Tuesday, May 20, 2008, 16 hours Let us quickly, again, a brief history. This is necessary if you want to follow the guide today, thank you! This Mission, should you accept it ... Flashback!
We are late fifteenth th century, Spain has a range of missions throughout Nueva España , New Spain, Mexico and consists of land currently forming the southwestern United States. This, of course, in order to facilitate colonization of these territories.
However, in 1765, Russia threatened to invade what was then called Upper California. The King of Spain sends English missionaries in the forefront with the help of military escorts to consolidate its colonies, while spreading Christianity among the local Native Americans, at the same time.
 |
| Steeples of the basilica |
The Dominicans, Jesuits and Franciscans are well founded twenty-one missions along the California coast. They start in San Diego in the south in 1769 to finish at Sonoma, a thousand miles north in 1823.
Imagine though, at the time, each colony so created must be sufficient in itself. Fathers bring livestock, fruits and vegetables, refueling is virtually impossible from Mexico. It takes months of trips to travel such distances, and boats are still too small. For the rest, fathers must make do with limited means.
So with the help of the settlers and Native Americans, they use the materials at hand, and modes of the simplest construction, beginning as a priority by the church.
 |
| Mission Dolores, the "revedos" decorative altar brought from Mexico in 1776. You can see the ceiling beams made of redwood, connected strips of leather, and decorated with motifs of Ohlone Indians. |
The Task before us today is the sixth in the timeline. June 27, 1776, an expedition of about thirty families, partly on foot from Sonora, and led by Lieutenant Jose Joaquin Moraga, took possession of this hilly peninsula, covered with wild mint. The first village he founded is named Yerba Buena, the good grass . Not far from there flows a stream called Arroyo de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores meaning Creek Our Lady of Sorrows. Why such a name, you say? the Friday before Palm Sunday is, at the time, appointed Friday of Sorrows, simply. Now you know everything (or almost!)
June 29, Father Francisco Palou, who works with Father Junipero Serra celebrated under a makeshift shelter, the first mass in the region.
 |
| , founder of the Mission |
Thus was born the city of San Francisco, five days before either signed the Declaration Independence .
Mission Dolores (or Mission San Francisco de Asis) was officially founded October 9, 1776. The adobe walls of a four feet thick to allow this building to resist earthquake of 1906. The redwood beams supporting the roof are original and are held by leather straps. The ceiling is decorated with ancient motifs Ohlone Indians. The altars are made or manufactured in Mexico. The columns, which appear to be marble, are made of wood. The gold leaf used for decorations are original.
The basilica, built next door was destroyed in 1906, rebuilt in 1918. It shows including a sculpture of Mater Dolorosa , Our Lady of Sorrows .
To conclude our visit, outside, cross the cemetery, where the statue of Father Junipero Serra. Most of the tombs date from the Gold Rush, when San Francisco experienced a great expansion, and where, because of many diseases, people die young. [Uh ... Mexican pigs, already invading California? No, it's not funny!]
 |
| In the garden cemetery, the statue of Father Junipero Serra |
So, forgive me, I've really summarized the whole story in thirty minutes, as our tour ends already.
So I just realized, belatedly, that I have not taken the time to photograph the front of this venerable building over 200 years . But you can see a representation on the window next to the Father Palou.
0 comments:
Post a Comment