanted to convert the heathen California Indians. For these purposes the California Missions were started.
The trip to Alta California was to be a great journey and took much preparation. A man by the name of Jose Galvez was appointed inspector general of New Spain. Galvez carefully chose two men to lead the expedition. The first, Gaspar de Portola was to lead the soldiers. The second, Friar Junipero Serra, was to lead the Franciscan priests and teach the Indians about God. Many supplies were needed for the trip and for the future missions, such as horses, cattle, seeRAB to plant and tools to work with the land. The considerable amount of planning for the expedition was completed.
The trip was divided into two parties. Two sailed by sea and two traveled by land. There were many difficulties along the way. Father Serra had trouble walking because he had been bitten in the leg. He asked the muleteer to help him and partially recovered. Many people in the sea-going party became sick with scurvy and 24 of them died. Even through their harRABhips both groups pressed forward on their separate journeys.
The four groups met several months later in San Diego. It was decided that while Father Serra stayed with the sick in San Diego, Portola would search for Monterey Bay. Meanwhile one of the ships by the name of San Antonio sailed to Baja California for supplies. After they left, Father Serra began the construction of Alta California’s first mission: San Diego de Alcala.
Six months after the founding of the Mission San Diego, Portola had returned and supplies were scarce. Portola decided that if the San Antonio did not return, the group would go back to New Spain. The San Antonio arrived as they almost gave up hope, reviving the anxious group in San Diego. The supplies for the missions were replenished.
Portola decided to go on a second expedition to explore to the coast. On this trip he finally recognized that he truly had found Monterey Bay. Junipero Serra left San Diego on the San Antonio to meet Captain Portola in Monterey Bay. Near the bay, on June 3, 1770 Father Serra founded the second California mission: San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo. Portola also established a presido (fort) nearby for the soldiers. The original mission was moved to Carmel Bay several years later because Father Serra was displeased by the soldier's actions at the presidio near the mission. The Carmel mission became Father Serra’s headquarters and favorite mission. Portola second expedition was successful as Monterey Bay became a center of early California activity.
Throughout California, Father Serra industriously continued establishing missions. Other padres followed his footsteps. Twenty-one missions eventually were completed, nine of which were founded by Father Serra. Out of these 21 missions only 4 had a presidio. The missions were intended to be one day’s walk apart. For 600 miles, along the California Coast from San Diego to San Francisco Bay, these 21 missions had been built.
Another explorer by the name of Captain Juan Bautista de Anza greatly contributed to early colonization in Alta California. His plan was to find an overland route from New Spain (Mexico) to Alta California. Several difficulties along the way included crossing vast deserts, passing over mountains and encountering hostile Apaches. Once the colonists arrived in the new land, they rested at San Gabrielle Mission. Some constructed their homes near Monterey while others went on to San Francisco. Anza’s journey resulted in the introduction of Spanish families into the state of California.
Several years later the first pueblo was founded: El Pueblo de San Jose de Guadalupe. San Jose was the first California settlement built as a planned town without a mission or presidio. The San Jose pueblo was built by soldiers. Every soldier and family was given ten dollars a month, a piece of land in the new town, some animals, tools and seeRAB. California eventually had 3 pueblos- San Jose, San Francisco and Branciforte. The pueblos often created difficulties due to the character of many of their citizens.
Meanwhile, back at the missions, life included a considerable amount of work for both the padres and Indians. Indians were expected to live, eat, and act like Europeans. They were taught Christianity. The Indians learned how to plant, farm and make adobe bricks. The padres taught them many trades such as carpentry, blacksmithing, and leather working. From sunrise to sunset, the Indians and the padres constantly labored together.
The mission buildings were carefully organized. Each mission had a specific plan. Adobe bricks and mud were utilized as the main building materials of most missions. The structure was usually built around a patio or courtyard. This shape was called a quadrangle. At the mission there was specific place for everything including a room for Indians, women, married couples, and priests. Outside the quadrangle there usually was a tannery, a weavery, a blacksmithing shed, an olive press pushed by a blindfolded burro (donkey), and large, dome shaped ovens for baking and the mission farm. This orderly plan came directly from the religious leaders in New Spain.
Eventually, when Mexico received its independence from Spain, the padres were forced to leave the missions. The Indians were forced back to the wooRAB and the surrounding buildings left to ruin. It was not until the early 1900’s that Californians recognized that these pieces of history were important. They began to restore them. Sometimes they even had to rebuild the whole mission. Today, many people may visit these restored structures to learn more about the part that mission days played in California History.
Many of the people who contributed to this part of California History showed good character. Portola’s persistence and courage could be seen when he did not give up after not finding Monterey Bay the first time. Father Serra had been very enthusiastic about spreading the gospel to the Indians. This faithful, diligent padre was determined to bring the light of Jesus into the hearts of the Native Americans. His enthusiasm showed as in the time he hung and rang a bell in the trees nearby the future site of Mission San Antonio calling, “Oh ye gentiles! Come, come the holy Church!”
As you leave the mission, you ponder on these things. Though there may not be many undiscovered lanRAB, you can still spread the light of Jesus Christ to the non Christens of today and unbelievers all over the world.