California State University, Monterey Bay Digital Commons @ CSUMB Franciscan Publications Spanish Viceroyalty [AD 1542/1769-1821] 1-21-2019 1913 - Life and Apostolic Labors of the Venerable Father Junipeŕ o Serra; Francisco Palou, Translation by C. Scott Williams Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.csumb.edu/hornbeck_spa_2 Part of the Arts and Humanities Commons, Education Commons, Life Sciences Commons, and the Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons Recommended Citation "1913 - Life and Apostolic Labors of the Venerable Father Junipeŕ o Serra; Francisco Palou, Translation by C. Scott Williams" (2019). Franciscan Publications. 5. https://digitalcommons.csumb.edu/hornbeck_spa_2/5 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Spanish Viceroyalty [AD 1542/1769-1821] at Digital Commons @ CSUMB. It has been accepted for inclusion in Franciscan Publications by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ CSUMB. For more information, please contact [email protected]. MV5EVMoFTHEAnEll,lCAN INDIAN.' FREDERICK W. HODGE COLLECTION 3 1924 097 693 869 Huntington Free Library Native American Collection CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Cornell University Library The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924097693869 TRANSLATION PALOU'S LIFE OF JUNIPERO SERRA FRANCISCO PALOU'S LIFE AND APOSTOLIC LABORS OF THE Venerable Father Junipero Serra FOUNDER OF THE FRANCISCAN MISSIONS OF CALIFORNIA WITH AN INTRODUCTION AND NOTES BY GEORGE WHARTON JAMES Author of "In and Out of the Old Missions of California," "The Franciscan Missions of California," "Modern Mission Architecture," etc. English Translation by C. Scott Williams 1913 GEORGE WHARTON JAMES PASADENA, CALIFORNIA ' CopyRIGHT, I913 BY EDITH E. FARNSWORTH DEDICATION To five men whose generosity has aided me in publishing this Translation of Palou's Life of Junipero Serra namely ELI P. CLARK and MOSES H. SHERMAN The builders of the First Electric Railway over some of the roads trodden by the Sainted Serra ARTHUR T. LETTS President of the Los Angeles Y. M. C. A. JAMES D. PHELAN Ex-Mayor of San Francisco, and whose monument to Serra in the Golden Gate Park is but one of his many gifts to the "City of Destiny" and to FRANK A. MILLER The Master of the Glenwood Mission Inn, Raiser of the "Serra Cross" on the summit of Mount Rubidoux, Riverside, and, though of alien faith, the devout ad- mirer of Junipero Serra and his work I cordially dedicate this book, with highest esteem. V. R.PEL V.P. F. JUNDPERO SERRA W- (Photographic Copy from the Original Edition.) Exact copy ot original title page to Palou's Life of Serra. Translation on opposite page. RELACIONHISTORICA DE LA VIDA Y APOSTOLICAS TAREAS DEL VENERABLE PADRE FRAY JUNIPERO SERRA, Y de las Misjoncs que fundd en la California Sep- tentrional^ y nuevos establecim'ejtos de Monterey, ESCRITA Por el R. P, Z. Fr. FRANCISCO PALOU, Guardian a&ual del Colegio Apostblico de S. Fernando de Mexico^ y Dhcipulo del Venerable Fundador. DIRIGIDA A SU SANTA PROVINCIA DE LA REGULAR OBSERVANCIA DE Nro. S. p. S. FRANCISCO DE LA ISLA DE MALLORCA. A EXi»ENSAS DE DON MIGUEL GONZALEZ CALDERON SINDICO DE DICHO APOSTOLIC.O COLEGIO. Impresa en Mexico, en la Iwprenta de Don Felipe de ZuhigO' y Ontiveros, calk del Espiritu Santo, ano de_ ij8f^ Historical Account of the Life and Apostolic Labors of the Venerable Father Fr. Junipero Serra and of the. Missions which He Founded in Northern California, and the New Estabhshments of Monterev " Written by The Rev. Lector Fray Francisco Palou Guardian of tlie Apostolic College of San Fernando, Mexico, and Disciple of Its Venerable Founder A Work Addressed to the Holy Province of the Regular Observance of Our Holy Father Saint Francis, of the Island of Mallorca. Published at tlie expense of Don Miguel Gonzalez Calderon, Trustee of said Apostolic College. Printed in Mexico, at the Office of Don Felipe de Zuiiiga y Ontiveros, Espiritu Santo Street, in the Year 1787. Introduction to the English Translation By Geokge Wharton James f I f HOUGH Palou's "Life and Apostolic Labors of the Venerable Father *- Fray Junipero Serra" is the first work dealing with the history of Alta California; and though it was originally published in the City of Mexico in 1787, it has never yet been translated for English readers. A few chapters, with snatches here and there from the original, were done into English and issued by the Reverend Father Adam, Vicar General of the Diocese of Monterey and Los Angeles, in the year i8qo, but its inadequacy was an irritant and a source of annoyance. Does it require any lengthened argument to show that such a lack in the literature of the Golden State does not recommend us to the good opinion of outsiders? To have the very first book upon which our knowledge of the history of the state depends inaccessible to all save