Our Catholic Heritage in T ezas
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Fiscal informed him how many were absent on account of illness. If one of those who was well failed to appear, he was brought before the Fiscal after the doctrina, and if he could not give a good reason for his absence, he was taken out to the mission cemetery and there made to kneel before the cross in penitence for his fault as an example and warning to the others who may be inclined to stay away from these exercises. If the offender was in the habit of absenting himself, the Fiscal would administer four or five lashes to the culprit while he knelt in the presence of all the other Indians. Contrary to the general belief that many of the natives were hastily baptized without being first instructed in the fundamentals of our Faith, Father Espinosa declares that particular care was taken to teach all new arrivals the doctrina before admitting them to the Sacrament of Baptism. The missionary would take each one of the new arrivals individually, and with the help of an interpreter who was well acquainted with the language, he explained to him the mysteries of our religion. The instruction was con- tinued largo tiempo (long time). When the Indian had been taught the doctrina and gave e.vidence of understanding the principles of Christian- ity, he was asked if he still wanted to be baptized. If he answered in the affirmative, he was then administered this sacrament with all solemnity and the entire mission celebrated the occasion with great rejoicings. The greatest handicap encountered by the missionaries in their endless toils was the tendency of the neophytes to run away. This tendency was not the result of dissatisfaction with mission life or mistreatment, but rather a desire to return to their former roaming and irresponsible life. When the hunting season approached, all the mission Indians became restless for the chase. They felt an urge that was beyond their power to withstand. Their former friends and companions, and at times their own relatives who had not been congregated, sent word to them regarding the abundance of game or fish. It was then they forgot the security they enjoyed in the mission, the kindness of the Padres, the peace and calm of their regulated li:f-~. It was then they longed for adventure, for the fierce yell of the hunter, for the orgy and dance that followed the exciting race after buffalo. Two or three families would then get together and plan to leave. They waited, usually, until night. Protected by darkness, they would silently steal away, traveling as fast as they could all night and far into the following day. Not until the faithful neophytes were gathered in the chapel would the runaways be missed. As soon as the zealous missionary learned of their flight, he would set out with a soldier
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