011r Catlzolic Ii eritage in T ezas
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know why we came here!" With this criticism Tovar's indecision dis- appeared and he charged the natives. 73 He had not only walked all the way from Mexico, but he had followed Tovar to Moqui, Alvarado to the Pecos and Taos, and Coronado to Quivira on foot. It is he who planted the cross in that remote region , now definitely identified as the area along the Canadian River in north- west Texas in Hutchinson and Roberts Counties. So impressed was he by the traits of the natives of Quivira, that he was determined now to return to them with or without the rest of the expedition. Such was the heroic character and temperament of the man, who was to sacrifice his life for the Indians of Quivira, and whose last words to his com- panions were to be: "Save yourselves, for me ye cannot help ... Run !"; 4 Fray lt,an de la Cmz. Before following him to Quivira, let us take up the careers of his companions. Fray Juan de la Cruz was an aged missionary when the expedition set out for Cibola. He had labored for many years among the Indians of Jalisco. But his years and ebbing strength did not deter him from undertaking this, his last missionary venture. "He was so highly regarded for his saintly life by Coronado himself, that the latter gave orders to his soldiers that each should touch his hat or helmet whenever the name of this holy man was mentioned." 75 After the expedition established its headquarters at Tiguex, the ven- erable missionary carried on his labors there among the natives. "Of this servant of God little is known," says Mendieta, "except that he remained alone in the pueblo of Tiguex where he taught the Indians the articles of Faith and practices of Christian life. The Indians were very much pleased and showed their appreciation by embracing him and by other demonstrations of goodwill ." It is Mota Padilla who g ives us the details of how he came to his end in these simple words: "After having labored in the instruction of the Indians of Tiguex and Coquite he died pierced by arrows from those who did not embrace his doctrines." The date of his glorious death is given as November 25, I 542." 76 73 Mota Padilla, Hisloria, Cap. XXXII ; Castaneda, op. cit., 457-8, 361, 428; Mendieta, Hisloria, Lib. v, Pie. ii , p. 744; Vetancourt, Me11ologio, 121. 74 Foik, Paul J., "Fray Juan de Padilla," Preliminary Studies, I, No. 5, p. 1 o. 75 Foik, Ibid., 5. 76 Mendieta, Historia, 745 ; Mota Padilla, Historia, 167-168; Vetancourt, Meno- logio.
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