a few Spanish scholars reveals a lack of state pride and self-respect and a personal indifference that are unbecoming a great state and its progressive people. This would be so even were the character of the "history-maker" one that neither commanded veneration or respect. But when, as in the case of so noble and Godlike a man as Padre Junipero Serra, people of all classes, parties, and religious beliefs acclaim him one of the noblest, purest, most self-sacrificing, devoted, humble. Apostolic and Christlike of men, the careless indifference of the educators, religious leaders and teachers, and scholars of the State borders upon the reprehensible. It seems peculiarly appropriate, therefore, that in this year of our Lord 1913, two hundred years after this His Devoted Servant, Junipero Serra, first saw the light, that a translation of his Life and Labors should be pub- lished. For thirty years I have waited, hoping that some competent pen would undertake the work. Father Zephyrin Englehardt, the Official Historian of the Franciscan Order in California, was the man who most properly should have done it, as his great familiarity both with the Spanish language and with the life of his fellow-Franciscan,— whose memory and Apostolic labors he reveres,— eminently fitted him for the task. But his exhaustive studies and work upon the monumental history of the " Missions and Missionaries of California," Lower as well as Upper, not yet being completed, he was compelled to forego the pleasure. xii INTRODUCTION TO THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION When the following pages were ready for the press, I learned that the Reverend Mestres, pastor of the parish of Monterey, where Father Serra lived, worked and died, had just begun a translation. It was evident that it could not be completed in time to be issued in the bi-centennial year, hence it was decided to proceed with this publication, Father Mestres resolv- ing to devote himself to some other work to perpetuate his predecessor's blessed memory. It should clearly be understood that I am not the translator of the work. It was done by Professor C. Scott Williams, of Los Angeles. It makes no pretense to scholarship, yet its general accuracy may be relied upon. It is free, but takes no liberties with the text, and as I personally supervised the work, I can promise that the spirit of the original is closely followed. To guard against inaccuracies of statement in regard to the Catholic Church, points of doctrine, or matters pertaining to the Franciscan Order, Father Englehardt generously and graciously went over the manuscript, so that faithful sons and daughters of the Church may read it with confidence and satisfaction. In the few notes, placed for convenience in an Appendix, there is no attempt to do more than make all points in the text intelligible. The transla- tions from the Latin are made by a devout son of Ignatius Loyola, now resid- ing in what remains of the Mission of Santa Clara, so often referred to in Patau's narrative. My own devotion and veneration for Padre Serra are well-enough known to render their redeclaration unnecessary, yet I am constrained to affirm that there are few "Lives" that so stir my heart to devotion to God and earnest endeavors to work for the uplift of my needy fellows as does this recital of the simple, unselfish and self-sacrificing Life of Junlpero Serra. God needs thousands more of such men; struggling mankind needs them; Cali- fornia needs them; the world needs them. They are sadly rare. We gaze upon too few of them. If this translation inspires one heart, masculine or feminine, to become another Apostle of Humanity, flinging itself into the needful work of the uplift of the California of to-day with the glorious aban- don, exuberant enthusiasm, unquenchable zeal, and fervent devotion dis- played by Junipero Serra, my own heart will be abundantly satisfied. 1098 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, California. Table of Contents Of the Chapters of this History of Northern California and of the Life of its Venerable Founder, Fr. Jtmipero Serra. CHAPTER I Birth, native land and parents of the Venerable Father Junipero. He takes the habit. The experience he had in the Province before he sought to set out for America I CHAPTER II God calls him to be a minister to the Heathen; he asks for a Patent to go to the Indies and permission is obtained. He embarks for Cadiz. What occurred on the way 6 CHAPTER III The delay in Cadiz; the embarcation for Vera Cruz; and what happened on the voyage 12 CHAPTER IV The journey on foot from Vera Cruz to Mexico City which the Venerable Father undertook 16 CHAPTER V The Venerable Father arrives at the College of San Fernando; what he did there up to the time of his departure for his mission to the pagans 20 CHAPTER VI He leaves for the Missions in the Sierra Gorda.