Mission Anecdotes and Hymns
Told of Father Vicente Sarria
Father Vicente Sarria, a venerable and saintly missionary in charge of
Mission Nuestra Senora de la Soledad at the time the first two acts of
Secularization were passed, was one of the keenest sufferers from the
injustices of the times, undergoing untold labors and hardships, which
in no small degree contributed to his death in 1833, which found him at
his post of duty at the mission. Father Sarria's reputation for sanctity
was well known throughout California, particularly in Monterey and
Soledad, and after his death it was no strange thing to hear both from
Caucasian and Indian such an ejaculation as "alma de nuestro Padre
Sarria, ayudanos con tu intercesion" (soul of our Father Sarria help us
by your intercession). Of course this pious demonstration was not public
because for many wise reasons, the church forbids the public veneration
or invocation of a saint until the required process of canonization
has authorized it, however, the allowable private invocation was freely
practiced as it has been done in the case of other saintly missionaries,
namely, Junipero Serra, Magin Catala and others. And the following
sweet legend is told of Padre Sarria. As the Indian carriers lowered the
humble redwood coffin which contained the Father's precious remains into
the mission vaults, the edifice was filled with an exquisite fragrance
as of roses, and this story told with all earnestness was given much
credence about the mission towns. While not authenticated by infallible
investigation, may not this incident be classed at least as a
probability by the spiritual minded? For is it not in the power of the
God of the beautiful in nature to proclaim thus His appreciation for
the heroic charity of one of His servants, especially to strengthen the
faith of the sorely tried convert Indians who clung so lovingly to the
mission in the days of its trials?
Father Junipero Serra's Promise
One beautiful summer day while walking about the San Carlos Mission
Garden, Junipero Serra pondered over the wonderful progress of
California both in the spiritual and material order; filled with joy the
good priest blessed the land, and made a solemn promise to celebrate
one hundred masses for the future peace and prosperity of California,
moreover he promised to begin the fulfillment of his promise on the
following November, twenty-fourth, feast of Saint Charles, the patron
saint of the mission. Soon after, the venerable Serra was overtaken
by his last illness and went to his reward before November, the
twenty-fourth. But every year on the eve of the feast of Saint Charles
just before midnight a ghostly procession wended its way to San Carlos
Mission, for all the missionaries, Spaniards, or their descendants who
had ever lived in California would arise from their graves and with
them all the Christian Indians of the mission towns joined the "ghostly
throng" to San Carlos where Junipero Serra would arise from his tomb and
celebrate mass while the spirits sang their ancient hymns, after which
all the scene vanished like silver fumes of smoke, and this continued
for one hundred years. This most unlikely legend has been told in
beautiful Spanish and English poetry, and for all its unlikelihood has
found its way with its weird charm into many homes.
A True Story
Somewhere in the eighteen fifties a non-catholic of very irreligious
character, made targets of the eyes of a statue of Saint Benedict,
belonging to San Carlos Mission, taking advantage of the neglected
condition of the place at the time. A few days after this proceeding
the man was struck blind. This incident is no legend, but within the
remembrance of many old residents of Monterey. The unfortunate man later
acknowledged that his calamity was a direct visitation of Almighty God
for his gross and intentional irreverence to the image of a saint. The
writer refrains from giving the name of this man who has long ere this
passed to the "Great Beyond" but many Montereyans, who will read this
sketch will know it.
Countless stories and legends of mission times are told and written
without the least foundation for veracity, for example the story of
"The Lost Pearls of Loretto;" others are founded on facts but distorted
beyond recognition. Still this is not startling in a land as full of
sentiment and romance as California, where so many writers, (most of
them "New-comers") have given vent to their poetical imaginations,
and it is not hard to believe that the eventful history of the state
contained many authentic stories, and legends with some ground of truth.
Hymn to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary [6].
"Para dar vida mortal
A Un Dios Autor de la vida
Sois Maria concebida
Sin pecado original."
"Para humillar la serpiente
Que con su mortal veneno
Dejo todo el mundo lleno
De su aliento pestilente
Que marco a todo viviente
Con el sello mas fatal
Sois Maria concebida
Sin pecado original."
"Como Ester la mas amada
Del mas generoso Asuero
Gracia recibes primero
Que estes del crimen manchada
Pues para no ser contada
En la indignacion real
Sois Maria concebida
Sin pecado original."
"Ciudad fuerte y mas hermosa
Que de Asirio acometida
No lograra verte herida
Su saeta ponzonosa
Pues para ser victoriosa
De su poder infernal
Sois Maria concebida
Sin pecado original."
"Luna llena de esplandor
Sin ser nunca eclipsada
Porque fuiste iluminada
De un sol de poder, y amor
Pues por no ver el horror
De un eclipse criminal
Sois Maria concebida
Sin pecado original."
"Mujer heroica y valiente
Que con divino valor
Pisas gloriosa el furor
De la enganosa serpiente
Pues por no temer el diente
De aqeste monstro infernal
Sois Maria concebida
Sin pecado original."
"Virgen que de nuestro suelo
Subes vestida de estrellas
Mas bela que las mas bellas
A ser la gloria del cielo
Pues para tan alto vuelo
Con un favor sin igual
Sois Maria concebida
Sin pecado original."
"Patrona la mas amada
De nuestro suelo Espanol
Nuestro mas luciente sol
En la noche desgraciada
Pues para ser proclamada
Con el voto mas cordial
Sois Maria concebida
Sin pecado original."
"Concede en fin Madre amada
A tus hijos este dia
La mas cristiana alegria
Y la muerte deseada
Para que seas cantada
En la patria celestial
Sois Maria concebida
Sin pecado original."